The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-27
PLOT TO BLOW UP LINER
Police Warned by Mail. Find In
fernal Machine on Umbria's Pier.
According to "Mada" Letter. Oceanic Was
Spared Because Of women and Chill
dren Aboard . A Joke, Perhaps.

: New York City.-A special delivery
letter was received at Police Head
quarters at 1915 o'clock p. m. marked
Warning from the Maf1a," and con-
tanning the information that q box
containing 100 pounds of dynamite had
been sent down to the Cunnrd Line
pier to be put aboard the Umbria,
which was to sail at o'clock. ;
The letter also said that the box had
been fitted out with ciockwork appii-
ance which was set for thirty-six hours.
Within a very few minutes detec-
tives were dispatched to the pier. Un.
der pile of trunks they found a
plain pine box, much like an or
dinary packing case. with iron handles
at each end. There was no name on
1t, and q hasty examination convinced
the detectives that 1t contained lot Of
dynamite. The clockwork was seen as
soon as the lid was opened.
The letter containing the warning
was written in fairly good handwriting.
evidently that of man. After telling
Of the dynamite 1t said that it was
meant as warning to those who sail
on English vessels.
When the box was taken out the top
was pried off and the clockwork was
seen inside. The wheels of 1t were
moving.s
A rope was tied around the box and
It was dropped over the pier near the
side of the Umbria and lowered until 1t
struck the bottom.
The Umbria sailed at her scheduled
hour, 2 o'clock. and then the box was
raised and an investigation begun.
The removal of the bottom disclosed
three compartments. In the centre
compartment was the clockwork and
lot Of wires. In the end compartments
were about ten small packages, each
labeled "Climax Powder Company,
Emporium, Pa" The packages were
about one and q half inches in dame
taken to Fire Headquarters for further
examination.
All the men on the pier knew Of the
box was that 1t was taken to the pier
In an express wagon at 2 o'clock on the
previous day by two men. who looked
like Italians. They said that they had
met a man at Thirty-ninth street and
Broadway who had told them to take
the box.
Superintendent Murray. of the Bill
reau Of Combustibles. said that the in
fernal machine was the most complete
and elaborate he had ever seen. There
was no doubt. he said, that it contained
gulcotton and powder.
The letter Of warning, which was
written in pencil. was mailed at the
general postofice' at II o'clock, and the
writer gave the information that it had
been intended originally to send the
box on the Oceanic, but 1t was found
that that vessel would carry too many
women and children. so it was decided
to send. 1t on the Umbria.
Police Commissioner Greene Is in
clined to the belief that the whole af-
fair was somebody's idea of a practical
joke. This impression is gaining con-
siderable strength. and If the investiga-
ton corroborates it the joker, should he
be caught, will have q very hard time
Of 1t for perpetrating such scare upon
the public.
The police, however, regard the plac-
ing of the boz on the pier as a very Sc
rious matter, and purpose to make 1t
anything but Joke for the perpetrator.