The morning times., 1896-02-03
BOMB IN 4 PATROL BOX
Two Men Dropped it While Be.
ing Chased By an Officer.
1T HAS BEEN PUT TO SOAK
The Owners Acted SusplciOusIy About
the Center Market and when Pur-
sued Dropped the Alleged Internal
Machine in the Museum Grounds.
Strict Investigation Being Made.

A bomb, which contains over pound OF
explosive material, is locked up in the
patrol box at the corner OF Ninth street and
Louisiana avenue.
1t has been there since Saturday morning
and every policeman who has teIephoned
from the box since noon on Saturday
has opened the door with fear and trembling
The greatest secrecy in regard 70 the bomb
has been observed by the polite. and every
precaution has been taken 10 keep the
matter quiet.
The story leaked out last night, however,
ami it was learned that the belief is current
in police circles that bold attempt TO blow
UP the Center Market was frustrated by the
prompt action of a special policeman
About o'clock on Saturday morning.
when the market was crowded with pur-
Chasers and the sidewalks and every foot
OF available space was occupied with those
Offering produce for sale, a man hurried up
to Special D fficer Nicholas Miles and
informed him that two cOlored men were
acting suspiciOusIy on street near TIA
corner of Seventh.
STARTED AFTER THEM.
He told the special officer that the men
were carrying something wrapped in d
newspaper, which they handled with the
greatest care. and seemed anxious 70 keep
from the view of passersby. OFFICER Miles
Immediately went with the man to the place
where he stated he had seen the men.
They had walked along p street toward
Ninth, keeping close TO the high iron fence
that separates the street from the Mall.
Policeman Miles and the stranger stood
| on the corner and watched them. When the
men had proceeded about half the distanceto
| Ninth street. they stopped and stood agalnss
/ the fence talking earnestly
Roth OF THEM RAN
The little man who held the package
! saw the officer coming. He SPOKE 10 hia
| companion, who took one glance at the ap
/ prOaching policeman and then both men
/ bOlted up B street. The officer imBle.
| diateIy started in pursuit.
They ran along B street TO Tenth and
| when they reached the entrance to the mall
/ turned into tie gateway and slisa ppeared
/ behind the shFubbery-
! When the officer entered tho park ths
i men We're not 70 be seen, but lying on the
/ turf was a package wTa pped in ne wspa per-
/ After satisfying himself that The men had
escaped, Miles returned aud examined ths
! packa ge-
He uHwrapped the paper and found 3
large iron ball, similar in shape and size 10
( the crown of derby hat.
/ The bah was hollow and appeared to be
half filled with sand or sOmeiiSe substance,
| which made peculiar sw!shinG sound az
| the officer turned the BAN over in his
| hands. A small piece Of cord pr0truded
| from a hole in one end, and as the police
| man handled the globe it slowly dawned
upon him that he held a bomb which
| might, for aught he knew. explode at any
| moment.
PUT IT TO SOAK
With all possible haste he hurried across
the street, and, meeting Policeman Hern-
don of the First precinct. turned his
burden over to him.
Herndon took the bomb TO the patrol
box at the corner OF Ninth and Louisiana
| avenue and telephOned the station, asking
/ instructions. There is no place for such
| an article at the station house and as
something had to he done with it, it
| was finally decided to place it in a bucket
of water in the patrol box. where it has
remained ever since. Although no analysis
| has vet been made, it is known that the bomb
contains over Il pound of some explosive
sufficiently powerful to wreck the entire
market building.
But few days ago two men were dis'
charged for drunkenness by q dealer whose
stand is on the B street side OF the market
They left. threatening vengeance. Ths
description of these men taIlieS with that
OF the men whom Officer Miles chased
Saturday morning.
| An investigation was at once started
and is being conducted very quietly but
! earnestly Very little is known among
the police about the matter and those who
are converSant with the facts refuse "a
say anything in regard 90 the case