Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-31
BLOWN UP WITH DYNAMITE.
An A,temp, 10 Destroy the Once or Wool
len.Factory.

len.Factory.
A Pittsfield Mass. } special Gays: This COM
mupjty was thrown into great exoitementto-
day by the intelligence that dynamite plot
had been attempted on George L. Plunketts
woollen.mill Office, In HIDsdale, about
one mile southwest Of the railroad-station.
Early on Sunday morning the night.watch-
man Of the mill heard terrific explosion
some hours before daylight, az he was go
ing his rounds, In the direction OF the Of
fee. and, on Investigation, be found that
an attempt had been made to blow up the
Office with some explosive. which proved,
on Thorough investigation by experts, to
have been dynamite. The office where the
attempt was mad Is solldly constructed OF
stone, and is about 40 by % feet, one story
high, and Is situated about 40 feet from the
great stone woollen mill. Under the floor,
and leading through the outer walls, are VEN
tilntipg holes, about foot square. These
apertures are now closed by old sacking.
which ills them completely. A cartridge OF
dynamite was concealed in the sacking with
a fuse so attached 10 a cap that 1t could be
easily exploded. The explosion took place
about 8 A. NJ, and the terrific crash was
heard for miles around. The old slcking
prevented the building from being demol-
ished, but its walls were badly cracked,
the windows were blown out, aud the sup
porting tlmbers underneath were badly
broken. A large portable safe in the office
was nearly overturned and the furniture
scattered about. Houses in the Immediate
vicinity were so badly shaken that dishes
were thrown from the shelves. The main
mill escaped without injury.
The theory of the explosion is that IT was
done to brighten the proprietor OF the mill
into discbsrging the superintendent, who
has for long time been unpopular with
part Of the heir. About four years ago
Mr.. Plunkott engaged Oscar suenderhaun
as superintendent. He discharged some OF
the Irish help and hired Germans in their
places. This incensed the Irish, and they
have threatened vengeance upon him.
Suendcrbauf and his brother were
assaulted with stones by posse OF
Irish about two years ago near the mill.
and when they were about overcome
by their antagonists Superintendent Suen-
derhaufT drew his revolver and fired info
the crowd, wounding one Collins. Suen-
derbaufF was arrested and taken before the
County Court and discharged, az 1t APP
peared that he had acted In self-dcfence.
Last fall he was walking on the railroad on
Sunday and was shot In the head by an
unknown person concealed in the bushes.
who was never apprehended. The wound
was not serious. Suenderhauff has re-
peated!y been threatened by the Irish
operatives and their friends since, and he
has had care about going about uu-
armed. Dynamite has recently been
used in the construction OF water
works a few miles away, and in dig
cling wells. and could easily have been
obtained. IL Is sold in small quantities
f.. Pittsiield. and it is known that some OF
tie old operatives know how to use 1t.
Professional detectives have been sent for.
and the local officers are on the lookout.
A close watch will be kept OF the property
for fear Of repetition Of the attempt. The
mill has recently been running on short
time, but will START up next monih ali re
machinery. Its thought that tie irish fear
that Superintendent sSuenderhauf will hire
Germans 70 ~. their places if he is re-
tanned. Other mill proprietors in the
county are apprebensiye that this act may
lead the operators who are working on
short-time for small wages to try to commit
similar deeds.