The New York herald., 1865-05-03
THE PLOT TO BURN PHILADELPHIA.
fFrom tbe Phil.delnhi. Apa NAVAL

l.
Information was received from Washington on Sunday
afternoon setting forth that there organised plot
attempted New York Msjor General % c.dxaIsd.r and
the Mayor were officially notified, and took every pro-
caution 70 guard against any such calamity Tho xs
double guard and the whole police force detailed for
duty during Sunday night The hotel propretors
all notified and such measures Immediately adopted
that II there had been any such designs medtated the
incendiaries would have been most certainly foied
Tho news Of the alleged plot spread like widnre and
during the afternoon from several church
pulpts In one church In the Eighteenth ward the
nouncement caused the greatest CONSERVATION Several
females tainted, and the congregation dismissed
BY ten O'Clock Sunday evening there very few
who had not heard the news Still request was made
BY the authorities that mention Of the affair be made
In the public prints This demand was complied with,
and yesterday morning much to the astonishent Of
The news would doubt have been excluded even to-
day from the Philadelphia press had the silence
day morning In full display informing the public Of the
whole affair This Of course renders II necessary for
the city papers of to-day to state what they have learned
From What we gather II seems that the plot was
to have been carried out Sunday night As have
stated every precaution taken although the authOr
ties were inclined TO and still consider that there no
foundation whatever for the report. Still, however
they acted wisely and timely, making every arrange
ment and preparation II they knew the thing was to
actually occur. One two suspicious individuals were
arrested, and, after being subjected examina
ton found be all right and consequently allowed
to depart From the reports made by the police and
military Yesterday morning nothing occurred during the
as stated, really In existence The only thing of
really suspicious character, and at the present time
Schuykill Arsenal Here ut other government build
ings an increased guard was put duty, under the
Between and three o'clock yesterday mornipg sus
pcious was discovered lurking In the neghbor
hood Of tho building occupied the knapsack depart
ment The fellow hailed twice by the guard
shots The intruder retrcated jumped fence and got
into brckyard, when the discharge Of pistol was
heard This, It is thought he fred at the guard.
An attempt to cut of his retreat unsuccessful and
it has not yet been ascertaned Ths Authorities
will still continue 70 exercise tho precautions adopted
a s n s's: s:
frustrated
(From the Washington Star, MayIl
The circumstances under which the plot to burn Phia-
dclpha discovered here about follows vri
day evening last Sergeant A. hcKenny, at the Sixth
lurking about in the dark who, upon seeing they
watched made on On Saturday evening these two mon
GcKcnny informed Hs commanding oicer Of the fact
who instructed him TO watch them closely The Sergeant
will meet TO night" The reply not heard and the
again started on but were followed BY Sergeant McKenn
who overlook them on vacant lot Four and Halt
street. when Of the men, seeing they followed
drew pistol and fred at tho Sergeant the ball taking
Sergeant McKenny had al .hs time package Of letters
in his pocket through which the ts passed. thus dead.
III. bsns
Ito sti although dangerously wounded the fsl.
lows, believing they had killed him. immediately Oh
and made their escape Sergeant hcKenny. upon r.:
gaining his feet discovered letter upon the ground
which the who Cred tho shot had pulled from his
pocket with the weapon Upon returning TO bis quar-
tcrs Sergeant McKenny discovered that this letter OF
importance, and 1t accordingly sent to Colonel
Ingraham The letter revealed tho fact that there
deliberately planned plot on foot TO burn Phiadelphia
In which large number Of conspiraon 70 take part
and contained request urging certain parties supposed 70
be the alluded 70 above to be IN Philadelphia on the
10th Of April as an attempt to destroy the city would be
made the LIST day OF May when the nnal blow would
be struck and the torch not lowered until the city
in ashes and then pockets filled with treasure. Colonel
lngraham, after reading the letter, Immediately des-
patched officers 10 the railroad station when II
ceralnei that two answering the description Of
those who had assaed the Sergeant had taken passage
tho train which left the depot few minutes before
Information OF the discovery Of the plot then teo
graphed to General CadwaIlader at Philadelphia and
early Sunday evening, Captain Potts, chief OF the
military detectives and the patrols attached TO Colonel
Ingrahams oicc despatched to Philadelphia, with
such details OF the plot had come TO tho knowledge OF
the aut horities here.
Facts are within knowledge Of the authorities here,
which 20 10 show that there some eight hundred
consptors banded together for the purpose Of burning
Philadelphia and other Northcrn cities The AFFAIR s
undergoing thorough investigation