Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-26
OFFICIALS CLAIM
EVIDENCE PROVES
DYNAMITERS' PLOT
Prompt Action of WatChmen and
Police Prevents ConfIagration
in Factory District
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $4,000
Three Men Reported to Have
Been Seen ProWIing Near
Site Before Disaster
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $4,000

Particles of a substance believed to
be guncotton were discovered at the
site of the explosion at the Llewellyn
Iron works Redondo and Main streets,
early yesterday morning, and the police
are working on the theory that the
wrecking of the plant resulted from a
deliberately planned crime.
AS soon as daylight came. about
four hours after the blast that shat
tered large part of the south end of
the works, a careful search was made
of hole in the ground beside the
building. 1t was apparently made by
the first force of the explosion. Mi
mute particles of unexploded guncotton,
as we'll as small particles of the eX-
ploded substance, are said to have been
found These particles are in the hands
of John Llewellyn, secretary of the
concern, and will be kept as evidence.
The hole, which is located about
thirty feet from the southwest corner
of the wrecked building, is about eight
feet in circumference, partly filled with
loose dirt. According to the police
theory, the explosive was placed in
small hole. the larger one resulting
from the blast which tore away large
part of the south wall, which is built
of timber, and wrecked the floors of
the general offices, accounting and BILL
ing rooms
II had two men search the hole for
me just after daylight" said Secretary
Llewelyn. 1.-THE particles which l be-
lieve to be guncotton were at once
placed in sealed envelopes and will
| remain untouched until called for in
the course of the Investigation, Those
| who saw the substance say there is
small doubt that it is guncotton.'
sULPHUROUS PARTICLES FOUND
The particles in the possession of
Llewellyn We're found buried deep in
the earth in the hole and We're recov-
cred after the earth had been sifted.
The substance appears to be peculiarly
sulphurous, both in appearance and
smell.
For some time it was impossible to
tell the exact extent of damage done
by the explosion, but at daylight 1t was
found that the offices, accounting
wrecks. The west half of the south
wall was blown out into the yard. In
the second floor, built of stout timbers.
there was hole at least twenty feet
square. Another hole, slightly smaller,
was found in the third floor. There
was general demolition OF an the
furniture in the wrecked section.
According to the police and officers of
the concern, the outer side of the hole
in which the explosive was placed was
bolstered so that the greatest force
from the explosion would be directed
toward the iron works This appeared
to be the case, as no part of the build
ing except that in the direct path of
the explosive, the force of which
seemed to be concentrated in single
direction, was damaged.
That the entire plant did not burn
following the explosion and endanger
at least six other large iron foundr1es
a., To 10
the neighborhood Watchmen, assisted
by Sergeant Toolen and Patrolman
Cahill. AS soon as they recovered from
the shock of the explosion they rushed
the scene, and seeing the timbers of
the shattered wall begin to burn.
poured buckets of water on the blaze
The water they secured from nearby
lancet A few moments after the fire
had been put out the apparatus from
engine company No 10, located less
than two blocks distant, arrived, too
late to be of assistance.
THEORY OF EXTENSIVE PLOT
Officers of the Llewellyn company
said Yesterday morning that they pc
lieved the explosion was the result or
a deliberate attempt to wreck the plant
and that the purpose was TO Destroy
the whole structure by tire, hoplnS
that the flames would spread to the
adjoining buildings. The charge that
was used, both the officers of the con-
Germ and the police say, would not
have been sufficient to wreck the en-
tire plant, which covers nearly block,
even if it had been placed more faVot-
ably. The theory Of those lnVestl-
eating the explosion is that 1t was
caused by nitro -glycerine.
1--WE have the watchmen and otflcerS
to thank for saving the entire plant
from destruction by fire said Secre-
tary John LleWellyn. Had the flames
gained headway there would have been
not the slightest chance of saving any
thing. The timber is dry as finder and
piled as it was it would have burned
like kindling."
Following the explosion practically
everything on the second and thlrd
floors, on which the accounting and
billing departments were located, fell
through to the offices on the ground
floor. Apparently the timbers of the
second floor were carried with terrific
impact through the third floor and
then all crashed down together into
the offices. In the confusion of boards
and woodwork were found dozens of
desks, filing devices, telephones, chairs
and other furniture. Nothing in the
wrecked area was saved.
WATCmIAN FALLS THROUGH FLOOR
j. e. Asbury, so years old, a negro
watchman at the Llewellyn plant, was
the only person injured in the eXplo-
sion. There were two other negro
Watchmen about the plant at the time
but they were in the north part of the
building. Asbury was seated on the
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