The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-01
ILLINOIS DYNAMITE FlENDs.
Secret Society, Headed by an Aliiance
Leader, Plots DiaboIicai neada

SANDovAL, ILL.,, Nov. 3o-Excitement In th5s
place yesterday ran high. At late hour Satur-
day night Calvin Tracy aud Joseph Lorden two
coal miners, were arrested, and at an early hour
on Sunday James T. McKibbon, late editor az
the Brotherhoodof Labor at this place, and sub
sequently editor aud publisher of the Lfberutor
OF springfield, was arrested ON his farm nesr
town. Soon after daylight news of the arrest
began to spread, aud the cause was subsequently
made known TO the public. The prisoners wero
kept separated, closely guarded by deputies.
and Tracy and Lorden during the day wilsed
and not only contested being concerned in and
parties to the crimes OF which they xere
charged. but also admitted conspiracy 70 blow
up the large store building OF II. r. Hall In tnin
place. They also stated that MeKibcon was the
leader, and that the postoffice and J. l. Robert
sons store. L. /. Briseoes hack barn and the
large lumber sheds of Ingersoli & o., were also
to be reduced to ashes by them, with the
chances that most OF the town would be burned
before the fire could be subdued seve.el fns
residences and large barns have been burned in
this locality during the year, evidently due.tn
the work OF incendiaries. Among those build
ings we're Colonel N. b. Morrison's and Sikes
Hurd's residences aud Judge Vaughan and ex-
Sheriff Samuel r. Corrigan's barna. News Of
the arrests soon spread and hundreds of farmers
gathered from the surrounding country in
Guiding the men whose property had been
burned Looks of determination were visible
in the faces of the last-named, and when the
prisoners were brought before Squire I. c.
Ruby, tor preliminary hearing, the large skating
rink, where the court had convened. was nlled
with people. Tho hearing, however, was pest
poned.
IL appears that secret organization Is In az
issence, among the objects of which Ia the de-
struction of property, IL not lives. Certain per-
sons are selected because of some reason known
only to the members Of the organization. Soy.
eral weeks ago, according to the statement OF
one OF the prisoners, the store building OF II. r
Hall was selected to be blown up. One of the
sef-eonfesssd culprits, being q friend TO Mr.
Hall, informed him of what was in store for his
building. Mr.. Hall took into his confidence sev.
eral trusty citizens here, and for the past tive
weeks these men have kept watch over property
In town. Several times they could have
captured part of the gang, but
they delayed, hoping to get all OF
them Saturday night, however, they deemed
ii best to take in the persons they now have
under arrest. At the trial, IL is asserted, somo
very startling developments will come TO light
in reference to the matter. McKibbon declares
that he is innocent and that In due time he will
so convince the public. He was for number
of years principal Of the public schools here and
also at Patkoe, ten miles north OF this place.
and he was supervisor from here last year. OF
recent years he has been prominent member
OF the Alliance and Farmers Mutual Benefit
Association, al one time, two years since, being
state business agent of the latter association.