The Indianapolis journal., 1885-10-28
DYNAMITE AT ST. LOUIS.
Explosions Under Street-Cars Becoming FIRE.
quent and Dangerous.

quent ana Dangerous.
St. Louis Special.
There is a scare in St Louis Just now that
amounts almost to a reign of terror among pa
irons of the street railroads. The mob violence
that characterized the strike of drivers and con-
ductors In its early stages has given place to the
scientific warfare" of the Irish extremists.
There were two explosions last week, and then
all seemed quiet until Saturday On Saturday
at o'clock, No Is, of the Peoples line,
while going west on Chouteau avenue, struck
torpedo at Twelfth street. but while the passen-
gers were very much frightened no one was
hurt At 7 o'clock No. 20, of the Forest
Park line, had a similar experience between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, on Chestnut
street. Neither Of these attacks was in any way
serious.
What might have proved disastrous affair,
however, the explosion of what is thought
to have been dynamite under a Benton Belle
fontaine car, No. 20, at 1856 the same evening.
The car was going south on Fourteenth sereet,
between Bremen avenue and Farrar street. when
a cartridge exploded beneath the front wheel
with report that was heard all over the city.
The wheel was broken, while at the same time
the rail beneath was driven into the timber Of
the stringer fully an inch. Charles Schlesinger,
the driver and one passenger were the only oc
cupants of the car and neither was injured.
Schlesinger thinks the attack directed at
himself, as he has been threatened several times
by strikers, and old employees of the company.
Again, atabout 1870 last night. car No. A, of
the JEFFERSON avenue line, na0 passed CnOuIeau
avenue. going north, and was mounting the in
cline to the bridge spanning the Missouri Pacific
tracks, when an explosion occurred Added to
the bright moonlight the rays from the street
lamps that line either side of the bridge made
everything as bright as day. Before the car had
covered ehaf the macadamzed approach
the front wheel on the east track joited sharply
over some obstacle, and the next moment there
was explosion under the wheel that
threw the car off the track and frightened the
twenty two passengers almost into commissions
The explosion was double one. and the volume
of sound so great that it spread over a territory
at least eight miles square. A large crowd col
ected in few minutes. They found the car
with the right rear wheel broken in half the
box surrounding it in splnters. and several win
dows shattered. This was all the damage ap-
parent None of the passengers were injured,
and the driver, M. Kellar complained only of
bruises received from falling over the dash
board.
The was run into the middle of the bridge,
watchman placed in charge, and the passen-
gers, or such of them would ride, placed in
regular intervals.
of bringing suit against the city for damages
already sustained by these explosions. There is
also talk of forming vigilance committee, but
no definite steps have been taken.
Two arrests were made to day-James Kelly
and Walter Barry. They are charged with plac
ing torpedoes the tracks of the Chouteau- ave-
enue line and it is said the police have sure
case against them. which the men themselves
admit, and it is believed they will give informa-
ton that will lead to the arrest Of the remainder
of the miscreants.