The sun., 1903-12-31
NAVY SHELLS TAMPERED WITH
SUPPOSED PLOT TO BLOW UP
THE RIG NAVAL GUNS.
Unloaded Shell That Was Returned TO the
AIidvale Works as Defective After
Tests by Government Experts FIX.
pIedes While Men Are Trying TO Open II.


Midvale Works as Defective After
Tests by Government Experts Ex-
pIedes While Men Are Trying TO Open II.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. SO-By the explosion
OF projectile in the yards Of the Midvale
steel works at Nicetown a few days ago it
is believed that plot of Anarchists to blow
up the big guns Of warships Of the American
Navy has been revealed. Secret Service
agents are invest eating the case.
Recently the Midvale company shipped
q lot OF projectiles to Boston, where they
were duly delivered to the United States
Government officers and receipted for, In
the lot we're unloaded shells Of the ex-
plosive variety, followed out 80 that they
could be charged These shells are not
loaded at the works, but are turned over
to tho Government TO be completed. They
were tested by the Government experts
and q number of them were found to be
defective These were returned to the
works.
On the arrival Of the returned projectil es
the Midvale company's experts set about TO
discover what their defects were. One
OF the biggest shells resisted all efforts to
open It. After two of the most expert en-
ployees had failed in hetask it was decided
TO break It open. Hardly had the sledge
hammer descended upon the cylinder OF
iron when 1t exploded.
Fragments were scattered in all directions
and a number of workmen were severely
hurt The men welding the hammer
were thrown to the ground and stunned
BY the shock.
Inquiries were at once set on foot. There
was no doubt that the shell had been loaded
with q high explosive. From the frag-
ments Of the projectle it was discovered.
it b said. that hole had been bored through
the iron and the explosive placed inside
through this aperture.
This boring would have constituted such
O defect in the shell, experts say, that loaded
IN one Of the big guns and fired. the projeo-
tile would have exploded inside the rf1lng
tearing the cannon apart and in all probab-
bility wreo&ing section OF the ship. I'M
nlediately after the explosion the Secret
Service at Washington was iied and men
wore put on the case.
II 10 declared at Boston that the shell
wss not loaded when it passed from the
hands of the authorities there back TO
tile Midvale works Whether the explosive
VAS placed inside the projectile in transit
or after it had reached the Boston yards
is a question. The Secret Service is pre-
serving the customary secrecy upon the
matter and orders not to talk have been
given to the employees OF the steel plant.
In view. however, Of the many precau-
items taken and the alr:cst endless red tape
that surrounds the handling of Govern !
mcnt munitions Of war, it seems hardly |
+ Fossible II at loaded or even partly loaded !
shell could have bean shipped back in mis- /
take from the proving yards.
Neither In IL likely that, unless traitors !
have secured employment in the Govern .
ment's service. the projectile could have
been naliciously loaded at Boston. The
Impression Is that IL "a tampered with in
transit. How many more were similarly
nlnted II anothef- feature eff ef the case that
lhe Secret Service must discover.
1t 10 known that the service is carrying
pn Ito investigation on the lines of an An ,
lrohist plot. Tho local bureau has had
DO hand in the investigation, which is being :
carried on direct from Washington. 1t .
has been suggested that the plot may also !
have been aimed at the Midvale works,
Recently the company secured big order
Tor armor plate from the Government, and
itR increasing closeness 10 the War De-
partment may hnve prompted the Anar-
ehists to cripple its facilities.
Charles j. Harrah Is the president of the
corporation He was not in the city to-
night and none Of the other officials would
RI rliss the case