River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-10-27
THE GREAT DYNAMITE PLOT TO
BLOW UP ENGLISH PUBLIC
DWELLINGS.
O'D0n0yan R0ssa, Pat Crow. and Peter
EOye Ostraclzed for Concocting the
Swindie.-A CredulOus Consul

The true inwardness of the great
Fenian dynamite plot has come to
light in this city. Two months have
passed since the civilized world was
shocked by the announcement that
| several internal machines were dis
covered aboard British vessel. They
were looked ON as manifesting the des-
peration of the Fenians of this country
and apparently foreshadowed terrible
policy to be pursued that the indie
pendence of Ireland might. be accom-
plished. In the recent rapid success
sion of important events, particularly
the fuctuating condition of President
Garfield and his sudden death, the ac-
tons of the alleged Fenian plotters were
lost sight of by the general observer.
The government of the United States,
however, through secret service agents,
continued an investigation begun at the
time of the internal machine, and, aid
ed by able and anxious English detec-
| tives, fereted the matter to the end.
The result of these investigations has
never been made public, and possibly
would not have been for some time to
come wereit not for the anxiety of
the revolutionary leaders, who, fretful
over the quiet work of the detectives,
began to cut adrift the suspected par
ties, who, it is now asserted, acted in
their own interest, and not in concert
with any known organization. The re-
suit of the affair ostracizes O'Donovan
Rosa, of New York; Patrick Grove, of
Peoria, ILL.,, and Peter H. Foye, of this
city, from respectable Irish nationalist
company in this country. Not that
they were the authors of "a SINISTER
plot to destroy life and property by the
| explosion of the diabolical apparatus
shipped, but because the entire affair
was fraudulent, and merely a plot to
cheat the English government out of a
large sum of money, which had nau ght
for its results but the enrichment OF the
schemers and the disgrace of the irish
cause. These facts are established by
the police inquiries, and, while the Sc
quel TO the great sensation was the
cause of much chagrin to the British
officials stationed in this country it re-
lieved the government of grave appre-
tensions. 1t will be remembered that
Grove, about the time the discovery of
the Internal machines was announced,
attracted attention by asserting that he
was the manufacturer, and proposed to
manufacture more. This was done to
relieve Rosa from responsibility, as
the daily contributions to the loqua-
cious organizers skirmishing fund sud-
denly fell off under the tremendous
fire of public opposition to a nihilistic
method Of warfare. Rosa, too, sud-
denly hedged, in the hope of saving the
cause from general disgrace, and stated
that the whole affair was the "clever
plot of a shrewd Irishman to make
little money!" and further, that the ma
chimes had been shipped and after
wards information of the fact given to
the English authorities, for which the
clever Irishman received $4,000. This
story was literally true, although never
believed by the public, nor did the au-
thorities credit it until its correctness
was established by investigation. The
information which is here given as to
the details of this remarkable plot
comes from the most reliable source,
and has been given for the purpose of
relieving the Irish national movement
in this country from the ban under
which it has rested since the finding of
the internal machines. Peter H. Foye
is well known in Philadelphia and New
York through his connection with
Fenian affairs. Until few weeks ago
he was the proprietor of a GROCERY at
No. 1878 Market street, in this city
He was identified as an extremist in all
that pertains to Ireland, and was al
ways in close sympathy with the Rosa
faction. Through Foye, a proposition
was made last winter to Rossa's follow
ers in this city, looking to the construc-
ton of torpedoes and the compromising
of explosives. After several interviews
with the inventor, who is Philadel-
phian, Rosa ordered an apparatus for
experimental proposes. This was done,
and the experiment, which was made
in the Catskill mountains near Fiskill,
proved entirely satisfactory. Upon this
result twenty-one of the machines were
ordered, and the Philadelphia pro-
ceeded with their manufacture. They
were delivered to Foye in June.
The machines, one of which has been
seen by reporter, ale peculiar and
quite ingenious in construction. In
square, elongated til case seven small
tubes are securely placed with the aid
of solder. These tubes are supposed
to be charged with terrific explosive
A short rod extends from the bottom
of one of the tubes to the top, termi-
mating in close proximity to a strong
spring, which in turn is connected with
delicate clock-work The spring when
set holds taut small lever, which rests
upon curved arch of steel, one end
terminating in the tin tube from which
extends the steel rod. When the clock
work is in motion the lever is gradually
moved along the curved arch until it
reaches the end, where by means of
the spring it is suddenly ierked dis
lance of one inch down the steel rod,
fasteoed to which is an igniting SUBJ
stance. The sparks thus generated
cause the material in the tube to ex-
plode, and the conclusion incident to
this explosion discharges the remaining
tubes.
When ODonovan Rosa got posses
sion of these machines, fully charged
Foye proceeded to turn traitor. 1t is
not possible to learn to whom Foye
first made overtures, but in the course
of time he was negotiating with the
British consul in New York. the first
information given by Foye was to the
effect that a Fenian had left New York
on White Star line steamer, having
in his possession two of the internal
machines. This information was not
lodged until the vessel had arrived, of
which fact Foye had been advised by
cablegram. Foye had with him one of
the terrible machines, and his informa-
ton SO impressed the British official
that the latter at once called for the ar
rest or the inspection of the baggage
carried by the individual described by
his informant. The plotters, assisted by