The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-05-03
Bloody Anarchists Attempt to
Spread Death and Terror
Throughout United States
BONES MAILED TO
PROMINENT MEN
Evidence Gathered Points, to
Widespread Plot of /. w. w.
and Bolshevist Sympathizers

Washington, April 30.-Discovery in
New York today of 16 bombs, each
put together by experts, resulted to-
night in a general warning to gov
ernment employees to be on watch for
what authorities believe to be an an
arGhist plot to spread terror through
out the country.
While steps were taken Immediately
to deal with the situation already de-
Syelcped; postofhce department officials
frankly admitted that there was ab-
soiuteay no means Of telling exactly
how many bombs might have been de-
posted in the mails. The Is picked
np, ia New York were regarded as a
catch find, having: been held for lack
of postage. Coming on the heels OF
the damage caused by an internal ma
chine mailed to former Senator Hard
Wick OF Georgia, and in the same
sort OF package, with the same depart
merit store label led to, prompt con-
Tacation by the government and
quick search for similar weapons of
destruction moving through the
mails.
Because of the character Of the
men to whom the packages were ad-
dressed, the one thought Of the au-
shorities center ed in the motive. In a
general way the attempt on the lives
of cabinet members, a justice Of the
supreme. court Of the United States, a
governor, mayor and others, was
linked UP with recent agitation and
discussion of the question Of after the
war Immigration But the authorities
could not altogether agree on this as
the reason behind the wholesale at
tempts sof destruction Of life. Word
reached investigators here that Gim-
bel Bros. New York department store
owners, whose mailing tags were on
each package, including that sent to
Former Senator Hardwick, had de-
eIareds the tag forgery.
No effort was made to disguise the
tact that this information was dis
cuieting. for it meant, officials said, IN
the event of a wholesale mailing of
bombs that many would reach their
destinations bearing the mark Of
other firms, which would make the
work Of preventing delivery all the
more difficult. Although the public
was cautioned as to the opening Of
strange packages, the departments
detective force realized that if all Of
the Internal machines put in the
mails have not been recovered, it is
the departments job to get them be-
fore delivery.
Every branch Of the bureau Of COM
INJUNCTION was set to work to this
end, starting with the men who take
mail from street boxes, and ending
with the carriers who deliver it at
Office and home.
Not content with these precautions
steps were taken in Washington to
safeguard government officials to
whom other dangerous bombs might
be sent. Personal orders went to all
departments, including the courts, so
thatby no possible chance will strange
buadies pass the net spread out to
seize them.
so far the only damage reported
was that in the home Of former Sena-
tor Hardwick at Atlanta, where the
package, mailed at New York was
opened by his wife's maid in his alb
sence. It was said here that the ma
chine received there was similar in
every way to the others. but officials
could not account for the different
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