The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-28
Fire Marshal Lahey
 Makes Bomb Report
(Continued from Page D

AASAGAAVt Woo 46 AAASAASc AAA NAuAAASUSAt and its gauge or thickness of metal was about 1-16 of an inch.
 It was vented at various places near the base, but there was a solid accumulation of rubbish at the bottom of the can, with the dynamite and exploders mixed with it. It was this cushion which really formed the protection that prevented the explosion of this additional and particular dyna- mite, but which we feel was in tended to go shortly after the first blast.
 The location of the drum or can was easily accessible from the Welton Street entrance, and could be reached in the dark without detection. Our presumption is it was a clear plant" but the mo- tive back of it all, we cannot ex- plain. The work was that of one well versed in the handling of ex- plosives, we think, judging by the way in which the dynamite was prepared.
 The fire innocently started by the yard man came in contact with an exploder attached to piece of dynamite, and when this exploded the entire can, save the lower portion, was shattered and twisted out of shape, and ripped to such an extent that part of it landed on the rear steps of the house in front. If the second piece had "let go" at the time intended, the effect would have been more serious and possibly some of the nearby bldgs. would have suffered considerably.
 The storage and care of ex- plosives of all kind are primarily a function of the Office of the Fire Marshal to regulate, under statuatory provision, and also un- der instruction of the Commis- sioner of state police. We checked on all permits issued by this of- flee, but found nothing of a na- ture to give us a lead as to where the explosive was obtained. No one has the right to have ex- plosives about without the grant of the Office of the Fire Marshal or the State Police Commissioner, yet 1t is possible to bring them in to the city under a~permit as is- sued by an official of an adjoin- ing town. We do not know where the dynamite came from, or who placed 1t there, even after most diligent search from all angles. This is the truth of the situation. and we are free in our acknowl- edgement that we have failed in our effort to detect the offenders.
 THEREFORE. I, as the Fire Marshal of Waterbury, following common and recognized procedure. do hereby report to hte public of Waterbury, that the hand of 8 person unknown to US purposely and apparently with criminal in- tent placed a dynamite bomb in & so-called incinerator in the rear of 8 Welton Street, in the city of Waterbury, Connecticut; that said bomb exploded on the afternoon of May IT, 1888 at or about the hour of 5:10 o'clock, daylight saving time, and that said explosion startled the neighborhood and frightened the people, and in spite of all of the preparation ap- parently made in advance, little harm or damage resulted. The in- vestigation, will of course, be con- tinued, but with little hope of a proper solution of the entire af- fair. At the same time we con- demn the use of all oil drums as incinerators: most of them are unsightly and ugly looking at the best.
 This is our finding on the sub- ject question.
 Signed,
 DENNIS LAHEY,
 The Fire Marshal
 of Waterbury.
 Waterbury, Conn.
 May 27, 1888.