The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-02-04
II Fie7s1isA act.

ATTEMPT TO DESTROY LIFE AND PROPERTY
BY MEANS OF NITRO -GLYCERBNE AT CAR
LIsLE, pam ENTIRE SQUARE OF RES
LICENCES SHATTERED.
We have to record to. day the most di:;-
bolical attempt at murder ever known in
our county. About one O'Clock yesterday
Thursday morning, or within moment
or two of that hour the citizens of this bor-
ough were startled by an explosion which
shook the ground like all earthquake and
lit up the atmosphere as does "a flash of the
most vivid lightning. n momept before
this the front door of ex-Sheriff Nj Cartney's
residence, on South Bedford street, was
forced violently from its hinges and fell into
the vestibule with a crash which brought
the neighbors to their doors, and instantly
thereafter All explosion took place upon the
sheriff pavement which tore out the curb
stones and threw them through strong
fence on the opposite side of the street
forced cellar doors from their fastepings,
demolished all the shutters, window sash
and glass for half square north and
south of the spot where the destructive
agent was ignited. At the residence of
DIR. Grove, on Pomfret street, fully square
distant, the force of the explosion broke i'll
tire second story window, threw the doc
tors mother down, and extinguished the
light in the room. A portion of the case
and rope in which the destructive agent
doctors yard. The explosion was heard
several miles from town by farmers who
happeued to be awake.
Rumor says carriage or other vehicle
was driven at full speed out Bedford street
the instant of the explosion, and some of
the neighbors report having seen certain
parties at the spot the moment after the
disaster whom they intimate we've suspi-
ciouS characters.
Those claiming a know ledge of explo-
sives differ AS to the agent employed on this
occasion, some declaring it to have been
nitro & lycerine, others gun cotton, and
still others believe it combination of
both destructiyes. Some aver it was
ploded by means of a fuse, others by con-
cussion, and others by electricity. There
is room for all these opinions, as rope, wire
and particles resembling burnt fuse were
picked up at and near the scene of tho ex-
plosion.
The torpedo used was evidently prepared
by some one conversant with such things.
! The explosive, whatever it was, was eh-
closed in red paper fragments of which
! were found i'll the exploded torpedo) and
around this were many thicknesses Of cot
| ton cloth, which was first tightly bound
with wire, over which was wrapped cotton
! rope similar to clothes lines. The torpedo,
/ in exploding, broke into two parts, one Of
which is i'll Mr.. MCartney's possession
I w DiFo secH UOlu parts, anu from The III
would judge the torpedo to have been
about sixteen inches long by three on four
| inches in diameter.
There eau be no doubt that the motive
/ which prompted the act was murder, re-
! gardless of destruction of property or ILL
! jury to residents in the vicinity The
bursting in of the door was doubtless with
the view of throwing the explosive material
into the house and thus securing The de-
struction of the house and death of the in
mates.
Thousands of people visited the scene
during the day, and the universal opinion
was that the perpetrators of the crime
should be lynched but they yet at
large and are undoubtedly scoundrels of
no ordinary prowess, it is more than likely
that the excitement will expend it's fury
before they are caught.
The building in front of which the ex-
plosOn occurred not injured other
than above described, most probably be-
cause its walls are strong stone structures,
capable, one would suppose, of resisting
any force that might be brought against
them.
Efforts are being made TO ferret out the
perpetrators of the deed which it is hoped
will be successful. Carlisle Mirror, 29th.