New-York tribune., 1908-01-20
A PLOT TO BLOW UP
AMERICAN FLEET.
BRAZILIAN POLICE ON IN
ARCHISTS' TRACK.
Leading Conspirator Flees to Sac
Paulo-Foreigners InuolUed-
Guarding Warships.

Rio de Janeiro Jan 19.-The Brazilian police
as it's object the destruction of part OF the
American fleet now lying in the harbor ine
conspiracy had its centre in Rio de Janeiro ana
Petropolis and ramifcatons in Sac Paulo ana
Minas Geraes An individual named Jean Fed
her. who resided in Petropolis. was the chiei
consprator here. although it is understood that
foreign anarchists deeply involved in Tie
plot
Fedher is believed to have fled to, Sac Paulo
and police who know him have been sent 10
that place to arrest him. One of the detectives,
who was we'll acquainted with Fedher, having
served on the police force at Petropolis for some
time returned from that place to-day, after hav-
ing made Investigations. and had a long confer
ence with the Chief of Police at Rio de Janelro
The chief intimated later that the Sac Paulo
noIice were on the track of the leading con-
spirator and expected to arrest him soon-s
In an official note which the Chief OF Ponce
sent to the correspondent of The Associated
Press he says:
Some time before the arrival of the An nerican
fleet at Rio de Janeiro the Brazilian government
received from Washington and Paris adVlces
that anarchists of different natonaliies intended
to damage one or several of the ships or the
American fleet The names ana aaoresses txSs io "
the conspratorS were indicated by Information
which the police here had received previously
from France and Germany. The police OF TINS
district are working with the police OF Sac Paulo
and Minas Geraes. and I am sure every precau-
ton will be exercised and the most rigorous
vigilance observed. both on land and at sea- TO
prevent any injury from being done
The Chief of Police, after having made this
official statement said he felt that he ought not
to give further details regarding the conspiracy.
but he authorized the statement that the plot
vas organized by Fedher, and added that the
people of the United States could rest easy, as
all of the conspirators had taken refuge in the
interior.
AS yet the people of Brazil are ignorant of
the details Of the plot to do injury to the visit
ors, although there has been slight inkling
of the matter. The impression which the ex-
posure of this plot will create here will be a
profound one. because it is the first anarchist
conspiracy ever known in Brazil,
The police Of Sac Paulo have sent word that
they the track of the nalefactors, who,
they say, will not be able to reach Rio de
Janeiro.
dispatch from Petropois tonight gives an
interview with Carlos Hamman, who was sent
to Sac Pauo to arrest Jean Fedher, the alleged
anarchist. Hamman is quoted as saying that
the only information he has concerning a con-
spiracy was learned from the newspapers He
admitted that he had been at Sac Paulo and
Santos for the last ten days. but said that his
business had been entirely personal at those
| places. The dispatch adds that the police of
Petropolis acting under orders from Rio de
Janeiro, were observing the utmost vigilance
and were keeping suspicious persons under sur
] Yeillance