Evening journal., 1890-01-28
LAST EDITION
FIENDS HOT FROM HE'LL.
ATTEMPTS TO BLOW UP THE DU-
POINT POWDER WORKS.


Matches Found Under the Door of
Pressing nill-AlsO In a Magsziue-A
Develiah Plot ts Cause Death and De-
struction.
That there is terrible conspiracy to
destroy the property of Z. |. Dupont de
Nemours & Company can no longer be
doubted The plotters In this conspiracy
are determined, for some reason, to
wreck vengeance on the firm and will
not be deferred by anything like human
feelings in their designs.
Yesterday morning Edward Grant, en-
ployed in press min at the upper yard,
was Mortified on pushing open the sliding
door which leads into the mill, to see
number of matches in the groove III
which the door Slides The matches
were SO placed that the door
would probably ignite them in sliding.
Luckily the fiendish plot miscarried, and
the door, instead of grinding the phos-
phorous into flame, passed the groove
harmlessly The horror that was thus
averted will be appreciated when it is
known that this mill contained about
three tons of high test gunpowder The
building was of stone. and would surely
have been destroyed, and there were at
least four men close enough to be GER
tainly killed A rolling mill, used in the
manufacture Of powder. is within hun
bred feet of the press room, and had the
matches ignited, this would also have
been destroyed.
Is There Plot.
The possibility of the existence of a
plot OF some kind for the destruction of
the firms property was limited at the day
following the disastrous burning of
barn belonging to the company last
week.
A mora revolving plot cannot be i'm
iagined, and it was deep one also, for if
the matches had ignited no one would
have ever known the cause of the
disaster The people of DuPont's Banks
are much excited about the affair and
will not feel safe as long as the criminals
are at liberty.
Taking Precautions.
Eighteen special watchmen are en-
ployed patrolling the grounds surround
ing the works, and the firm intend that
neither effort nor money shall be spared in
searching out she guilty parties. Nearly
all the men in the employ of the com
pany are doing watchmans duty and
every dangerous point is closely guarded.
The people of the Banks go about with a
look of dread on their faces, and the men
are afraid to start the mills a-going.
tits thought that tine criminals are
known and it is believed they will be ar
rested before long.
stiu More Horrible Attempt
man from DuPont's Banks stated
that on leaving his place this morning he
was informed that fifty feet of fuse and
q number Of matches were found in the
magazine up the Brandywine river. This
& magazine contains many tons of powder.
A car partially loaded with powder
was transferred from the upper yard
down to the Hagley Yard yesterday. On
u the cars arrival at the latter place q
q match was found in the car The match
was taken 10 Francis G. Dupont, who has
charge Of the works, and it is said he
4 fairly broke down when the facts were
stated to him. and said that he did moi
care so much for the destruction Of his
property, but the danger in which the
employees were placed he could not bear
Idle Men Seen.
A number Of men were seen lettering
in the neighborhood of the mill where
the matches were found on Sunday, and
~ ii is thought that one of these men put
the matches where they were found. The
N men are believed to be certain former
employees of the company, who have been
4 discharged during the last few months
for inattention 10 work and other faults
If the explosion had taken place it would
have destroyed at least $35, 900 or $40, 00(
worth Of property not to speak of tht
e human lives