The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-11
ATTEMPT MADE TO
BLOW UP STATUE
Frederick the Great Still Stands
SereneIy
PROVED TO Be A FlASCO
Man Arrived With Explosives In Dress
Suit Case, But Negro Comes to
the Rescue and Snatches
1t Away.
PROVED TO Be A FlASCO

Washington, January lo.-Somewhat Of
sensation was caused in this city to-
day by the discovery of what appeared
to be a definite and serious attempt to
blow up or deface the statue of Freder-
lex the Great, given the United States
by Emperor William of Germany and
set up in the arsenal grounds near the
army war college on the Potomac river
water front in the southern part of the
city.
1t was believed at first that crank
had made a real effort at destruction of
the statue, but after a careful investi-
cation the postoffce officials say the
material used was incapable of produc-
ing damaging results. hole in the
soft mud about six inches deep by six
inches wide and twelve inches long, thir-
teen shattered windows In nearby build
ings and five or six splotches of yellow
clay on as many granite steps summed
up the damage done by the bomb, which
had been placed on high picket fence
surrounding the statue. An anlysis and
examination of the bomb shows the sub
stance used had not sufficient strength
to wreck the fence
fao JuSt AFTlVco IN SitJs
The facts developed by Detectives
Mueller and Cornwall. who were as
signed to the case show that a negro
hackman named, Carter took the man
thought to have perpetrated the affair
from the Pennsylvania railroad station
to the statue. Apparently he had just
arrived in the city. His baggage consist
ed of a small and worn dress. suit case
The man told the hackman TO drive slow
ly to the barrack ground. On learning the
exact location of the statue, he ordered
the driver to walk his horse, and 1t
was soon after noon when the statue
was reached The stranger alighted
quickly as soon as the horse stopped.
ran up the short flight of granite steps
leading to the westerly terrace of the
war college esplanade, and disappeared
behind the pedestal of the statue. A min
ute later he ran back to the cab and
The hackman noticed that the stranger $
grip. which he carried, was missing. The
stranger jumped into the cab and or
dered the hackman to drive out of the
grounds as quickly as possible. Soon
after getting out of the grounds the
stranger Jumped out, paid the hackman
and disappeared toward the river front.
Thrown Down BY Negro.
A negro named Ellis saw the satchel or
suitcase, and hooking section or scant-
ling through the handle raised the suit
case off the wire hook which held 1t to
the fence with a swing, landing the bomb
on the ground at the foot OF the steps.
An instant later 1t exploded. Soldiers
and civilians all through the reservation
heard the report. Nearly all the force
was taken from the explosion because
the substance was confined by nothing
| heavier than the intimation leather sides
| of the small suitcase. 1t was variously
! estimated that from one to five pounds
| of the substance was in the suitcase,
| which was blown to atoms.
| Three pieces of 1t were picked up after
| wards, as were the pieces of wire which
| held the bomb" to the wooden fence, and
twisted piece of metal, which is believ-
ed to have been part of the frame Of the
| suitcase.
| A tiny section of cigar box with an
| equally tiny piece Of burnt candle fas-
| tened in the bottom was also found.