Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-27
Dynamite For A
NonuniOn Plant
Llewellyn Iron Works at Los Angeles
Partially Destroyed by an
Explosion.

Los ANGELES, Cal, DEC. &c. - The
Llewelyn Iron works were partially
wrecked by an explosion, presumably of
dynamite early yesterday. The force
of the explosion tore out the front of
the building, smashed windows for more
than a block and awakened people in resi-
dence districts for more than two miles
away. The night watchman was slightly
| injured. The police have no clue to the
perpetrators.
| Who placed the supposed charge OF dyna-
mite is unknown, but IL is believed they
have been the outcome Of the general
labor troubles of Los Angeles, in which
tho Llewelyn has been prominently in
volved. A hole in the ground eighteen
inches deep and about six feet in diameter
bears witness to the place of origin and
probable cause.
The front of the main building, a three
, story frame, for a distance of probably
seventy-fve feet, was shot to pieces
and its contents of furniture and para
phernalia was piled together in apparent
ruin. The big machinery of the building
apparently was undamaged.
Watchman Saved by Policeman.
]. E. Asbury. the watchman, was seated
in the office within thirty feet from the
center of the explosion. He was buried
under a mass Of debris, but was dragged
out by Policeman Cahill who was in front
OF the office at the time. With the ex-
ception of a cut on the right hand and
an abrasion OF the scalp and face, Asbury
was uninjured
IL saw a flash and heard a report like
the crack of a whip" said Policeman
Cahill, "and next the front of the build
ing seemed to crumble and the air seemed
full OF debris. ! called out, Is there any
one in the building?' and hearing a cry
for help from Asbury, found and dragged
him from under the ruins and to the
street"
The Llewellyn Iron works has long been
prominent in the fight against the recog-
milton of union labor in this city and is
one OF the concerns involved in the exist
ing metal workers strike which went into
effect on June l of this year. The strike
has been characterized by great bitterness
on both sides.
Blames IL on Outsiders.
Officials Of the Llewellyn company are
OF the opinion that the effort to destroy
their plant is the outgrowth Of their diff
ference with labor and the police are
working on this theory. John Llewellyn,
secretary of the company, said
There is no doubt in my mind that this
effort to destroy our property is due to
the fact that are standing on our
rights to run our business i'm our own way.
! do not, however. wish to be understood
as intimating that the men who were work
ing here in Los Angeles and went out in
the metal workers strike are responsible
for it, do not think they have had any
thing 10 do with it. | believe Il is the work
OF men who do not belong here. who for
their own malicious ends are willing TO
commit any kind of a crime"
Fred G. Wheeler president of the Los
Angeles Central Labor council said:
The fact that the Llweilyn Iron works
is In warfare with organized labor is all
that our enemies need TO endeavor to Law
this outrage at our door Every true friend
OF the cause Of labor knows that violence
Injuries our cause more than those against
whom It may be directed.
ITO those who would seek to fasten upon
US any responsibility for such crime. we
OF the Los Angeles Labor council are able
to make answer by defying any one to
point out any time in our twenty-six years
OF existence when we have ever advocated
other than peaceable measures for the ac-
complishment Of our just ends"
Apparently the police have no definite
clue 20 the perpetrators,
In View OF the Los Angeles Times dyns-
hitting outrage last October in which seven.
teen men were killed today's explosion has
created widespread interest. The grand iury
is expected az any time to hand I'm its re-
port on the Times case.