The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-04
DYNAhlTERS At WORK.
Attempt 10 Blow UP the Ontario Parliament
BuiIdings-Seyeral Cartridges Found.

A Toronto (Ont.) special OF Wednesday
says A great sensation was caused here
this afternoon by the discovery OF a num-
Der OF cartridges Of dynamite secreted un-
der the Parliament buildings where ses-
sons OF the Ontario Legislature are held.
A son Of one OF the caretakers, Willie Mac
donald. was playing around the western
end Of the building, in which is situated
the Crown Lands Office, containing
all documents and records OF the
department from the earliest settle
ment OF the province. In n ventiator
under the window lighting the Office OF
the Commissioner OF Crown Lands he saw
roll OF paper containing two dynamite
cartridges OF the most powerful kind. a
wire and fuse were attached, and though
its connection has not vet been traced to 4
battery, there is not the slightest doubt
that they were ready for explosion at very
short notice, should the desired opportu-
nity occur. The mingled CONSERVATION
and excitement, as may be Judged, was
great in the extreme, and word was imme-
diately passed around the buildings TO
make careful examination. Under
the chamber OF the Speaker OF the
Legislature were discovered similar cart
ridges containing dynamite. Preparations
had here been made for attachment, which
Law short distance from the cartridges,
thus demonstrating that the miscreants had
been disturbed in their foul purpose and
compelled suddenly to abandon 1t. Had
the conspiracy trial been in progress the
Speaker would doubtless have occupied his
chambers. and the dastardly attempt has
therefore a dreadful as well as peculiar
significance. The safe containing the
records OF the Registrar-GeneraPs Depart
ment is in close proximity TO the place
where the destructive agent was discovered,
and this furnishes additional incentives to
perpetrate the outrage.
The officials at Parliament buildings say
that they have not seen any suspicious
characters about the buildings lately. The
cartridges, however, must have been
placed in the ventilators to-day, else they
would have been discovered before. A
thorough search is being made for other
explosives.
The cartridges found are about six
inches long by an inch and half in diane
ter, and weigh between quarter and half
a pound. They are called Etna No. 2,
and are manufactured by the Etna Pow
der Company, Of Chicago. Across the end
of the shell OF each cartridge is printed in
large type, "forty per cent. -; this. doubt
less, being the proportion OF nitro-glyce-
rlne. The shells appear to have been new
" oiled, as il to keep out the moisture.
There is enough in any one OF these cart
ridges to blow up either the east or the
west wing OF Parliament buildings. A
piece OF fuse, about two yards in length,
was found by the gardener this morning
living on the lawn IN the neighb0rhood
where the cartridges were afterward dis
covered. The gardener was at work with
his lawn-mower when he picked up the
fuse. and not knowing its use he thought 1t
had fallen from window above, and 1t
therefore excited no curiosity In his mind.
Another piece OF fuse was found under the
steps near by. The fuses and cartridges
are now in the possession OF Colonel Gill
more, clerk of the House, and active eff
forts are being made to discover the scOun-
drels who planned and almost executed
this terrible outrage.
In some quarters there is rumor that
DR.. Cosse, OF Chicago, the man who spent
the last few weeks in Ottawa, and who
alleged that he knew the details OF dyna-
mite plots, may know something OF this
affair, He arrived in Toronto from Otta-
wa last night.
IBy telegraph to the Dispatch.J
TORONTO, ONT, May 1.-Now that the
excitement as to the dynamite scare is
somewhat abated, it is the prevailing opn-
ion that the afIoir is either the result OF Q
practical Joke, or the cartridges were placed
in the House Of Parliament by some one
anxious for a position as Waterman. The
tact that the wires attached to the cartridges
ware wing in such a position that they
could not but have been seen by people
nossino gives color to these theories. Oi
course extra guards have now been placed
around the buildings and also the Govern
ment house.