The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-02-20
Cotton Cargo Burners.
Uncovering a Conspiracy at
New Orleans.

Oaks, alias Otes, who was arrested last
evening ou the levee at Southport aud
is charged with having, with the assist
ance of two or more confederates or
conspirators, unknown, cut open the
ends of two bales Of cotton ready to be
stored on the steamer Floridian. and
secreting therein a quantity Of COM
bustible material for the purpose of
blowing up the vessel OF destroying the
same by fire, was arraigned before
Commissioner Wright this morning
and entered plea Of not guilty to the
charges preferred.
The act for which Oaks is held to
answer is in violation of section 1854
of the Revised Statutes of the United
States The prisoner was in couse-
quence placed under appearance bond
10 the sum of $4,000. When the Judge
pronounced the size of bond that would
be required, the accused stated that it
was unnecessary to make the bond so
heavy, as be was stranger in town
and bond of 500 would serve as
we'll. Commissioner Wright replied
that it was not his business to know
what amont of bond the person was
able to supply, therefore the bond
would remain as first fixed.
Oaks has the appearance of hard
looking customer with face ou him
that probably will not prove Of great
benefit 10 his behalf when be is called
to look jury iu the face. He evil
dently is man beyond the meridian Of
life and says he has not been in the city
more than two months aud came here
from Savannah, Ga. He claims that
be is not member of any of the 7ar-
ious labor organizations, but admits
that be knows something about loading
cotton on board of ships The sticks
taken from the two bales of cotton.
wrapped cp in wet cloth and which
we're first generally thought to be
dynamite. proved to-day to have been
composed of phosphorus aud it was
therefore probably the intention Of the
perpetrator not to blow up the ship or
injure auy of the workmen employed in
loading the ship. but evidently to
destroy the cotton in the vessel by fire.
The combustble material was carefully
laid up oa the back of one of the larger
record books in the marsbal's Office les,
oighs with glass covering it, so that
90 ore wonld become endangered by in-
reference with it, This morning it
was found that the stuff concealed in
the wraps had caught fire during the
night and there was nothing left but
the cilarred remains
For some time past steamship 5pro-
ing has been frequent occurrence at
Savannah. AMI the various steamship
companies doing business at that por,
have expended large suus in attempt
iug to ferret out the guilty parties, but
it seems that the conspiracy was 50
thoroughly organized that until now it
has proven impossible to even appre-
bend any Of the burners Detectives
from Savannah. it is said, have only re-
Gently visited New Orleans on such an
errand. bat as usual could not locate or
effect capture.
1t is therefore the general supposl-
ton that the man who is now under
arrest here and who goes by the Dame
Of Oaks aud states that he came from
Savannah, belongs to the conspiracy
which has SO long made that port quite
risky for vessels to receive cargoes
| from.
However, the proof at present does
not sustain such theory The fact
that there have been number Of fires
ou snip board here, and tha; generally
vessels after leaving here have been
discovered 90 dre, taken IN connection
with ta&y's discovery. would seem 20
bea he theory that ship burning
] he at work.