The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-05-11
THE WORK OF
THE MAFIAS.
An Attempt Made to Blow Up Steam-
ship Umbria With Dynamite.
BOMB LEFT AT LINERS PIER
Warned by Letter "From the Malta, !"
Detectives Rush 20 Cunnrd Pier
and Quench Flame In Pine
BOX Beside the Umbria.

ihaAt " tAoN w thE 1uudhn iAuF
steamship, with more than 400 passen-
gers and a crew Of 300 aboard.
just before the big ocean liner sailed
an internal machine containing a hum
dred pounds Of dynamite was found on
the dock at the foot Of the first cabin
gangway ready to be taken aboard the
ship.
Fuses were already burning, and it Is
estimated by the police that the spark
would have touched the dynamite with
in five minutes
A letter written in lead pencil and
sent to police headquarters gave warn
ing Of the plot to blow up the Umbrla.
This letter was headed "A Warning
From the Mafia," and in it man
whose name is withheld by the police
stated that there was a Malta griey-
ance against the English steamship
lines. He described the box and said
that the cloekwork which it held was
set to explode the dynamite thirty six
hours after the time of the delivery Of
the box at the pier
Detectives were sent on the run to
the pier, and they notified Captain
Watson, the superintendent Of the Gu
nard dock, and Mr.. Floyd, the agent Of
the line.
When Captain Thomas Dutton OF the
Umbria was informed of the plot to
blow up the vessel he declined to sail
until the box was found. From the de.
seription furnished BY the writer Of the
letter the detectives had little difficulty
in finding the box.
Sparks Approaching Explosive.
It was made Of plain pine boards and
was 10 by 20 inches. The cover was on
hinges and was locked with d paddock.
There were absolutely no marks on the
box
The detectives heard the clicking Of
the clockworlS inside, and they forced
open the bottom Of the box. They were
astounded to find In it fully hundred
pounds Of dynamite.
There were 100 sticks of the explo-
sive, each about one and a quarter
inches in diameter and eight inches
long.
This explosive was in the very bot
tom of the box. over it was a shelf.
and on this shelf rested the clockwork
Attached to the clockwork was a wheel
which after making one entire revolu-
ton would bring a piece Of metal in
contact with wires from dry battere.
The contact had already been made.
and two fuses had become ignited.
Sparks were eating their way slowly to
the dynamite.
Inc detectives extinguished the fuses.
Ropes were Immediately run around
the box, and It was thrown overheard.
II was submerged for at least an
hour before the arrival Of the men from
the bureau Of combustibles.
Then it was carefully lifted into 4
patrol wagon of the Charles street sta.
tlon and driven to the station
There the contents of the box were
taken out and removed to the bureau
Of eomhustibles.
ln the meantime the Umbria Ind
sailed, with probably none of her pas.
sengers aware Of the attempt that had
been made to bring disaster to the shin.
AZ the dock it was said that the box
had been delivered there by two Ital-
ians One Of these men was tall ana
dark and smooth shaYen He wore d
bicycle cap.
The only description of his compan-
ion obtained 50 far is that lie was Of
medium build and of dark complexion.
The two drove up to the pier in a
small dark green wagon such as may
be seen used by peddlers on the east
side.
what the BOX Contained.
To Mr. Pryor, an employee Of the
steamship line. who received the box.
the italian said it belonged to pas
senger who was to sail on the Umbria
and that he would call for 1t.
It is the rule at the pier not to nut
baggage that is to be called for aboard
the ship until the passenger arrives
and claims It and that ii the reason
the Internal machine was Kept at the
foot Of the gangway. It was all ready
to be rushed aboard in case the pas
senger should arrive at the last mo.
ment.
The one hundred dynamite sticks
that the box contained were labeled
"Climax Powder Company
The writer Of the letter 70 tile police
announced it had been the original in
tention Of the Malta to blow up the
steamship Oceanic, which sailed few
days ago, but that this plan was aban-
doned because Of the large number Of
women and children who were on the
Oceanic
The postmark On the letter showed
that it had been mailed in the general
post Office.
It was the idea, no doubt, of the men
who sent the internal machine that it
would be placed aboard ship. Even
had it exploded on the pier however,
1t would have wrought terrible havoc.
The pier was thronged with passen-
gers and their friends, and scores un-
doubtedIy would have been killed had
the discovery Of the box been delayed
five tis;t,,44ae