The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-17
BLOWN OPEN WITH DYNAMITE.
SAFE OF DECATER POsTOFFICE
LOOTED BY BURGLARS.

IcxoIosIon Made a Terrific Noise, But
Little Attention Was Paid to II.
Robbers Got About S10O and IA Lot
of Papers-COmmiSsiO stevens
VIII Insist ON Proper Inspection OF
FertiIizers-Invites Consumers to
send Him Samples.
Atlanta. Feb. 1G.-Burgars forced their
way into the postofce at Decatur some
time last night. blew open the safe with
dynamite. and took off everything of value
they could find.
Mrs. X. P. Kirkpatrick. the pos mistress,
said to-day she thought about 800 in
money was missing. The entire cash
drawer was taken off, also a book of New
York drafts. a lot Of insurance papers and
postofiice receipts.
Mrs. Kirkpatrick notified the town and
county authorities al Decatur of the rob-
berry this morning, and sent to Atlanta
for detective 10 aid in the hunt for the
criminals The postofice authorities at
Washington were notified also.
The burglary was the result of a second
attempt to rob the postofice. The first
attempt was made about two months ago
The postoffice is a small. wooden building,
with front and back door and windows
only a short distance from the ground on
both sides. one of the windows opens into
the part of the building cut off for the
use of the postmistress and ID was through
that the entrance was made. The win
dow shutters were priced open by the
burglars.
Explosion Was Terrific.
The noise of the explosion which blew
upen the safe was terrific being heard all
over the town, but no one thought it
worth while to look into the cause of 1t. A
few people imagined it was thunder, and
others thought it might be blasting on one
OF the roads near the town.
Mrs Kirkpatrick the postmistress, who
lives near by, thus describes the safe blow
ing:
Il was awake at the time of the expIo-
sion, which happened at about half past 4
O'Clock. l was suffering with the toothache
and was up at half past to put something
in my tooth and was still awake when l
heard a terrific noise over in the direction
of this building. l live in the next house,
and the force of that dynamite Jared my
windows.
Il thought il was enough to blow up the
postoffice, but l had no idea what had oc-
CURED until / went over this morning. The
whole office was In the utmost confusion.
Papers, boxes and books were strewn
everywhere. The furniture was broken.
The safe door was blown completely off its
hinges and fragments of steel as well as
desks, tables and other things were scat
tered about the room"
The Decatur officers think the burglary
was the work of professional cracksmen
from Atlanta. Several safes have been
blown open in the suburbs of the city with
in the last few months, and il is possible
that there is an organized gang of cracks
men here.
New Fertilizer System.
Commissioner Of Agriculture Stevens has
inaugurated a new system in fertilizer in
specton. He has prepared circular letter
ON the subject in which he says:
Upon the question of fertilizers there
has heretofore been great complaint among
the people of the state, especially by the
consumers, that they were not properly
protected by this department.
In order that there may never be such
complaint in future 1 have fully made up
my mind that as far as it is possible for
of the fertilizers and have analysis made
of the same
with this In view I am now getting
up samples from ali parts of the state
where goods can be found, or where they
are shipped out, and l have urged the in
spectors to be dligent in making their in
spections in order that both the consumer
and the manufacturer may be properly
protected.
wants Samples Sent in.
Il invite all of the consumers of the
state and the retail agents who are selling
to the consumers when they desire an in
spectlon, to make such request to this de-
partment. l will have a man go at once
who is authorized to make inspection OF
fertilizers and take samples and send them
TO this department where an analysis will
be made.
When a sample is taken from a pack
age, it must be in its original condition;
this is the law
The consumers pay all of the tax on
fertilizers sold in this state, therefore
they are entitled to ample and full pro
lection, and so far as this department is
concerned IL will be my pleasure to see
that all safeguards are thrown around
them that the law allows.
AFTER THE BELL COMPANY.