The Washington times., 1905-05-27
An Attempt to Destroy
Pennsylvania Struc-
ture Fails.
EXPLOSIVE PUT ON RAFT
Sam Parks Old Gang Under
Suspicion - Place
Under Guard.

NEW YORK, May ga desperate but
unsuccessful attempt was made at 1 80
this morning to blow up the new Penn
syivania railroad drawbrfdge over the
Hackensack river.
The attempt followed several letters
threatening President Cassatt's death
and threats to destroy property of the
road because of the refusal Of the COM
pany to employ iron workers aff1liated
with the Sam Parks gang.
Dynamite was placed upon a raft and
allowed to float against the bridge on the
tide. Fortunately the raft struck a hid
den log before it could strike the bridge
and terrific explosion followed. De
tectives who had been guarding the
bridge against destruction were thrown
TO the ground Had the raft gone out
OF its course 1t would have struck the
old Pennsylvania passenger bridge as
a train with six sleepars was passing
over it, and the loss of life would have
been appalling.
Yesterday afternoon there was q dy-
Mantle explosion in the excavation for
the new Pennsylvania station in this
city. The cause of the explosion is still
a mystery.
Threatened in Letters.
When the Pennsylvania railroad IN
dertook to build new bridge across
the HackenSack ii gave orders that none
of the old Sam Parks gang should be
employed. Following the announcement
President Cassatt received several let
ters threatening his life, and also inti-
nations that the bridge would be dyna-
Iafted. Daniel McNaily, chief Of inspect
ors. took score of men and guarded
the bridge day and night. On Wednes-
f7- .fcrF1+ EaaT<
William AfcShune. foreman of the
works. and beat him nearly TO death,
warning him tnat he would be killed
unless he gave up work on the draw
McNally and his men were lined up
on either side OF the bridge. but because
the tide runs fast at this point, no
one supposed an attempt would be made
from the water to wreck the bridge. A
rowboet would be carried away in the
swift running current. The piotters,
finding that the bridge was carefully
guarded, fioated a raft Of logs. laden
with dynamite. in the stream. planning
10 strike the center support OF the
bridge The raft luckily struck some
submerged piling near the bridge. and
exploded with great force. The detec-
tives on the bank were thrown from
their feet. and windows in houses half
a mile away We're broken.
Passenger Train Passing.
Just as the explosion occurred a pass
enger train bound for Boston, passed
over the old passenger bridge. 1t was
not harmed search for the plotters
was made, but without success Nc
Nally said today:
There is no doubt that it was the
work OF the Parks ang. We have
received letters from these men. threat
entng death to the railroad officials and
destruction 10 railroad property by
dynamite. If we can lay hands on
them they VIII be taken away by under
takers. That is the only way we can
deal with them. -
Until the explosion a the drawbridge.
il was thought the explosion in the ex-
cavation of the Pennsylvania station
yesterday afternoon was an accident.
The police are now OF the opinion the
dynamite was discharged by design of
some naisereant, The explosion injured
several people in the vicinity, and every
window near the scene was broken.
Alderman Ganney, one Of the heads of
the New York Contracting Company,
which is doing the excayating. declined
TO permit the police 10 make an iuyesti-
cation. No one was allowed inside the
Enclosure, and the police were forced
10 drop the matter.
The whole affair is enveioped IN
mystery.