The sun., 1901-08-11
BOMB INJURIES TRANSPORT.
ATTEMPT TO SINK BRITISH
VESSEL At NEW ORLEANS.


the Side of the Mechanician In Port
fer . Cargo of Mules -Boer sympa-
thizers Suspected -Beat Nearly Sinks.
New ORLEANS, Aug. io.--At an early hour
this Amorning mysterious exp plosion occurred
on the British transport Mechanician, lying
moored at the stock landing at tho lower
end Of the city awaiting q shipment Of
mules and horses for the British troops In
South Africa. The explosion was felt
throughout the lower part Of the city.
shaking tho houses and awakening many
thousands Of people. but doing no great
damage TO buildings. The vessel was
badly strained and some Of her plates blown
out 20 a. to cause her TO leak badly. re-
quiring the utmost efforts Of her pumps
to prevent her from sinking.
Tho explosion was apparently from tho
outside for the plates arc blown In and It
would seem that bomb or torpedo had
been ioated against the vessel a. she lay
at anchor. Tho explosion broke or cracked
the plates covering about twenty square
feet Of the vessels side. No ono on tho
vessel know how tho explosion occurred.
Most Of the crew Of fifty men were asleep
and the two watchmen said no skin ap-
preached the steamer. but a passing steamer
saw the fash Of tho explosion leaving no
doubt that It was from the outside.
The opinion Is general that the explosion
was caused by some friend Of the Beers,
who attempted In this way to stop the ship
ment from this country OF mules and horses
to South Africa, believing that the success
Of the British cause Is largely due to this
source. 1t will be remembered that Gen.
Pearson. the Boer agent here, endeavored
by process OF law to prevent these ship
ments, and afterward appealed to President
Mckinley In vain The British representa-
tives here have been frequently warned OF
conspiracies to blow up the mule and horse
transports, but the warning has generally
been that the vessel Would be blown up in
mid ocean by Boer agent disguised as a
mpleteer. For this reason no one has been
allowed aboard the transports while they
were anchored here, and the muleteers have
been taken aboard at tho last minute
There was none aboard the Mechanician
when the explosion occurred.
That vessel Is one OF ths largest In the
transport service having a tonnage of
s.s72. She arrived from Port Natal on
Saturday, and had anchored at the stock
landing to take on mules only yesterday.
The Mechanioian carried no explosives
Some OF the British officers expressed
some suspicion that the explosion might
have been caused by disgruntled mule
teers There are several hundred Of them
In the city who are very bitter against the
transports and their officers. because OF al
legged III treatment. Nearly all OF them have
brought suit for damages. They are mainly
adventurers and many OF them would
not hesitate TO Use bombs against an enemy,
but the suggestion does not get much sup
port here
An investigation will be made OF the
explosion, the British Consul being pres
ent. II II said that the Mechaniclan will
be patched up and viii leave for South
Africa next week with mules and horses,
She will 60 from Cape Town to England
for docking Not the slightest trace has
been found Of the dYnaniters.