Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-12-12
A MARK FOR DYNAMITE.
Bomb-T hrOwers Resume Operations in
Chicago-Blowing Up a DistillerY.

operations
Chicago-Blowing Up Distillery.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec. 10.-Shortly after
6 O'Clock this morning an attempt was
made to destroy the Shufeldt & Co.
distillery, in the northern portion of
the city, by means of dynamite. Enough
facts are not yet known to Justify con-
clusion as to whether it is the work of
Anarchists, or of some one who has
personal grievance against the Shu-
feldts.
At the hour mentioned the neighbor-
hood was shaken by tremendous ex-
plosion, shaking the buildings in the
neighborhood, breaking many panes of
glass in the surrounding houses and
causing the people to rush into the street
in great alarm.
Investigation showed that a bomb
had been thrown, probably from the
street, into detached warehouse used
for storing high wines. This build
ing was shattered; the hoops were
burst off many of the casks and the
heads of some of them were driven in.
An examination of the vicinity of the
scene of the explosion resulted in the
discovery of package wrapped in pa
per, lying in the street. It contained
several sticks of dynamite and some
Illuminating caps. A fuse connected
with the package showed evidence of
having been lighted, but had gone out
prematureiy. These articles are now in
the possession of the police, who are at
work on the case.
A jagged hole, about three feet square,
was torn in the roof, and in various 9TH
er ways the structure was damaged.
Examination revealed the fact that some
person, evidently standing on the high
sidewalk on Hawthorn Street, had
thrown upon the low roof of
the building package of
dynamite sticks, tied together and
attached to a fuse which had been
ignited. The sticks consist of com
pressed dynamite, wrapped in paste
board and provided with Illuminating
caps. The combination had exploded,
and it was only owing to a peculiar
chance that the entire structure as well
as the surrounding buildings were not
instantly leveled.
The aim of the man or men who COM
mitted the deed was evidently to hit the
skylight on the roof. and the mark was
missed by but few feet. Underneath
the skylight are eight large tubs or watts
of highly inhammable liquor. Had the
dynamite sticks exploded on the
skylght the liquor would have
been instantly ignited and
terrible explosion would have resulted
an explosion, Capt. Setback thinks, of
sufficient violence to have torn down a
score of buildings. AS it was, the dam
age was paratively small. A lot of
barrels of wines underneath the spot
where the explosion occurred had their
hoops torn off, but none Of the contents
was spilled.
On the roof about fifteen feet from
the spot where the first explosion oc-
Cured was found another bundle of
dynamite sticks-seven in number.
These had not exploded on account of
some defect in the fuse, which had evil
IDENTIFY been ignited. Fortunately no
one was in the building at the time and
no loss of life or limb was caused
James D. Lynch, one of the proprie-
tors of the distillery, says he believes it
to be the work of the whisky trust.
eve are not IN the trust" he said,
"and that organization has on numer-
Gus occasions threatened to do US up
To show you the desperate character of
the deed let me call your attention to
of whisky stored under the roof
that was torn open, and if these
had been lgnited terrible fire
would have been added to the horrors
of the explosion. One representative
of the trust was here shortly after the
explosion, but the feeling among the
men against his organization was so
great that be had to skip out for fear of
being violently dealt with
There is no doubt in the world that
it is the work of the trust" said Mr..
Lynch. ''They have been threatening
us with vengeance for some time past,
and the other day we received word to
look out for damage. We supposed
they meant to cut prices and we told
them to damage away l never
thought they would be guilty of such an
act as this"
Yesterday the extraordinary move
ments by the police led the revolution
lists to abandon two of their advertised
projects, but the reds in the Northwest
district defed police interference and
were not molested. When morning
came the police stations in the Anarch-
ist districts looked as warlike as they
did in the memorable days in 1886,
when men walked about the streets
with dynamite bombs in their pockets.
Over 1000 police officers were held in
readiness for an outbreak yesterday.
They were massed in all of the threat
ened districts. Thirty patrol wagons
were ready to dash to any part of the
city, and score of deputy sheriffs, un-
der command of Bailiff Cahill, patroll-
ed the neighborhood about the halls
where the meetings were advertised to
be held Besides this force of officers,
all of whom were armed, the entire de-
tective force was detailed to mingle
among the revolutionists and take notes
of their utterances. The day passed,
however, without any disturbance, the
Reds appearing to be awed by the prep
arations made to prevent the holding of
meetings.
HIS SUIT WAS HOPELESS.