Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-17
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These boxes were destroyed, but tina
did not spoil the evidence The appai
ent cunning with which the order fo
the explosive was placed with Colone
aamlin for the Dittmar Powder Co
which now IS out of existence, arouse
/ suspicion at the time but as the Dit
mar Powder CO. was In the dynamit,
selling business the sale WIS mad,
ana with the consent of the Unite
states government.
Not only was the dynamite cf hig
grade but the Insulated wire was =
such construction it would melt whe4
subjected to current of more thal
10 volts. By the melting of the Sils
connecting the Minis. beneath tn,
Maine with the switch key on thu
shore of Cuba, ana with a mine S.
powerful it would blow itself to pieces
the cunning mind which devised thu
plot figured, explosive experts her
say, that all prina facie evidence
would be eradicatad and the perpetra
tors of the plot never could be brought
| o justice Negotiations fer the buy
ing of the dynamite, insulated wire.
| eTploders and the motor battery wers
opened with The powder company b.
a Spaniard in this city in November
1898. That Spaniard, whose identity
never has been revealed, was intro
'uced to Colonel Hamlln and taken
the Office Of the company by H. G.
Williams, formerly & dredging con-
tractor of this city Who had large in
erests in Cuba. The negotiations
we're carried on in, the efliee of VIII
ANS, IN Fourth street. rear Chestnut.
The Spaniard could not speak intel
igible English, and Colonel Hamlin
as not conversant with spanish, SO
VILLAINS acted as Interpreter
1t was represented to Hamlin that
Villains had an assistant in Havana.
civil engineer named ". :. Selwin.
The explosive was to be shipped 70
elwin. After the pittmar concern
onsented to sell the explosive til
paniard, through Williams. suggested
he shipment be billed al just double
he price as quoted by the company.
te admitted he was to profit through
he excessive billing. 1t was this e1-
a billing stipulation thar first aroas-
the suspicious of the company and
amlin demanded cash before lie
ould order the goods packed. With
ut any hesitaHcy the Spaniard turned
yer the money and tire deal was clos
4. In gathering the evidence regard
1g that shipment the investigators
ave traced all ORDERS directly back to
| lie Spanish dictator of Cuba, General
Beyler. 1t Was tile brutality of Wey-
r, while ruling cuba. that first eaus-
| trouble between the United States
| I'd Spain. i vas learned Weyler had
| commissioned his agents to find u go-
| tween Those agents decided on
| illiams and Seiwin. 1t is not be-
| we'd, even now, either Of those
| mericans knew for what purpose the
Mantle WAS to be used. Weyler al
| ordered the dynamite be bought
| ON. the Dittmar Company, as that
| 1ncern had been shipping small
aantities of dynamite to cuba foi
| ming operations and large ship
lent by the same concern might &c
aaetically unnoteed.
For almost month after the salt
: the dynamite by the Ditimar con
TN the Spanish consul refused hii
| 3nsent TO the shipment. Suddenly
IL DAY in December, tse consul no
ied the government officials that II
lthdrew his protest and TIE officials
| New York gave the necessar!
aaaranee papers. The Spanish consu
New York had received word from
S home government he should with
aw his protest. Half an hour afte
| Ie ceBsUl agreed TO tile shipment
| 3lonel Hamlin received Il cable mes
&c from Cuba ordering him to gt
| New York Immediately and inter
few the captain of the liner CiudaC
ondeI, a steamship running between
aw York and the Vest Indies. Al
aich then was docked at New York
&c Ctddad Condel Mas the proparty
{ the Ceballos Spanish line know
5 Compania TranSatl mica Espano' a
he line since has gone out of bust.
| SIS, probably owing to the confisca.
IN Of its vessels by the Spanish gov.
nrent in the Spanish-Americar
IT. On interviewing the captain O
| 9 Ciudad Condel, Colonel Harnltl
IS informed General Weyler had re
1ked the original order forbfddini
q transportation of dynamite b,
| at vessel. TO him also was show
e translation of cable message ad
essed to the captain Of the vesse
ID which read:
Leave all passengers of the Ciuda
'ndel in New York and bring dyna
ite.' This message was signe
Weyler."
The company Immediately canceleC
nasse7@er reservations. informin,
he 80 passengers the vessel had beer
aiken by the Spanish government. y,
son was left on board except Z
listed crew, the antecedents of ever,
ember Of which had been traced t,
point which showed they would bt
wal to Spain. Coincident with the
otihcation to the passengers they
'ouid have to look for other means ot
1ansportation to Cuba, Hamlin was
rdered to load the dynamite on tht
iudad Condel Another difficulty
hen arose. The pier company refused
permit the loading of the dynamite
While the vessel was at dock. The
'Ynamite, packed in cases containing
pounds each, had to be placed
hoard lighter, towed into midstream
l Nhpra tho or oh In, loo