New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-24
Attempt Made
TO Blow Up@I4'
I'm Rush Hour
Lighted Bomb, Found i'm
Crowded Reid Avenue
Station of B. II. t. Lime,
Is Extinguished i'm Time
Patrolman Acts Quickly
Throws Dynamite in Water
After Pinching Out Fire;
Company Blames Strikers

IN the Reid Avenue station Of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit elevated line
on-Fulten Street during rush hour
yesterday morning probAbly averted
an explosion that would have meant
loss Of life and serious injuries to
many people in the station and on the
street.
Patrolman Michael Santaniello, of
the Mercer Street station, Manhattan,
detailed as a guard at the elevated
station during the strike of B. r. T.
employees, found the bomb in the
mems washroom at 8:45 q. M, when
scores of men and women were walt
ing for trains on the platform.
According to Santaniello's report, he
had entered the washroom shortly after
going on duty for the day and saw
smoke curling upward from what ap-
peared to be a folded newspaper on
the floor beneath one Of the basins.
Thinking to extinguish cigarette
stub, he stepped on the paper, then
reached down and took it in his hand.
Package Contains Dynamite
Smoke continued to come from the
parcel and he opened it to investigate.
1t contained stick of dynamite eight
inches long with smouldering fuse
burned to within an inch of, the explo-
sive. The patrolman pinched out the
lighted fuse and threw the package into
a pail of water. Santainiello was
member of the bomb squad which solved
the st. Patrick's Cathedral bomb plot
in March, 1915.
After preliminary examination Of
the bomb at the Atlantic Avenue police
station, it was taken to the Central
Testing Laboratory at 1875 Worth
Street. by order Of Acting Inspector
John CoughlIn, in charge of the De-
tective Bureau.
There it was found by Dr.. Gotch and
John f. Dixon, assistant inspector of
combustibles, to contain low grade
OF dynamite, consisting of nitro
glycerine and ammonia nitrate, mixed
with wood flour of sawdust. Accom-
pSnylng the dynamite were two pipe
cleaners impregnated with nitrate.
THESE, DIR. Gotch said, could serve as
q decorating device, but he was un-
a3le to say whether they had been
ignited.
The report of the analysis was trans
mltted to Fire Commissioner Thomas J.
brennan said later that his department
was through with the bomb and that
the Police Department would concern
Itself with solving the mystery of this
alleged plot.
Patrolman's Hand Burned
Patrolman Santaniello received minor
burns on the thumb and forefineer of
his right hand when he extinguished
the burning fuse
Santaniello said Mrs. Catherine Hee-
man, the ticket agent on duty at the
Reid Avenue station, had been trans.
ferred there from the Ralph Street
station after she had told B. r. T. Off
Gals that week ago last Tuesday a
man came to the booth and threatened
her with injury unless she would 70
on strike
The police are looking for the man,
q description OF whom was given them
by Mrs. Heeman.
the B. r. T. Offices regarding the find
ing OF the explosive. The COMPANY
mad been told the bomb" was not a
bomb but cardboard tube filled With
oakum. This was refuted by the an
alysis at the testing laboratory.
Strikers Are Suspected
oflcfals Of the B. R. T. were Of the
opinion that some of the radicals
among the strikers had inspired the
planting Of the dynamite. This idea
was rldlculed by leaders of the strik-
ers. They declared the present walk
out. OF the Amalgamated men had been
the most peaceful strike of transit en-
pioyecs ever called in Brooklyn.
IF the police found anything it was
the company's scheme to discredt the
strikers" declared Max Brodie, bust
ness agent of Local 867. at is ridicu-
lous to suspect the strikers of such a
thing"
Patrolman santaniello, with Detec-
tive Emilio Poignant, lived among the
celebrated "Bresci Circle" for four
months prior to the apprehension and
subsequent conviction Of Frank Albarno
and Charles Carbone in the Cathedral
bomb case.
During the war santaniello was in
The military intelligence force com
manded by Captain Barnitz, sergeant
IN the Police Department. This Force
played a conspicuous part in gathering
evidence in the widespread shin bomb
conspiracy
Reduced 70 Patrolman
Upon his return to the police force
ne was assigned to the vice SQUAD and
subsequently complained Of this virtual
feductlon in rank. He was later "re-
duced" to the uniformed force as a
patro!man and assigned to the Fortv-
seventh Street station. A month NO
he was transferred to the Mercer Strest
station. 0''ee'
oHacials Of the Police Depar4msn.
yesterday declined to saw what atsns
would be taken to And the person or
persons responsible FOR placing &he
oomb on the Reid Avenue station.
Patrolman Santaniello said he "a
eeived orders from police headoua rev.
shortly after he had delivered tho
bomb not TO discuss any phase Of the
matter with those outside the depart
ment.
Opinions OF detectives and members
OF the staff OF District Attorney Lewis's
once varied as to the possible effect
OF an explosion of bomb such AS that
anatyzed. Some thought that if it had
not been extinguished when it was the
elevated station would have been com
pietely wrecked and a number Of ner.
sons might have been killed. Others
thought the principal damage would
have been to The walls and roof Of the
washTcou.
Mills Scores War Waste