New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-13
PLOTTING TO KILL ACoNsUL.


AN INTERNAL MACHINE SENT BY MAIL
MARROW ESCAPE OF THE SPANISH coKsuL-aEHERAr
-oPENING PACKAGE BIILKD WITH EXPLOSIVE
MATRRIAL-N0 CJEw TO TIE PLoTrRR.
An attempt was made yesterday to kill the
Spanish Consul General In this city by means
of q case filed with explosive materials, which
was sent him by mail. The scheme failed
owing to the loose construction Of the internal
machine and to the circumstances under
which Consul de Uriarte opened the PACKAGE
There Is no clew TO the would-be assassin.
The package was mailed in Philadelphia.
HOW THE MURDEROUs PLOT FAILED.
Hipolito de Uriarte. Consul-General of Spain, 70
ceived box yesterday, in his Office at No. 20 Mas
sau-st., which contained an internal machine. The
package came with the regular mail In the morning
When opening the mail the Consul is accustomed
to sit at his desk and bend over to read his etter
II he had remained 10 his usual place when the bon
was opened the result would have been serious
As the package was bulky aud tied with twine II
was necessary to cut 1t with knife. The consul
took it to q table and cut the twine ,no
then tore open the paper covering with his knife
The box or case then lay lengthwise on the table
and the cover came of with 80 mnch ease that the
as the cover was removed there was sharp explos
ion and a ball Of fire shot in the air amid q dense
cloud Of smoke. Several balls OF fire rolled out OF
the top Of the box In rapid succession and sheet Of
flame came from the bottom. The box was torn
asunder and its contents driven to different parts OF
the room. Three Of the balls of ire ran along the
carpet which was burned in several places.
The room was filled with smoke when the occu.
pants of the adjoining Offices rushed into the room
attracted by the explosion. For moment the Con.
sui was overcome. but he quickly recovered his
presence of mind. He stamped out the flames In
the carpet and then discovered that his left-hand
had been cut in several places but the injuries
slight.
When the smoke cleared away the fragments OF
the Internal machine were picked up and put to-
gether. The arrangement Of the apparatus was In
genious. The package received by the ConsulIssa
round bundle about seven or eight inches long and
two or three inches in diameter. 1t was covered
with ordinary wrapping paper, pasted at the ends
and tied with twine. When the wrapping had been
removed a cylindrical brown case renamed made
Of muslin pressed in pasteboard such as is used In
book covers. The box was divided In two unequal
parts, the upper part being q sliding cover. At.
tached TO the cover was q small hook which was
loosely caught into loop so that when
the cover was removed the hook pulled
the loop and everything beneath it.
Joined to the loop was q Illuminating
composition which rubbed against sand paper on
the sides of the interior of the When tho COM
position was drawn upward by the hook and loop il
created spark which fell on some powder. The
arrangement of the rest of the machinery
is matter of conjecture only. Scattered
around the were pieces Of glass 1t is thought
that the whole mechanism was encased in o glass
tube in shape similar to the chimney Of an Argand
burner. This was held steady In its place by paste
board. The tube did not occupy the whole space
IN the case. When the stood upright the glass
rested on a bed Of plaster. Small pieces Of paste
board were alsO found in the room. and some per-
sons were inclined to think that it contained nitro
glycerine, although none was found. large
cartridge also picked up similar to that used 10
ordinary rife.
There was nothing about the exterior OF the box
which would excite suspicion at first. A close in
spectiOn showed that it was peculiarly adj
dressed. The direction was marked in two
places on opposite sides of tho box. II was
not written by Spaniard unless be purposely re-
Trained from using the Spanish method Of writing.
The direction was as folowsi
"CHEvALIER HIPOLITo D. URIARTE.
ul-Genersl of Spain,
20 Broadway.
New-Yorkn
The top line was written as IL Frenchman had
directed it. Chevalier was used instead OF senior.
aud instead Of the Spanish method of writing de
the Frendh d. was used. The second line was writ
ten in bold English characters. as was also the re-
mainder of the address. The pOstmark bore the
seal of the. Philadelphia Post 0ffce. and
of so cents were on the =, package. There
were several reasons why the plan to kill
or at least severely injure the Consul was frus.
Of the box was not we'll set. II rested loosely
in the bottom. and some Of qHn, the esgHlS.
sys bor ass the conse
stood back little IN order TO work easily with his
penknife. 1t was intended that the case should be
shoot upward and strike the Consul In the face or
body. Instead of that the case lay on ITS SIDE hen
opened, aud neither end was directed toward bis
body.
Some persons who were considered experts in
such matters were of the opinion that the contryer
of the plot was familiar with bookblnding. Inc
of a SIZE and make that cannot be purchased 1t
was made of material which Is commonly used Dy
and was put dSgs5sehr g hoI 10 tns
pieces of pasteboard such as are used by DooK-
binders -
Consul-General de Uriarte said to TRIBUNE re-
porter last evening: 81 had very fortunate es-
cape. had no idea when I received
the box that 1t was anything dangerous. I
can't say that have any suspicious OF the perpe-
traitors. have no enemies that am aware of, but
I hold position in which it is easy to make enc
mics while attending to my duty. Sometimes
have to aot a. public prosecutor, and In
that way may have made some
enemies. have caused the arrest and extraditiOn
of criminals and have si0ed In having them pun
shed in this country. OF course In this Az incur
the animOsty of such classes defaulters forgers
aud other law breakers. have had TO DO with
political conspirators, who are men Of desperate
character and hesitate at no crime. feel con-
vlnced that the motive revenge, but have no
way Of fixing on any particular person or persona"
"What do yOu think was the cause OF the failure
of the machine ~ "
"Well. although it was ineeniously contriyed. II
was clumsily made The setting of 1t in the box
was not q success. But you would be