New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-21
Trapped at Erie,He Dumps
Explosive Into Lake and
Eludes u. S. Agents.
BIG POWER HOUSES
ALSO TO BE BOMBED
Conspirator Flees to Pittsburgh,
Then to Headquarters Here,
Holly Pursued.
[By telegraph to The Tribune

my " AUG
Pittsburgh. Penn, Dec. 20.-A plot to
blow up the big power houses on the
Canadian and American sides of Mag
ara Fails and to destroy the big Michi-
gan Central and Grand Trunk interna-
tionsl railway bridges was frustrated
last week in Erie. Penn, when the con-
spirstor, alarmed at the closeness OF
government Secret Service agents,
dumped his supply Of high explosives
into the waters of Lake Erie of Wal
demar Park.
The plot, which had been carefully
worked out and intrusted to able hands,
was Of such magnitude as TO cause Sc
rious alarm in the Department OF JUS
ticc. Full details were learned to-day
from a representative of the Secret Ser
vice department who has been working
on the case for several weeks. This
official admitted that the master minds
behind the plot were those who plotted
to destroy the Welland Canal.
About four weeks ago, while govern
ment agents were watching a group o.
men in New York who were schemins
to stop the manufacture of war NUM-
tions for the Allies and to prevent arms
shipments, a trusted agent of foreign
government who has resided in this
country several years established head
quarters in this city. He came alone
and carried on his operations without
aid
Close behind this man came agents
of the United States Secret Service.
Not for moment during his stay here
was he out of their sight. The gov
eminent agents learned that orders
came to him direct from New York,
where the work intrusted 10 HIM wa
being directed.
Code Note Posts Agents.
That he might be free from suspicion
the plotter got employment in a large
plant here making shells for the Allies
He became the most skilful workman
in the big shop.
Meanwhile Secret Service agents were
busy, and the supply OF explosives and
mail coming to the conspirator were
carefully examined before they reached
him.
Tuesday morning g week ago, appar-
emily prepared for the work in hand
the man boarded Pennsylvania Rail
road train for Niagara Falls. Before
he reached Erie he began to grow UNI
essy. When he received a code tele-
gram when the train reached that city
lie cot off and made for the lake.
Closely trailing him came govern
ment agents. They reached him few
moments too late TO prevent him from
dumping the contents of large leather
satchcl into deep water of the park
shore. Later some Of the stuff. ssid
to be a high explosive Of great de-
structive power, was recovered.
After disposing Of the explosives the
suspect returned TO this city, remained
two hours ard then went to Philadel-
phia. A few days later he went TO
New York, where he is now under sur
VIGILANCE. The power houses Of the
Ontario Power Company. the Canadian
Niagara Falls Power and the Toronto
Niagara Power Company. on the Cana
dain side; the New York Hydraulic
Power and Manufacturing Company
and the Niagara Falls Power Company,
on the American side, and the big in
ternational railroad bridges were
marked for destruction, according 10
the programme mapped out by the New
York conspirators.