The Portland daily press., 1888-12-07
FIGHTING BURLINGTON WITH DYNAMITE
Rowies, One Of the Alleged conspIr-
ators, Describes the Plot.
He Says He Bought Dynamite and
Put Il on the Track, 2ss4
But Refused to Blow Up a scab
Boarding House.

GENEVA. ILL.,, Dec Gin the trial OF John
Fl. Bauereisen, chief of the alleged Burling-
ton dynamiter conspirators, the jury panel
was completed today. John A Bowles, said
to be one OF the squealers, was pat on the
stand as the first and most important wit
ness. Bowles testified that he went to work
as an engineer for the Burlington on March
22d, 1888, and was asked to quit by his
brother on April 4th. He Joined the Broth
erhood and was employed by Bauereisen to
buy dynamite and place Ii on the tracks, and
also to buy vitrlol and ammonia to put in the
water tanks and dose the engines. The wit
ness went on to tell how, two weeks after
his initiation as Brotherhood man, he met
Bauereisen at Aurora. and how the latter
told him that dynamite could now be used
with good effect, giving him $3.50 to buy the
stuff. Bowles said he could not purchase it
in Chicago in small quantities, but succeed
ed in doing so at Noblesville, Ind, where he
obtained three sticks. Returning to Chicago
he met Bauereisen, Hoge. Kelly, and other
leading strikers at the grievance committee
rooms, at the Grand Pacific. Bauerelsen,
said the witness. gave him $40, and told him
to 60 TO Galesburg with the goods" Bowles
then related how cordially he was received
by George A. Clark there, to whom Bauerei-
sen had written letter explaining the plot.
They drove to the Burlington tracks, but
were afraid to use the explosive. He and
Clark buried the dynamite near the water
works, and Bowles returned to Aurora to
have another talk with Bauereisen. Bauer
eisen furnished more money, and trip was
taken. by the witness TO Noblesville and
Westfeld. Ind, where more dynamite, be-
Sides Illuminating a w mn
chased.
MAY 1st," continued BowIes, "Bauereisen
gave me two silver dollars to hire rig and
visit the 20" trscks. / took Alexander
Smith with me, and drove to the railroad
crossing near the fair grounds, where l
placed stick Of dynamite with fulminat-
ing cap on the track We drove back to Au-
rora and heard the explosion a mile away.
The next morning Bauereisen said 1t was
good JOB, and that fange had been blown
off the leading truck wheel"
The witness next described how he and
Bauereisen and Smith experimental with
slow fuse in the consultation room of the
division hall at Aurora. After these exper
lments, Bauereisen wanted Smith and
BowIes to put dynamite under 'sscab"
boarding house known as the Council House
and blow 1t to atoms. They refused, saying
Il would be murder. Taking third trip to
Nobesyille. he bought more dynamite which
he took to Clark at Galesburg. Making
another trip to Indiana, he told how Bauer
eisen sent him check for $15 and a letter
which he destroyed but the contents of
which were in effect to "Hurry up and get to
Creston, uowa.) Take plenty of goods with
you. Have written Broderick to meet you.
If you come this way (Aurora) J. j. Kelly
and / would like to buy some goods from
you" Another letter giving advice to
Bowles concerning the Pinkerton
detectives, who we're supposed to
be shadowing him was. introduced. In
it was advice to shoot the sleuth hounds.