Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-08-02
An Interview with P. W. Grove, .
Prominent Man in the Or.
ganization which is Ship
ping these Missiles to
England:
He Justiffes the Policy and says
it will be Pursued Until En-
glish Vessels are Driv-
en- from the Ocean.
Judge Brennan, Of Sioux City, Mentioned 4,
One otthe 0riginators Of the Plan.

viewed +. w. Grove, the gasoline lamp
contractor here, who is connected with
the internal machine matter. Peoria has
always been held as place of fenian ag-
ltation, and Grove is held to be one of
the most desperate agitators. He is q
man of small stature, dark, of intellectual
countenance, and talked composedly as
on ordinary topics. Grove produced a
letter from Geo. Holgate, dated Phila.
delphia, August 81, 1881, setting forth
that Mr.. Holgate owned the McClintock
torpedo, for which such terrible execu-
ton was claimed during the rebellion,
and that he had been conducting experi-
ments with it under water which caused
McClintock to lose his life; that he had
refused proposition from Spain for the
boat; claimed that the boat would blow
up any vessel in British waters, and
could blockade any port, regardless of
all the men of war in the world. It
would cost about $4,000 to build it and
he would place 1T at Crowe's disposal.
He claimed that the boat would do more
good for Ireland and fetch the Bri itish
government to terms quicker than half
a million men. Grove said shortly after
that the executive committee of United
Irishmen men in New York, Judge Bren-
nan, OF Iowa, Captain G. Spirman, of
New York; Jas. Kenney, of Providence;
Thos. II. d. Wicker, of Chicago, O'Don-
ovan Rosa and himself were there pres
ent. They discussed Holgate's PROPOSE.
ton and the scheme of devastating Eng
lands shores. but on Crowe's representa-.
tions they decided it would be too ex-
pensive and that they could do better
by depositing torpedoes in English
ships, which could be done for S25 o
piece, and which would bring England
to terms by making it dangerous for
people to go abroad in English vessels.
They decided to take the latter course.
Sometime later the Irishmen and fenians
joined hands in order to execute these
plans. They were 6,OOO strong in the
United States and Canada. There were
branches in Toronto, Qnebec, Montreal
and nearly every important city in the
United States. These Internal ma
chimes are being made in evry city
where there is branch of the order,
and will continue to be made. They are
working for the good of the old sod, and
they were no more liable than are MAX
ers of revolvers and cannons. Dynamite
was no more vicious than powder. and
with these weapons they could drive from
the seas their enemy, destroy her trade
and make profitable business impossible.
Some people would have to dio. 1t
would be worse than Boycotting, but
war was always cruel and that way wa.
the easiest which went straightest to the
work, killed the most in the shortest
time, and compelled nations to make
peace. The machines captured in Eng
land were made in Peoria.
His answer gave the reporter conf
dence of the truth OF this statement. They
were of zinc interior, in which the clock
work and explosives were packed. The
clock work operated with spring, and
after six days running it liberated a
hammer, something like gun trigger,
which struck PERCUSSION cap and ig.
nited the charge. she charge consists
of an ounce and half of the illuminate
of silver and pound and half of dyma.
mite, and would destroy the largest
block of buildings in the world. The
whole thing weighed 45 pounds. Any
warfare was good enough for England,
which did not conduct honorable warfare
herself, and could not expect others to
do SO. If she did not do justice to Ire.
land, every English ship would be sent
to the bottom until the people no longer
dared to embark in them. Every gov
ernment building would be torn down,
and system of terrorism begun. He
claims that there are many of these
dreadful machines almost completed,
Some are in France, in charge OF trust.
worthy parties, who would use them
quite freely. They had already greatly
worried the British, had destaoyed Man.
chester postoilice, Victoria docks, (loss
of five million pounds), exploded ma.
chimes at Halford and Glasgow, at Con.
don and Liverpool, and inflicted an ag.
gregate loss of fifty millions pounds
Grove has an easy, dignified manner, and
was in no way excited at his horrible re.
cltal. He says the manufacture of the
machines still goes forward here.
REPORT OF GROVES ARREST DENIED.
Chicago, August "A story was tele
graphed from Peoria that Grove, tn,
inventor OF the Internal machine, wa
arrested in Peoria yesterday. Th'
United States marshal says there is n,
truth III the report. No arrests hav
been made and neither the marshal no
any of his deputies have been on tn
business. One special says the arres
was practical joke. This probably &C
counts for the story. Certainly th
United States marshal has received n
orders in the matter and will not arres
anybody without specific authority.