The daily Alaskan., 1907-05-10
The Dynamite Bomb

1 great man ashore, He makes his ap proach through the purser, and unless 1 hls business is of the greatest impor- tauce be is not encouraged to string it ! out.
 When J. B. Sullman, Chicago, first 1 class passenger on the Undlne, asked to see the captain when the ship was 400 miles on her westward course his l excuse that he had a letter to deliver to him was not deemed sufficient to arouse the commander from his fore noon nap. The purser took the lettG 60 deliver two hours later. Mir. Sullman had an interview witt the captain, however, and 1t was OuG he was not likely to forget for years He was playing cards in the smoking saloon when he got word that tho great man wanted to see him instunter The word was brought by the purseF 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 ter"' said the captain as be held out the misslve given to the pursGr two hours before.
 You mean how did it come into my possessiouF-
 That's it."
 Tt was handed to me at my hotel Just before l left to come aboard. ! promised to hand 1t to you at once, but in the hustle and confusion and being naturally absentmInded I forgot al about 1t until few hours ago. If l have caused you worry or damage J sincerely regret it."
 ''EVhO gave you the lctterY
 "A stranger, and yet he was a man ) had seen several times. Indeed l heard him say that he intended to take this steamer, and when he handed me the letter supposed it concerned that business. Is there anything wrong caprain:"
 There may be good deal wrong sir" was the grim reply. "Is there un one aboard who can Identify you!'
 "Yes. there's Brown of Philadelphia Warner of Boston and Phillips of Plttsburg. I've done business with all of them. Do you take me for a card sharp or a conspirator|
 Give the gentlemen named my com pllmeuts and ask them to favor me fol a moment" said the captain to the purSer and mate.
 During the five minutes which elapsed before the men returned he made no remark to StiIman, and the man from Chicago felt foolish and uncomfortable. He was not a fugitive from justice, and he had committed no breach of discipline aboard the steamer, but all signs indicated that he was in for trou- ble.
 "Gerdcmcu, you know Mir. StiIlman, do youg' was asked of the three par lies named.
 They answered in the affirmative and soon satisfied the captain that he was a man of character
 "Theu l am in something of fix he replied 'I did not suspect Mir. Still man of being a villain, but l was rath- CT in hopes to hear that be was a praC- tcal joker. If 1t had turned out that way my mind would have been re uayed, and yet l should have he'd 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 buukcrs and that when 1t is fed int2 the furnace We will become food for the tishes.'
 And do you believe the letter a hoax pr is it a warning?'
 Tt is a warming
 "I 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 a hun dred of them would jump overheard. That bomb may be fed Into one of 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 bunkers?" asked Warner and Phillips together.
 "Why not search for the cork of a champagne bottle on this broad oceau?" quericd tlFe captain, with a smile in which there was no hum0r. "Perhaps none of you gentlemen ever saw a dynamite bomb of the sort that we have ben loaded with2 Well, 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 imp 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 q 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 God"
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