The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-29
The Dynamite Bomb


 proach through the purSer, and unless his business Is of the greatest impor- tance he Is not encouraged to string it out.
 When J. R. Stinman, Chicago, first class passenger on the Undlnc, asked te- sec the captain when the ship was zoo miles on her westward course his excuse that he had a letter to deliver to him was not deemed sufficient to arouse the commander from his fore noon nap. The purScr took the letter to deliver two hours later
 Mir. Stillman had an Interview with the captain, however, and it was one be was not likely to forget for years, He was playing cards in the smoking saloon when he got word that the great man wanted tO see him mStantcr. The word was brought by the purScr and the chief officer, who were ready to escort him to the captains state room by force if necessary.
 sir, explain yourself about this let. terg' said the captain as Inc held out the missive given to the purscr two hours before.
 You mean how did it come into my possessionT
 That's t."
 It was handed to me at my hotel just before left Co come aboard. | promised to hand lt to you at once, but In the hustle and confusion and being naturally abSentmnded forgot all about it until a few hours ago. lt | have caused you worry or damage I sincerely regret it,
 '"Who gave you the letterF
 "A stranger, and yet he was man l had seen several times. Indeed | heard him say that he intended to take this steamer, and when he handed me the letter I supposed it concerned that business. Is there anything wrong, captalnT
 There may be a good deal wrong, sir" was the grim reply. "ls there any one aboard who can identify youT'
 Yes. there's Brown of Philadelphia, Warner of Boston and Phillips of PIttsburg. I've done business with all of them. Do you take me for a card sharp or a consplratory
 Give the gentlemen named my com pllmeuts and ask them to favor me for moment" said the captain Co the purser and mate.
 During the five minutes which elapsed before the men returned he made no remark Co Stillmau, and the man from Chicago felt foolish and uncomfortable. He was not a fugitive from justice, and he had committed no breach ot discipline aboard the steamer, but an signs indicated that he was in for trou- blc.
 "Gentlemen, you know Mir. Sulmon, do youT' was asked Of the three par. ties named.
 They answered in the affirmative and soon satisfied the captain that he was man of character.
 Then I am in something of tiN," he replied q did not suspect Mir. Still man of being Q villain, but l was rath- CT in hopes to hear that he was a prac. teal Joker. It it had turned out that way my mind would have been re- lleved, and yet I should have had him In irons for the rest of the voyage. This letter states that a dynamite bomb has found It's way into one of our coal buukers and that when it Is fed Into the furnace we will become food for the fishes"
 And do you believe the letter a hoax or is it a warning7"
 "It Is e warning"
 q agree with you, and I must take all of you into my confidence. Not a lisp of the matter must get beyond this room. We are helpless. Let the crowd know why we are so and hun dred of them would jump overheard. That bomb may be fed into one Ot the furnaces while we talk or 1t may es- cape the coal passers until we reach our dock in New York. We have sim ply got to take our chances"
 But the coal bunkers-why not over haul the coal bunkerSY asked Warner and Phillips together.
 'Why not search for the cork of a champagne bottle on this broad ocean2" queried the captain. with a smile in which there was no humor. Perhaps none of you gentlemen ever saw a dynamite bomb of the sort that we have been loaded withg We'll I have. It Is artfully concealed in a lump of coal Unless we inspected each lump in the bunkers by itself we could not find the bomb"
 "Why not shovel every pound of coal Into the sea and lie by until picked up and lowed inT' was asked.
 ''The bomb would then go over with the coal, and we should have only this letter left. It would be called a hoax We would be called fools and old wO- men. It would be known as the hoax of the century, and smart Alecks by the dozen would perpetrate 1t again. We shall keep right on. Not hint must reach another soul aboard. will have the boats made as nearly ready as I dare, and then we must wear smiling faces and trust to Cod
 The Undine made a speedy and safe