Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-05

Elisssn Rs1gh-lseklng Hen Eassr Canada
to Blow Up the Wslland Canal.
Toronto Dispatch to Tho Press.
Between four and five weeks ago the
Canadian gOvernmout received Information
from the British embassy at Washington
that an attempt would be made by parties
with the dynazIit faction in
New York to blow up the Welland canal
by means of dynamite. The matter some.
how leaked out, but created absolutely no
sensation, being regarded as nothing more
than hoax.
It now appears, however, therc was
good reason to fear that an attempt would
be made, and further information having
been received by the authorities, precau-
tions were taken to prevent q surprise. 1t
was understood that the attempt would
be made on Friday, May 13, the day fixed
for the execution Of Joe Brady at Dublin,
and on the Saturday previous number OF
guards were stationed at intervals along
the line of the canal.
As matters subsequently turned out,
these precautions were taken none too
soon. On Sunday, the day previous to
that said to have been fixed for the at
tempt, Is rough looking characters, each
carrying q satchel, jumped from the train
at st. Catharine's, having just come owe:
tho suspension bridge from Buffalo. They
were Immediately Swallowed by private
detectives, who were sent to the place OF
the supposed attack upon Canada, who
soon after overheard sufficient of the con-
versation of the new arrivals to be con-
vinced that this was tho party they were
commissioned to watch.
Tho new arrivals walked about appar-
entlyly unconcerned, but at the same time
were making secret arrangements for the
| carrying out of the object which they had
| in view. A few of their number were sent
| along tho canal to select suitable spot tt
destroy the connection between the upper
and lower lakes. They had not gone far
however, before they found that theil
secret had got to the ears of tho govern
ment officials, and that their game was up
They saw large numbers of men stationed
all along the canal in sentry boxes. Tht
delegation returned to st. Catharine
where the party Immediately dispersed
and returned as quickly as possible to tn
United States.
The watches are still stationed along tn
canals, guarding the locks day and night
There is no doubt whatever as to the cor
rectness of the above story. A govern
ment official connected with the cana
admitted as much, and congratulated
himself on having taken precautions il
time. The superintendent of the cana
declines to give any information on tn
subject, but stated that everything hat
been kept quiet, even from the mon set t
guard the canal.
i All along the line of the canal notice
are posted up prohibiting persons iron
driving along tho banks, and the foot wall
is dotted its whole length with brow
sentry boxes, while the guards keep up
constant patrol by the wafer side. Their
are a number of places where tunnel
have been made under the canal, an
which, were they not properly guarded
would be good places to damage the cana
almost beyond repair. The Great West
ern railway runs under the canal nea
Merritton, and, if the new canal had beel
destroyed, communication would has
been cut off completely between the uppe
and lower lakes, az the old Wellingto
canal is undergoing heavy alterations
which render it wholly unfit for traffi
during the present season.