Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-30
INFERNALMACHINES
DastardIy Attempt Upon the Lives OF
- VIM. III. Vanderbilt and Cyrus
w. Field by Means Of
Explosive Packages Sent Through the
Maiis-HOrrible Story OF Brutal
ity from South America.

NEW YORK, April GA dsstardly
attempt was made to-day by some miscreants
the lives of VIM. III. Vanderbilt and
Cyrus W. Field by sending them explosives
through the mails. Fortunately the danger
Gus character OF the packages was discovered
en- route TO the postoffice station, and 80 a
probable loss Of life was prevented The
circumstances of the case are. as related
by Postmaster Pearson, as follows:
Two missives came into the post
Office about 4:30 o'clock in the evening,
Ode was posted in the Office and the other
was brought in by collector few minutes
afterward. The last one was addressed to
VIM. II. Vanderbilt, 459 Fifth avenue, and
the fr.t one was addressed TO Cyrus w.
Field. Lexington avenue and Twenty third
street The packets were placed in mail
bag along with other mail matter for the up
town district, put in the mail wagon and
taken TO the Third avenue elevated rail-
road station at the head of Chatham
street, and then deposited on the front
platform of one of the cars. The
train started up town, and before reaching
the station at Ninth street and Third avenue
an explosion was heard from the mailbag
and fire and smoke was observed to issue
from it. When the train stopped at the
station the burning bag was hastily trans
ferred TO the platform, as the railroad people
were afraid to transport it any further on the
train. 1t was taken down stairs and placed
on a wagon and taken to the postoffice
at Twenty ninth street and Third avenue.
Mosher, who is in charge
there, dispatched a messenger in haste for
Postmaster Pearson, and when that official
arrived the half-burned mailbag and its |
contents were examined. The package ad- |
dressed TO Cyrus W Field was plunged into |
a bucket of water, for 1-.g 4 might also ex-
plode, and when thoroughly soaked it was |
examined carefully. 1t was found TO con-
sist of a pasteboard box, covered with gaudy |
flowers and pictures, and had a small |
drawer in it from which depended string, |
as is supposed for the purpose of drawing it |
open and causing an explosion. Inside of !!
the box was found tin canister con
tanning about half a pound of powder and |
a glass Jar containing a white powder and a !
liquid believed to be some kind of explosive,
bnt what it was none of the postoffice officials
could say. 1t will be sent 10 a chemist for |
analysis. On the packages were ten FIVE
cent stamps. 1t was Mr.. Van
ierbilt's package that exploded, which was
probably caused by jolt of the cars when
the curve out of the Bowery into
Third avenue, and but for which occurrence
he packages might have reached their des-
inations and exploded in the hands of the
parties to whom they were sent. The con-
ents of the mailbag were pretty well
corched by the explosion. The postofice
officials are making vigorous efforts to trace
he packages to the parties who sent them,
md no stone will be left unturned, Postmas-
er Pearson says, to hunt down the ruffisns
Fho made these nihilistic attempts.