New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-04
DYNAMITERS AT WORK.
A CowARDLY ATTACK ON BUTCHERS.
scANLAN BROTHERS BECOME THE VICTIMS on
DIsGRUNTLED UNION woRKMEN, WHO
THROW A BOMB INTO THE
OFFICE.

OfflCE.
boycott on the sheep abattoir Of Scanlan
brothers, at No s13 West Fortietk-st. which has
lasted several months, was followed yesterday by
an explosion Of dynamite in the firms office on
the first floor Of the three-story building. The
office was in the southeast corner. close 10 the
sidewalk. 1t was q small ROOM with door and
window opening Fortieth-st, and il held only
safe, desk, clock and two or three chairs
Ihe explosion demolished all the furniture except
the safe, which was not injured, blew out the
door and window, tore a hole two feet in diameter
through the floor and wrecked the hinsy wooden
partition which separated the Office from the
main door. Several window panes were broken
IN other parts Of the building. Nobody was in
the office at the time of the explosion, and no.
body was hurt.
The explosion occurred a few minutes after
a. m. Foreman Michael Mahoney and fifteen
butchers had been az work slaughtering sheep
in the building for nearly four hours and the
long racks on the main floor, just outside the
office, were filed with carcasses The butchers
were still at work in the rear of the first story,
but Mahoncy had gone home to his breakfast
when the loud report startled everybody in the
neighborhood Policeman Rebhoz heard the
noise a block away and found crowd of fright
ened butchers the sidewalk in front Of hs
abattoir Somebody had rung fife alarm and
several companies OF firemen were fastening TO
the place.
PIECES OF THE BOMB FOUND.
There was no fire, and the fremen soon re-
turned TO their quarters without ascertanng tho
real nature Of the explosion. 4 strong smell of
gas, due to a break in gasppe in the cellar
led the police to the hasty conclusion that gas
had exploded there and a report of that kind
was sent to Headquarters. A little investigation.
however showed that the work OF destruction
had been accomplished by a dynamite bomb.
The downward force of the explosion such as only
high explosives exert, was apparent at glance.
One piece Of tin, which was five inches in length
and was twisted out of shape and partly fused
by sudden heat, had been driven half through
a inch board of tho wrecked partition. It's shape
indicated that the charge of dynamite was in.
cssed in a tin can, rectangular in form, and of a
size convenient for carrying in the pocket of a
mans coat The bits of evidence were collected
by the workmen and preserved by Michael Seaman.
member of the firm. They may be useful in
helping to convict the miscreant who hurled the
bomb, if he is ever found and arrested.
The abattoir is owned by th-ee brothers, James
Michael and Patrick Sc1nlan who employ about
fifty men in their business. Among the workmen
fifteen butchers, and they do rot belong TO the
Butchers Union. Formerly only members of the
February
firm discharged james Mclaughlin, a butcher VINO
b. came too abusive when he was scoided for care
less work. and then there WAS trouble. Joseph
Hurry, walking delegate Of the union, went to
the abattoir and told Michael Scanlan that Nc
Laughlin must be taken back at once. Alr. Scan
Ian said the firm would not yield TO such dictaton.
but would maintain their night to discharge an
offending employe at any time. The other butch
ers belonging 10 the union thereupon left the abat-
tCir and their places filled by nOn-union mel.
Although the strike a failure from the START
SzSf "A
firm and the non-union employees in every possible
way.
sCANLAN's EMPLOYEES ALSO ANNOYED.
The boycott extended also TO employees of the
firm. Thomas Ryan, of No. Az West Fifty
seventh-st., worked in the abattor and his wife
kept small drygOods store. Circulars were
scattered about, calling on people TO boycott Mrs.
Ryan's store because her husband was aiding
Scanlan Brothers to fight organized labor" Mem
bers of the union met IN Il liquOr-store not far
from the abattoir, and lay in wait for the firms
employees. Missiles and cpithets were hurled at
The neighborhood has bad reputation for vfo-
lence and lawlesSness. the old rookerles, which
are known collectively as liell's Kitchen" are
in Thirty -nnth-st, within a stonethrow of the
ahattoir and David StevensOns brewery. which
strikers tried to blow up with dynamite less than
year ago, is in plain sight. in Fortieth-st
Michael Scanlan said yesterday that members
Of the Butchers Union undoubtedly had tried TO
wreck the abattOir with dynamite, but he doubted
if the cowardy k1aves could be convicted. The
police did not appear to he active in searching
for the bomb-thrower. Apparently the bomb
was thrown into the firms U1ice through the
grating of the front window II the thrOwer
seen on the street the fact might easily be kept
from the police, as the men employed in the adj
joining slaughter houses members Of the union
and enemies of Scanlan Brothers.
Matthew Mescall. butcher in the employ Of
the Scanlans. yesterday morning entered Heine-
manns abattoir at No. 500 West FOrtieth-st. by
mistake. He was chased out quickly by union
butcher who threw knife at him. James
Symons, another non-union butcher. lives in front
rooms the first floor of the house No. 557 West
Forty. eighth-st On Sunday night and again yes.
terday morning somebody fired shots into his rooms
from liqu0r-store across the street On Tuesday
night two men were seen skulkng in the hallway
of q tenement house in Thirtv-ninthst. whore
Foreman Mahoney lives and Mahonev thought
they were waiting there 10 attack him. lie has
applied for a permit TO carry pistol. The Seam
lans will try 10 secure better police protection
for their employees and property, and Chief In
spectOr ByrneS viii be asked to investigate the
dynamite explosion
PORK A LOSING TRADE IN LOUISVILLE.