The Washington herald., 1908-08-15

Aroused 10 hign state OF nervous
tension by the fear Of a tragedy. and the
mysterious movements Of plain clothes
men. residents in the neiEhborhood OF the
former Turkish Legation. I1e Calvert
street northwest. were thrown into eX-
element yesterday afternoon by loud
report. similar 10 the noise Of an expIod-
ing bomb
Windows and doors were opened, and IN
a Few seconds CoIvert street was the
scene Of excited groups. composed mostly
Of women and girls Il was o'clock
when the noise was heard Every eye
was turned in the direction OF the former
legation. where the window shades were
pulled down TO exclude the sun and the
doors closed 10 keep out the heat.
Finally. when nothing more was heard.
and no unusual proceedings occurred at
the house where Mehmed Ali Bey lay ii
in bed. the Calvert street people became
quiet
Only WOrLmen Blasting.
Il was afterward learned thar work
men are blasting near Rock Creek, about
two blocks west Of the former legation.
and II is thought The noise was nothing
more than the explosion Of a charge OF
dynamite 20 loosen a section Of earth or
rock
Probably annoyed by the calls Of news
paper men. the members Of the Turkish
household have intrenched themselves be
hind a barricade calculated to resist the
attack Of the most persistent reporter
When a reporter for The Washington
night. numerous lights were to be seen on
all floors Of the house The door TO the
main entrance stood wide open. so that
a light in the hau could be plainly seen
from the street The house was as stiu
as the proverbial house on the prOverbial
night before Christmas
The screen door being unlocked made
possible the ringing Of an electric bell
which sounded far away. No response
being made. the bell was pashed a sec
ond time but no ring was heard It is
thought probable the rings at the door
have worried Nehned Ali Bey. who Is re-
ported seriously i'll
\ small window looking out on the
front porch is used as a reconnoiterins
tower. from which all visitors may be
viewed before being given permission TO
enter
Paper on the Porch.
The floor Of the porch was covered
with bits Of paper, some Of them covered
with unintelligible writing. While these
were being examined. two well-appearing.
Immediately dressed men. clad in negIi-
gee costume. with white flannel trousers
and white canvas shoes. made a noiseiess
appearance and were not seen until one
Of them spoke.
Questioned II they were connected with
the former legation. the young men de-
clined TO answer. although one OF them
hinted in the negative Despite this. both
seemed TO be well informed in the affairs
of the household
Il is said authoritatively that these men
are members Of the secret service. sta
toned at the Calvert street house bv
Chief WiIkie. at the instigation of the
State Department
Much surprise was manifested when 4
dispatch was read 10 the secretary OF the
deposed minister from Constantfnopie tn
the effect that the government proposes
70 raise the legation at Washington to an
embassy and appoint Kiagin Bey. now
minister at Bucharest. as Ambassador to
the United States The secretary said
All Bey. had received no such Information
and it was unknown If 41undH Bev. the