The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-11
StarbOard Side Of the Vessel Damn ged
by an Explosion that Threw
Up q Column of Water.
BRITISH OFFICERS ANGRY
TRANSPORT MOVED INTO MID
STREAM AND DOUBLE WATCH SET.
Wire, Which Is Sup
posed to Have Been Attached to
the Torpedo, Found Yesterday.

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 10.-What is re-
garded as an attempt of a Boer sympathi-
ger to blow up British transport occurred
shortly after midnight when there was a
terrific explosion at the stock landing,
where the Harrison steamer Mechanician
is moored The Mechanician is to carry
mules to South Africa. The explosion shook
houses. ratified dishes and windows and
awakened people for some distance around.
Most of the crew of the ship were asleep.
but the explosion brought them quickly
from their berths to the deck. An examina,
ton showed a large dent on the starboard
side OF the ship. Two plates at the
waters edge had been sprung ana
considerable water was let into the ship.
The pumps were Immediately put to work
and when daylight broke it was found that
the vessel was in no danger of sinking and
that the damage done was not serious. The
crew of the vessel denied there were any
explosives on board and there seems little
doubt, according to the statements of those
who examined the ship, that the explosion
was from the outside and that some sort
of bomb or torpedo had been used.
Alfred lie Blanc, agent for the Harrison
line visited the Mechanician early to-day
and q report of the damage done was sub
mitted to him. He said that three large
plates in the starboard side of the ship
had been stove in and that sixteen rivets
had been broken off or knocked completely
from their places. AS the ship was making
considerable water ii was decided to shift
the ballast of the cargo so as TO lift the
damaged section out of the water. II is
thought the damage can be quickly repaired
"A hot he.
would be loaded with cargo Of mules and
get away for South Africa as soon as possi-
Bile.
a british officer who was on the shin
last night said that the explosion was ter
rifle and that a column of water went high
up in the air and came down on deck. Capt.
Ball, OF the Mechanician' was on board at
the time Neither the agent of the ship nor
any of the officers were willing 10 express a
theory with regard to who was responsible
for the explosion. IL was suggested in some
quarters that il might have been the act
OF some disgruntled muleteer. Many OF the
muleteers who have from time to time left
the city on the British transports nave re-
turned with complaints OF the treatment
they received and "A number Of suits are
now pending against the British ships in
the federal courts.
New evidence of the plot TO destroy the
transport was discovered by an officer Of
that vessel to-day. Attached TO the anchor
chain. near the surface OF the water. was
found a cotton-wrapped wire about 125 feet
- v -
the bomb torpedo that exploded last
night and drove in three plates Of the ship
on the port side at the water line. De-
tectives are following up the clew and
search is being made for the place where
the wire was purchased or came from. II
IS the belief of the officers that the persons
who perpetrated the deed took the torpedo
with the wire attached its length ahead of
the ship and set IL In the stream where
the current carried IL around TO the side
the time fuse exploding after they had
got safely away
The British officers here and agents of
the lines employed by the British govern
ment for the transportation OF mules and
horses TO South Africa are much exercised
over the attempted destruction of the
Mechanician and the vessel has been
moved out in midstream with a double
watch on guard. This Is true Of the other
mule transports. the Milwaukee being one
OF them But for the torpedo exploding
where a bulkhead sustained the plates tho
vessel undoubtedly would have been SUM-
Mules will be taken on Monday and the
ship will proceed on her trip 10 East Lon
don She probably will go into Liverpool,
her home port, for docking.