New-York tribune., 1903-05-10
THREATEN SHIPS.
Continued from first page.

awaiting identification. This is rule followed
by other steamship companies so that 1t VIII
not be easy for the threat in the letter to be
carried out in this peculiar way
The agents of steamships flying the British
flag are feeling little uncomfortable over the
incident. An official of one line said last night
that ne hoped that the perpetrators of this out
rage would be found. The police say that they
are endeavoring the men who took
the box to the pier and that the Unites States
authorities would take up the case. it was
unlawful to ship dynamite without marking it
as such. A general alarm sent out last
night for the wagon and two who took the
machine to the pier.
Captain Nalson said later
In nv experience [ have heard of only three
similar cases. One was some ten or twelve
years ago when it was said an Internal machine
was placed on the old Egypt, of the National
Line Although search was made the ma
chine was not found, and no explosion took
place Then there was case a vessel of the
North German Lloyd-its name forget-when
it was said internal machine was placed on
the boat at Bremerhaven. Nothing came of this.
either"
On the surface there is no motive for this
attack on ships flying the British flag or for
placing the box on the Cunard Line pier. There
was much speculation yesterday as TO the OBJ
ject ranging from a desire to gain notoriety
to being the act of some one to create a SEN
sation. The whole affair apparently was man
aged by persons of more than average ability
and with thorough knowledge of the use Of ex-
plosives. The style of the letter and the man
ner of writing the signature did not indicate
the work of Italians. Il was suggested that the
object mentioned in the letter was more in
keeping with the feelings Of the Clan-Na-Gael
than the Malta Some thought it to be q prac-
ticaI joke
Superintendent Murray when asked for his
opinion as to the value of the bomb for the pur-
pose for which it apparently intended. said:
"It is the most ingeniously contrived piece Of
mechanism of its kind that I saw. Moth
ing could be more perfect for an Internal ma
chine. The work is evidently that Of persons
who know how to handle dynamite in its most
dangerous form. For the present I shall have
the dynamite stored in the Fire Department
magazine for safekeeping."
The offices of the Climax Powder Company
the fourth floor Of the Park Row Build
ing, and its factory and magazines are at En-
porium, Cameron County. Penn. William A
Bartels is the agent here
Little information which would serve as a
cew to the perpetrators Of the attempted out
rage could be cleaned at Mr. Bartels's Office.
1t was asserted that the dynamite manufactured
by the company was only sold to responsible
contractors, and never in such small quantities
as two hundred pounds. Under no circum-
stances it said. would the explosive be
delivered to strangers. It was suggested that
the dynamite found on the Cunard pier was
probably obtained through a responsible con-
tractor and had probably been stolen from a
private magazine by the persons who plotted
to destroy the Umbria. 1t also suggested
that the dynamite could be traced when the
grade of the explosive became known to the
men making the sales in Pennsylvania Little
Of the dynamite made by the Climax Powder
Company is used in this city.
The Ethiopia of the Anchor Line and the
Minnea polls Of the Atlantic Transport Line
were steamers sailing yesterday which fly the
British flag.
John Lee agent of the White Star Line, said
last night that he did not worry. as it was
doubtless the work of some crazy person. He
declared that it was impossible for any person
to know in advance who to sail the
steamers Of the line. as the passenger lists
were never made public until the steamer sailed.
Inspector George McClusky, of the Detective
Bureau. made the following statement in re-
gard to the last night:
I am satisfied that this is not the work of the
Mafia any other secret society. The fact that
the letter received at headquarters is undoubtedly
the work OF an Intelligent person and that the ma
chine itself is the product OF some lntelIgent per
may. that both were the work OF one
The writer is evidently accustomed 10 writing
much and hurriedy, the straight line drop OF
the ''Y'' shows That is only detail
All night have been working on the asSuHp-
ton that it dynamite that the box contained.
Inspector Murray. of the Bureau of ConbusdOles.
reported me that 1t dynamite On the
ceipt of the information from Superintendent Prior
of the Cunard Pier, that the who delivered the
box on Friday said that they came from Thirty
ninth-st., have made house to house search
from river to river for the express wagon and the
two men said to be in charge of it This search
has been entirely unrewarded- Every BIT OF tech
nical expert Judgment get shall have
The only clews have are cigar lighter, the
box the dynamite. dry batteries and the CLOCK
work OF course shall try TO find where these
things from
If that box contained dynamite, that is the most
horrible and damnable thing about II all l hope
that it is not do not see II 1t IS dynamite, now
there could be any joke plant in it. However,
we must wait. unfortunately, because, tomorrow
being Sunday we are somewhat held up.