The Washington times., 1909-03-28
Opera House in Back Bay
Blown Up by Dyna-
miterS.
POLICE SUSPECT
FORMER EMPLOYEES
Stationary Engineer and Two Iron
Workers Will Be Arrested
When Located.

BOSTON, March 2S.-The remnants OF
a powerful bomb. about two feet in
length and four inches in diameter were
dug this morning from the debris at
the corner of the new opera house
which was wrecked by dynamiters early
today.
A two-foot length of fuse was also
Sound tossed into corner.
The police OF the Back Bay Station
learned from one of the watchmen that
three men had been seen running away
from the spot about ten minutes before
the explosion. but that they could give
no description of them as it was dark.
Superintendent Nash, who has had
personal charge of the erection Of the
opera house, and who has handled the
labor troubles, which have arisen in the
past three months, stated to Detective
Mckinnon that he believed the deed
was perpetrated by former members of
either the engineers or iron workers
union.
Il do not believe ii was done at the
iDstigation of the body" he stated.
10 Munsey News Service reporter this
afternoon, "but 1 do feel that il was
done by a former member We have
been threatened with bodily harm sew
eral times since December by iron
workers and engineers with whom we
have had trouble, and on one occasion
we were told that our engines would be
BLOWN up"
Police are Active
Although the police this afternoon
said they would make no arrests until
they had more discriminating evidence
in their hands. it is believed that one
stationary engineer and two ironwork-
ers, said TO have been members OF
New York locals, will, If located, be ar
lested and detained as suspicious char
acters.
The searchers dare not clean away
ali the debris, a5 the huge front wall
is cracked almost up TO the third story.
Tomorrow the wall Will be propped up,
and the mass of shivered stone and
lent iron work will be removed.
The fact that the bomb was placed
at the most vital structural spot in the
entire building, convinces the police
that the work was done by person who
has worked in the opera house.
The explosion shook the city for a
Fsdius of half a mile, but there was
no loss of life. the watchmen. by a for
funate coincidence, being at the time
On the further corner of the building.
Trouble With Unions.
The contractors who have been
erecting the building. had trouble sew
Eral months ago with labor unions and
since that time, because of threats re-
ceived by discharged employees. a po-
lice guard and watchmen have been
detailed every night on the grounds
The watchmen Saturday night saw no
suspicious persons in the vicinity, and
~ is believed by the police that the
explosion was caused by a time bomb
nj IL
Samite set in a window ledge on the
second story and arranged TO explode
Rt midnight.
Early this forenoon a large detail of
police was assigned to the scene and
Eeveral discharged workmen are under
surveillance, believed TO be responsible
names OF several discharged workmen
who had threatened revenge, and their
arrest on suspicion is looked for
The labor unions are not implicated
IN any way. according TO George w
Harvey, president of the CONTRACTING
INN, as the troubles were adjusted two
months ago, and the friendliest relations
have existed since.
As soon as the debris can be cleared
away a hunt will be made in the wreck
age 70 see II there were any wires
Ftretched so that the bomb could have
been exploded BY a spark.
One whole corner Of the building was
blown out, one granite block hve feet
long four feet wide and two feet thick
O|4AS hui icu niOte lIinl a AQuureQ Ieel
tnto neighboring ball ground. The
scanolding collapsed and smaller frag.
ments of stone and timber were hurled
IN the air for hundreds Of yards. one
trolley car on Huntington avenue filled
with belated theater parties being bonn.
barded.
Damage is Heavy.
The total damage is yariodsly esti
mated as high as 5000. although Mr.
Harvey says the amount will not exceed
a few hundred dollars.
Immediately after the explosion
which was distinctly heard at polio,
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