The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-14
AN INTERNAL PLOT.

THE DETAILS OF AN ATTEMPT TO DESTROY A
BUILDING IN CHICAGo-FAILURE OF THE AT
TEMPT.
The Chicago Inter-Ocean of the 9th inst.
gives the facts concerning diabolical plan
to destroy property in that city: One of the
most diabolical attempts at incendiarism
tina ever came to light was undertaken
Saturday night, for the purpose of destroy
ing the building at the southwest corner of
Fifth avenue and Lake street, and it is al
most a miracle that the plot failed ia execu-
ton. An alarm was given from box thlr-
teen, at O'Clock yesterday morning, to
which the department responded promptly
but before the scene of the fire was reached,
an explosion occurred which smashed and
ratified all the front windows on the second
floor, scattering the shattered fragments of
glass over the pavement below. When the
department arrived two distinct fires were
found in progress, one on the second and
one on the third or top floor. After these
were exIinguished an examination of the
premises revealed the details of the internal
plot for destruction. On the roof at the four
corners of the building were four small bar
rels of kerosene, all of which were left so
that the oil slowly escaped. Holes had been
bored through the roof with an anger in sew
eral places, through which the oil was run
ming down to the floor below. IN boring the
holes the perpetrators of the job mad several
times hit the joist or rafters, and commenced
over again two or three inches away. The
scuttle door through the roof was open, and
directly under it on the floor was seven or
eight pounds of powder in a heap.
A TRAIN OF POWDER
had also been laid to connect the second and
third floors and also with the oil from the
roof. the evident purpose having been to ig-
nice powder and oil on the two floors and
roof in one grand explosion that would
make destruction sure, and battle all efforts
OF the ire department to get into the build
ing. But, for some reason, this part of tn,
work was only halt effected, the train o
powder in the rear falling to go off. BY thi
means the rear stairway was left. and the in
gress of the department not prevented. WhS
| the perpetrators of this attempt are, or wha
| their object could have been, is st preSe mt
mystery. Detectives have been put upor
their track, and it is hoped they will be
successful in their endeavors to probe tht
/ affair to the bottom. A man registering
| himself as Robert Dougherty was as
signed TO room in ths Robinson house
the adjoining building, Saturday night
and is reported to have retired a
a very early hour. Since the fire he has no
been seen. But tracks, apparently mad
with rubber boots. leaving the mark of oil
we're traced from the scuttle OF the roof o
the fired building to the scuttle OF the roof o
the Robinson House, and thence to room
which fact furnishes reasonable ground 70
suspicion at least. The Robinson House ha
for some time borne an unsavory reputation
and it would not be very surprising TO tin'
it the base of operations for this or any othe
outrage. The first floor is occupied b,
Brecher and SaurcOrn, leather firm VIII
have an immense stock on hand, insured 70
$50, 900. Albert KEGS occupies the basemen
as beer saloon, and has 81 900 insurance
The second and third floors are occupied a
a cigar factory, the proprietor being now il
st. Louis. Assistant Fire Marshal Shay, O
New York, being in the city, visited tn
building yesterday, and characterized it. a
we have above, one of the most diabolics
attempts on record.