The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-11
TRIED To SINK SHIP
TORPEDO EXPLODED CLOSE TO
WATER LINE OF BRITISH
STEAMER MECHANICIAN
LAID TO BoER sYMPATHzERs
Fact That "A BuIkhead Sustained the
Plates at Point of Explosion
Saved the Transport
From Sinking.

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 1O.-What is re-
garded as an attempt of a Boer sym
pathizer to blow up a British transport
occurred shortly after midnight, when a
terrific explosion occurred 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 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
examination showed a large dent on the
starboard side of the ship. Two plates at
the waters edge had been sprung and
considerable water was let into the ship.
Pumps were Immediately put to work,
and when daylight came 1t was found
that the vessel was in no danger of sink
ing, and that the damage done was not
serious. The crew of the vessel denied
that 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 line
reached the Mechanician early today, and
mitted to him. He said three large plates
on 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 MAX
ing considerable water, 1t was decided
to shift the ballast so as to lift the
damaged section out Of the water 1t is
thought the damage can be repaired
here. Agent lie Blanc said the Mechani-
clan will be loaded with cargo of mules
on Monday and get away for South
Africa as soon as possible.
British officer, who was on the ship
last night, said that the explosion was
terrific, and that column of water went
high in the air and came down on deck.
Capt. Ball. of the Mechanician, also
was on board at the time, but neither he
nor his officers expressed any theory
with regard to who was responsible for
the explosion. 1t was suggested in some
quarters that 1t 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 trans
ports have returned with complaints OF
Ill treatment, and a number Of suits are
now pending against British ships in the
federal courts.
New evidences of the plot to destroy
the British mule ship Mechanician, were
discovered by an officer of that vessel
today. Attached to the anchor chain
near the surface of the water was found
a cotton-wrapped wire about 125 feet long
to which was undoubtedly attached the
bomb or torpedo that exploded last night
and drove in the plates of the ship on
the port side at the water line. Detec-
tives are following up the clew and a
search is being made for the place where
the wire was purchased or came from.
It is the belief Of the officers that the
parties who perpetrated the deed took
the torpedo with the wire attached its
length ahead OF the ship and set it IN
the stream where the current carried it
around the side, the time fuse exploding
after they had gotten 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 exer-
cised over the attempted destruction Of
the Mechanician and the vessel has been
moved out in mid-stream with a double
watch on guard This is true of the
other mule transports in port the Mil
waukee being one of them. But for the
torpedo exploding where buikhead
sustained the plates the vessel I'M
dcubtedly would have been sunk. Mules
will be taken on Monday and the ship
viii proceed on her trip TO East London.
She probably will go into Liverpool, her
home port, for docking.