The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-10
Contained Clock Works, Batteries,
Charred Fuses and 100 Pounds of
STUFF That Looked Like Dynamite.
POLICE INFORMED BY LETTER
WRITTEN BY SOMEBODY UNDER SIG
NATURE OF PIETRO DEMARTINI,
And Who Declared 1t Was the First
Step in a War on English Ship
ping by the Malta.

NEW YORK, May 9.-An unpainted pine
box containing clock works, cigar lighter
filled with alcohol, two dry batteries, three
charred fuses and one hundred pounds of
black stuff that looks like dynamite was
found to-day on the wharf from which the
transatlantic liner Umbria about to
sail for England. A letter received to-day
by Police Commissioner Greene told of the
box and said that it was a first step in a
war on English shipping by the Malta.
The police are inclined to take the matter
as a joke. To make sure, however, the
machine" was lowered into the harbor
before examination.
The letter was signed "Pietro Demarti-
nj" but Police Inspector George McClusky
says he is satisfied the placing of the
machine" was not the work of any socie-
ty and he is convinced the writer of the
letter is a man whose business accustoms
him to write much and hurriediy, possibly
a newspaper man. The box was left at
the wharf yesterday by two men. appar-
emily Italians, who said it would be called
for by a passenger. When the police re-
ceived the letter to-day action was taken
as promptly as though the contingency had
Dear Sir-The Malta greets you and
wishes you we'll. AT the Cunard dock is
a box containing one hundred pounds Of
dynamite. Inside also is a machine, prop
erly set, and explodeS itself any time
within thirty-six hours.
.'The society has declared war against
England and has ordered the destruction
of every steamer flying the British flag
that sails out of New York harbor. The
Undersigned received orders TO begin opera
tions by sinking the Oceanic, but so many
women and children took passage on that
boat that the societys plans were changed
at the last minute. The machine in the
box, the first made, and a crude affair, is
inclosed simply to show how easy 1T is
to sink steamer to convince those inter-
ested that the society is not making idle
threats.
.'The society has undertaken to clear New
York harbor of British ships and ii will
succeed.
''The reason for this movement the soci-
ETY. does not wish 10 disclose; suffice 1t 10
say that the society in order to protect
itself must carry the war into the enemy
country and il goes without saying that il
proposes to wage it as fiercely as ii knows
how.
This is the societys first and last warn
ing and those who propose to patronize
British steamers must take their chances
..The society asks and gives no quarter
so-1ay on. lay on McDun and damned be
''e '''"' '''e' PETRo DEMARTINI."
"P. S.-The battery is not attached, fuses
without caps and lighters not set. Conse-
quently there is no danger in handling the
box.
Inspector George McClusky, of the de-
tective bureau said tonight: II am satisfied
this is not the work of the Malta or any
other secret society. The fact that the let
ter received at headquarters is undoubted-
ly the work of an educated person and the
machine itself Is the product OF some in
telligent person. may mean that both were
the work of one. The writer is evidently
accustomed TO writing much and hurriedly.
That is only one detail. All night we have
beer working on the assumption that II
was dynamite that the box contained. In
spector Murray, of the bureau of combus-
tibles, reported to me that 1t was dyna-
mite. On the receipt OF information from
the superintendent Of the Cunard pier that
the men who delivered the box on Friday