, 1866-11-22
FEARFUL CATASTROPHE PRE-
VENTED.

AOt /
A vH,ninou~ Attempt to Earn tne
Steamer Mornfn. Star-A Bold Oprr-
nuA.-Arrcst OF a Parry Implicated
Chicago Parties Concerned.
From the Detroit Advertiser, November s0.1
On the night OF the 2ith Of September last,
q bold mud Tillainous attempt was made to
burn the steamer Morning Star, while on
Lake Eiie, which was fortunately frustrated
In &iae 10 preyeut fearful catastrophe. We
doubt If q more outrngcously wicked design |
was ever attempted, and if the authors of the
deed arc in custody, o speedy punishment |
should be- theirs. On the night referred TO |
having on board large load Of freight aud |
passengers, aud had she been destroyed {as |
seems to have been contemplated) the con. |
sequences would have been fearful. Shortly |
AFTER IL O'Clock at night the first attempt was
made to set the steamer On tire, but 1t failed.
Then other movements we're made In the
same direction. with the same result. About
5 O'Clock in the morning it WAS found that
fire had been started against the wooden par
tiison In The hold that scpsrates the steelase
from the coal. The flames we're fortunately
discovered by one Of the flreucn on the
boat, and although they had made consider
able headway, they were subdued before any
OF the passengers were aware Of the danger
that Threatened them. In fnct, so quiet was
the matter Kept that some Of the employees
Of the boat knew nothing Of the affair until
all danger vas passed.
The boat arrived at her destination, but
nothing was said Of the lnurderous design, for
prudential reasons, until she returned 10 De-
troft. 1t this time tho matter was placed in
the hands Of VIM. Champ, Of this city, and
George Sutherland, Of Chicago, both old pri-
yate detectives, who agreed to work the case
up. From present Appearances they seem to
"accident," which mfariaGly happens in
such cases, they have ascertained information
which is deemed reliable. The would-be in
cendiaries and mnrdcrcrs are Adolph Dennis.
boy II years Of age, and a German named
Henry Miller, who formerly kept furniture
store at 914 State street, Chicago. Dennis
appears to have done all the work at the in
stigation Of Miller, and the whole movement
seems 10 hare been undertaken to obtain the
miserable sum Of q, 500 insurance upon
worthless property. Tho arrests have been
made owing TO confession made by the boy
Dennis, which is substantially as follows, but
just how much reliance can be placed In 1t,
judicial investigation will doubtless deter
| mine.
He states that he lived with his stepfather,
| and of erwards obtained employment with
Miller IN Chicago ut his furniture store. At
various times he stole money from the till,
md appropriated it to his own use. Miller
finally detected lin, but upon promising to
lnands, he was not-prosecutcd. He was kept
| in continual fear, and finally concluded to
do whatever Miller requested Of him. One
request was made Of him, and that was to
burn the steamer Morning Star, and Dcnnis
was provided with material fur carving iuto
effect the hellish scheme,
He stutes further that be and Dennis left
Chicago on the ed Of September (which WAS
Saturday., and came to this city, bringing
with them one trunk and two boxes, which
were ostcusib1y destined for Cleveland.
These articlcs were deposited In Messrs.
Keith 4 Carers warehouse-who arc nrcnts
for the Cleveland line Of steamers-and upon
the bill Of lading Miller obtaircd au insur-
| nuce Of ST $40 ID the Western Insurance Com
pany, OF which James 4. Armstrong, Of this
city, Ia the agent.
After arriving in this city, according to
the city all day, md became Intoxicated.
The former went on board the Morning Star
time he nwoke does not appear. On Mon
day night, In accordance with previous in.
structions. Dennis took passage On the Star
| and made the four different attempts to burn
1cr, he says, had furnished him with two
buttles OF benzne and quantity of rags.
These rags Dennis saturated with benzine,
and 10 order 10 avert suspicion he threw the
bottles overheard In Lake Erie.
In giving az account ofthe attempt to fir I
. . o'clock on Monday night, at which time ~
awoke from stupor to think Of Of the VII
lninous act be had undertaken. He failct
three times, and In order to succeed, ht
tried fourth. This time he was more eau
! tious. He managed to get into the ntte
hold without being detected, and set fire t.
: the Partition shove referred to. When th
flames were discovered he says lie worked d
! hard to put ont the fire as any one, fpr th
} purpose of throwing Oft any suspicion tha
. might otherwise be cast upon him. He ais
= states that he felt he must succeed III destroy
: in. the boat, because Miller had thrcatene
: him with punishment for stealing In case h
! failed. This being the case, he did his vi
= most TO carry out the design.
E The trunks and boxes, upon which Mile
). obtained the $500 insurance, contained
Z Dennis alleges, a quantity Of bead work
i worth about $50, and u lot Of other article;
d ! the aggregate value OF which will not cxccc
! $500, He says he hacked them himself, aui
: of coursc. knuws positively what they cor
n tafncd, Deunis. upon findfur that he ha
r been Unsuccessful. fen the boa{ at Clcyelant
5, anI. aithourh comnellei 10 walk mart Of III
> way. he ROT back 10 Chicago as soon as b
. co,ld. There he vas taken into the emnln
!. ofCcn n Sutherland fnne ~ thc dofccffv1
~ ~ n thc cose, whera he worEnd ~ a serran
n r. That ,1ont,ennn he roadn 4hn t1;s1osnr.
Sc 9;ven o,orn and +he+ nent1nmon onS n
th | i'bar,,n nromntlv rannrfcd Tho matter ia
10 f. s. 49, t;;s n;,s ~ ~
: nWnors -, H.. hnot .rarc ro"snIted on7 Hn1