The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-27
DYNAMITE In CHICAGO.
An Attempt to Destroy the Residence of Judge
Tree, United States Minister to Brussels.

CHICAGO, Dec ga little after o'clock this
morning quart can of peculiar construction was
found on Judge Lambert Trees front porch, 94
Cass street, by his coachman, who tenderly took
it up and carried it into vacant lot in the rear,
and then started a run for the Chicago avenue
police-station. He was pale with fright when he
reached there, and telling Lieutenant Shepard
that he found can of dynamite, and where he
had found it, asked that an officer be sent down
to investigate. Officer Adams was sent back
with him, and together they took the mysterious
can to the Lake Shore at the foot of Chicago ave-
nue. and touched match to the foot of dynamite
fuse. which was wound about the can. The ex-
plosion made terrible noise, which was heard
distinctly at the station, and the earth torn
up for several feet. When the can found it
was standing under the doorway. The fuse was
charred at the end showing that it had been
lighted and gone out The police will investigate
the mysterious affair Judge Tree is now in
United States minister. No motive is known
for the attempt to destroy his residence, which
is one of the finest in Chicago, and was only com
pleted about a year ago. 1t is at present occu-
pied by Gen. A. G. McClurg
The deadly contrivance looked like common
lamp and, thinking it was put in the yard by
some practical joker, the coachman removed it
to the front yard. In laying it down he was
Mortified to notice that a fuse was attached to
the machine. A hurried inspection revealed
that it was not the innocent thing it
was deemed to be, and it left untouched
until Officer Gallaghers arrival The latter
carried it to the Central station. His appear
ance created the widest excitement, and the
officers lost no time getting to the outside.
Many of them, mindful of Otto Funk's ex-
pertinent with an Internal machine ran pell-mell
out of the station, and Gallagher was forced to
dispose of the machine himself He carried it
to a powder-dealer on Lake street, but this man
refused to touch it. A clerk in the store, how
ever examined it, and at first sight pronounced
it finely yconstructed dynamite bomb.
Take it out of here, and explode it at once, :"
shouted the frightened clerk. ''or it will blow
the whole street."
Gallagher and the clerk hastened with the ma
chine to the lake front, where preparation where
made to explode the bomb, and fuse five feet
long was attached to the machine and fired
Both men with all speed to safe distance.
none too soon, for they had not gone two hundred
feet when the machine exploded with
a tremendous noise The report was heard as
far west as Fifth avenue, and an idea of the
force of the explosion may be had in a statement
of the way the ground was torn up. For a
depth of six feet the hard frozen ground was
scooped up as if it were SO much water Officer
Gallaghers companion, an expert, was of the
opinion that the explosive was nitro-glycerine
and declared enough of it was present in the
machine to blow up the city hall.
Thus far the police have no idea Of the parties
who responsible for the contemplated out
rage 1t not known that any motive existed
for the commission of such barbarous act. The
police have made no arrests. The Tree residence
is one of The most elaborate and costly homes in
the city, Occupying one-quarter of an entire
block in a fashionable residence district in the
north division of the city. The building proba-
bly, represents 5000, 900, with its valuable con-
tents 1t is a three-story structure, of brown
stone, rock-faced, and covering a wide area. 1t
has been occupied for some time by Gen. A. c.
McC.urg, of the large publishing house of Jan
sen, McClurg & Co.
Up to IL o'clock tonight the police were una
bic to furnish any clew as to who are the perpe-
traitors of the deed. Though there have been no
Socialistic demonstrations here for several
months past of any account, it is pretty general
ly surmised that some Socialist attempted the
demolition of Judge Trees mansion for the
good of the cause" There are no evidences to
make this theory seem probable; but, in the alb
sence of any other, it continues to hold The
police are still investigating the affair.