Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-24
Internal Machines a Century Ago

CdSseus History OF the United States
While the two houses were in recess
for the Christmas holidays, the country
was greatly agitated by number of in
cendiary fires, which pointed to the ex.
istence of a conspiracy for the destruc-
ton of the shipping and arsenals. Al
though a similar design had been con-
ccived in 1854 by the French Minister
Choiseul, and had come to the knowledge
of the English Government, proper pre-
cautions for the guarding of the arsenals
and dock yards were not taken, and on
the 9TH of December a fire broke out at
Portsmouth, which threatened the total
destruction of the national property
there. 1t was at first supposed to be
a mischance, but on the 18th of
the following January, 1777, a clerk
in the dock yard, in moving some
hemp in the hemp-room, discovered
an explosive machine and various COM
bustible materials Some of the authori-
ties then recollected that sullen, silent
man, an artisan, had been seen lettering
about the yard on the day of the fire,
and had been accidently locked one
night into the rope house. His exact
name was not known, but, from his
calling in life he was generally spoken of
as John, the painter A reward was
offered for his capture; but he had dis
appeared, and could not be found, in
spite offs diligent search, either in Ports
mouth or in the neighborhood. The sus
piciOn against him was strengthened
by the fact that he had recently
come from America, and a panic
spread through the country, where 1t
was said band of American incendiaries
had arrived, with instructions to spread
fire and havoc in every direction. Sub
sequent events gave color to this appre
hension. 1ncendiary fires were attempted
at Plymouth and at Bristol; and in the
latter city the miscreant, having failed to
set fire to some vessels, contrived to burn
down several warehouses that stood upon
the quay, close to a crowded mass of
shipping. In house of the same city,
combustibles were found stored, and the
feeling of alarm was naturally increased
in no slight degree.
At the beginning of February, a man
was apprehended at Oldham, in Hamp-
shire, on charge of burglary. He was
Scotchman, named Aitken, twenty
four years of age-a wandering,
unsettled person, who at various
times had borne several aliases,
and who now turned out to be
John, the painter. Three years previous
ly, he had been to seek his fortune in
America, and had there adopted the
most extreme views of the party Of indie
pendencc. On returning to Great Brit
ain he had committed various acts of
theft. and was at length in custody on
suspicion of HOUSEKEEPING. 1t was
found very Difficult: matter, however,
to fix on him any connection with the
recent acts of incendiarism, for
he showed great cleverness in
parrying such questions as were asked.
On the suggestion of Earl Temple an
other painter named Baldwin, who had
also travelled in America, was put into
the same cell with Aiken. BY profess
ing sympathy with his views, he man
aged to win his confidence, and John.
the painter. speedily divulged a great
deal which, if true, it was very impor-
tant that the government should know.
Early in March he was tried at Winches
ter. The evidence of Baldwin being
confirmed by other witnesses, the &C
cused was found guilty and sentenced to
be hanged. The execution took place
on the 10th of March, on a gallows sixty
feet high, in front of the dock yard at
Portsmouth, after the prisoner had first
been carried in an open cart around the
ruins of the building he had destroyed