Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-17
IRE
Al Attemptto Destroy the eas-Works-Hsw
L Vas Desc.

Last night, two hours after the fres In
the engine were extinguished and the
work Tor the day was done at he gas-
works, and i've minutes after the Super
intend9nt had LEFT the building, he was
recalled by the cry Of 50 hrs"
CURIOUS FACTS.
A few evenings ago when the superin-
tendent, abOut1eight O'Clock, was leaving
the gas-WOrks, a man coming out Of the
alley just south Of the gas-Works passed
very near him, and, looking at him close
ly az he passed, turned, snapped a pistol
In his face and ned across the street, pass
ing into b rear Of the saW-milt. The
affair was talked of at the time, and We
were asked 10 say nothing about &c. Plans
we're set on foot to ascertain the identity
OF the would-bs assassin, and it was
thought best TO let the matter rest. 1t
seems. however, That the murderOus fell
low who sought TO take the S-upsrfuteud-
enJ's life, having failed, was sh -swd
enough TO think that INFINITE dstrimeut
might be done the Gas Company IA Ore of
ineXphcsble origin occurred. Very car
talnIy, the l~ncendiary's torch last night
was ughted by one who was thoroughly
acquainted with the interior arrangement
or the gas-WOrkss and knew exactly how
and where TO apply the torch. A. pane Of
glass was broken in the window near the
overflow OF the receiver in which the
napthe ia distilled; this outlet cock was
opened and the escaping naptha h-ed.
EVIDENCES OF LN-CEGDIARIsM.
No damage to the works proper oc-
CURED. This ceiling, sash and snch other
c~ombustible matter as p%ertained 20 the
once, was destroyed. The design was
well plsnned. The time chosen, the only
opportUHe hOur in the tWsntY-fOur-iust
as the steam had bsen allowed TO escape
the boiler. With steam up, the least
trace Of fire would have been ex5in-
guished In i've seconds, rendering the x
8cutlOr or such design simply impOssi-
bic. Hence the choice Of the particular
moment. Fortunately the plot failed 10
1ts execution, and the damages will be
repaired speedily and with trihiug cost.
IGNORANCE THE MOTHER OF CRIME.
The incsndiary accomplished a purpose
very different from that contemplated.
10 is shown that there are villains In
Memphis as depraved as they are igno-
rant, who do not know that all labor
saving appliances Of inventors finally be-
get, As did sewing and planning machines,
wider and more profitable fields Of en-
piOyment. The first plsning machine
taken to England was destroyed By a mob
Of Infatuated mechanics, who never re-
heCted that the machine would so multi
ply houses that the demand for skilled
labor would be augmented, even as the
very cheapness of gas works, "a hereafter
built and managed, viii multiply inde6-
nltely their lumber. Every village will
have such an establishment. and though
Mr.. Fitch has no need for more than two
or four employees now, where forty were
recently engaged, yet within a brief Pc
Rod there VIII be q demand in all adj a.
cent towns for the labor Of every man at
conversant with the practical opera
Of gas manufacture.
The whole loss sustained last night will
not exceed $500, and it was shown that
applied to the stOp-c1ck Of the still
viii do 10 detrimsut.
ONLY BENEFIT of j.. II. Jack tonight,
On which occasion he viii appear as SiT
John FIistgB, in "Henry "" To con-
with the farce of Little Pickle"