The Sentinel=record., 1918-01-06
HAD FIRED SHOTS TO EXPLODE THE PLANT
Imprint of the Haeksaws Showed That the Bolts Were but Recently Sawed and 1t Is Presumed the Guilty Parties Have Not Gotten Far Away if They Had Gone,

Unknown parties using hacksaws on the steel bolts Of the door of the Hamp Williams Hardware company dynamite storage house south of the city effected an entrance. and moro than 100 pounds of dynamite was removed.
 The discovery was made yesterday, and immediately Mir. Williams made a personal investigation, which was followed by an investigation on the part of men representing the govern ment. The importance of the theft was impressed on MT. Williams, who is food commissioner for Arkansas, through his confidential relation with the government in this capacity, as well as being a member of the ex- ecutive committee of the state coun- cil of defense.
 The investigation made by Mir Williams revealed some interesting detail. The parties who had broken into the storage house had used 6 heavy crowbar on the hinges, after they had hacksawed the bolts that had to be removed. The imprint of the hacksow made 1t plain that the job had been recently done, and it is doubtful if the guilty parties have re- moved the explosives far by this time
 It was also developed that there had been an attempt some time re- gently to explode the whole dynamite storage by the firing of rifle against the crevices of the doors. The plant is built of heavy materials, and on the outside is a covering of sheet steel. The door is large one, also covered with steel.
 The plant is located south of the city on the Hot Springs creek, in a valley.
 It was apparent that some time re- gently some party had taken position on the hillside above and fired a rifle about the crevices of the door with the hope, perhaps, that they could with a bullet penetrate the crevices and explode the dynamite within. There was almost a carload of the explosives within the house, and If the bullet had gained entrance and exploded the dynamite, not alone would the shooter have been instantly killed, but the damage would have been felt even into the south portions of the city.
 Tt had been perhaps three weeks before since any of our men had vis- ited the storage house." said MT. Will Hams yesterday When the visit was made yesterday we found that the bolts had been sawed with a hacksaw, and that the heavy hinges had been pried open with a heavy crowbar. An invoice of the dynamite proved that but little more than 100 pounds had been taken, but closer investigation also proved up that the job had been but recently done, and we don't know what might have hap pened had not the discovery been made at this time.'
 The fact that under the new gov ernment regulation of the sale of ex- plosiyes, mo person may buy dynamite or powder without giving their name the purpose for which it is to be used and having some substantial citizen vouch for them if they are unknown to the salesman. Through the strict enforcement of this regulation the government keeps such a strict ac- count of explosives that none can fall into the hands of alien enemies with out at least affording much trouble
 It was this fact that led Mir. Will 'iams to fear that the theft of the dynamite was not what inspired the parties entering his storage house but rather to get possession of some dynamite without hacing to make 8 record of it.
 Mr. Williams offered a personal re- ward of $50 for the arrest and con viction of the person or persons who had entered the storage house. Immediately men were set to worl to check up shipments that nigh