The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-28
BRIDGE DRAW WASDYNAMITED
EXPLOSIVE PUT IN IRON SOCKET
IN WHICH THE DRAW TURNS.


Labor Troubles-ExplOsl0n Destroys
the Timber support OF the diminished
Draw and Bends the big Steel beams
Little more Is known of dynamite game
which was played in the Hackensack River
early yesterday morning than that great
charge Of the stuff was exploded in the shoe"
or socket, of the new draw being constructed
for use in the passenger bridge Of the Penn
syvania Railroad, which crosses near the
Turnpike on the outskirts of Jersey City.
1t made roar that was heard not only
in Jersey City. Newark and Hoboken but
in lower Manhattan and western Brooklyn.
1t tore into flinders the middle Of the crib
that supports the draw and cracked and
bent the steel beams of the draw itself
1t might have wrecked the draw beyond
repair were it not that the structure had
not yet been boted and the framework
yielded to the conclusion where resistance
would have meant destruction.
Who did the job and why they did it
are matters of conjecture on the part
OF the Jersey City police and the
railroad detectives. Whether the dyna-
miters accomplished all they wanted to
do is another problem that probably won't
be solved unless one Of them is caught and
confesses.
The Hackensack flows southwest in this
neghborhood on its slow way to Newark
Bay and is crossed here by the bridges of
the Pennsylvania and Lackawanna rail-
roads and the trolley and foot bridges.
The Lackawanna bridge is we'll to the nerth
Of the foot bridge. The Pennsylvania
bridges freight and passenger, are just to
the south, about 100 feet apart, the passen
ger bridge. which bears tremendous
traffic daily, being furthest down stream.
A new draw was needed for the passenger
bridge and the company has been con-
structing it for about year. 1t is about
400 feet long and is framed on great crib
about 40 feet south of the passenger bridge.
When finished it is to be moved up stream
and elevated into place. The cost of the
draw was to be $5OooOo
The draw is less than one-third con-
structed and is about 200 feet in length. In
the center of it is shoe" or socket. on
which the draw will turn when it's in place.
1t was in this socket that the dynamite
was placed. This ia positively known. for
the socket was destroyed by the explosion.
about 5000 pounds.
A long fuse was attached to the dynamite,
and the powder marks Of twenty feet of
fuse could be traced along the timbers
under the draw.
That the dynamiters reached the draw
in a rowboat was proved conclusivey late
yesterday afternoon when an abandoned
rowboat with only one oar was found on
the Jersey City shore about half mile
from the draw. This boat was stolen from
. boathouse and when it was taken away
in the early morning had two oars, No
trace Of the second oar could be found
yesterday.
There has been recent conflict between
the unions and the men In charge Of the
building of the draw. The railroad does
its own bridge building and sticks to the
open shop. 1t was said yesterday that
the unions had first tried to annoy the
railroad by complaining to the Govern
ment that the company had not obtained
permission to obstruct the river with the
crib. The outcome OF this did not satisfy
the unions.
A few weeks ago there was violence.
A foreman OF construction. William
Muchon, was called out of his office and
set upon by six men, whom he said he
reco gnized az union bridgeworkers, and
terribly beaten. Several of his teeth were
knocked out, his face was hammered, and
he had the boots put to him" in the man
ner which entertainment committees were
wont to prescribe in the days of Sam Parks.
The Pennsylvania company sent several
detectives to guard it's workmen, and six
Jersey City policemen went to the spot
not only to see that the draw builders were
safe, but to prevent labor troubles at gas
works in the neighborhood. There was no
further trouble and few days ago all but
one Of the policemen were withdrawn.
At the time of yesterday mornings
blow-up three railroad detectives were
on duty about the bridge. and William
Knapp, a Waterman, was cleaning a boiler
of the pledriver moored close to the new
draw. None Of them saw or heard any
thing until the fash and the roar, Knapp
was knocked down and the detectives were
stunned and deafened
General Superintendent Sheppard Of the
Pennsylvania received the following report
from Division Superintendent Aber-
crombie:
At / 81 o'clock this morning a Waterman
reported that the drawbridge in process of
construction in the Hackensack River had
been blown up Later advices are that very
little damage was done.
The dynamiting recalled the recent rumor
that President Cassatt of the Pennsylvania
had received letters threatening his life.
On this subject Supt. Sheppard said
As to the report that thre atening letters
have been received by officials of the con-
pany, will say that have received no
threatening letters. No officer of the road
has received a threatening letter. SO far a.
1 know. Possibly some foreman may have
received such letter and not reported the
fact.
II the president of the company had got
letter OF the kind | might know of it. |
have not heard that he has received threat
enng letter.
In regard to the cause OF the explosion.
dynamite might have been used on the draw
bridge by setting it of with an eXplodcr.
Persons could have operated from a boat.
using wire connection to set OF the dyna-
mite. The drawbridge could be approached
only in a boat.
We sometimes have had trouble with
entertainment committees" this having
occurred in the time of the late Sam Parks.
who died in Sing Sing prison. sent for him
on that occasion. and he Strengthened that
out all right. | have not heard OF any such
trouble recently.