A Sign of the Times by L. A. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 19, 1903

A Sign of the Times

By L. A. S.

AMONG occurrences which now so frequently remind us of the ominous nature of the times in which we are living, one of the most startling was the recent narrow escape of one of the great ocean liners from destruction at sea by dynamite placed on board with intent to blow up the ship.

A box containing the dynamite, to the amount of one hundred pounds, with a time-fuse attachment regulated by clockwork, was found in the baggage for the steamship “Umbria,” at the Cunard line pier, and was promptly lowered into the water to prevent a possible explosion, which would have wrecked the pier. The first notice of the nature of the contents of the box was received by a special delivery letter addressed to police headquarters, and bearing the title, “Warning from the Mafia,” reading as follows:—

DEAR SIR: The Mafia greets you, and wishes you well. At the Cunard dock is a box containing one hundred pounds of dynamite. Inside of that is a machine that, properly set, can explode the stuff at any time within thirty-six hours. The society has declared war against England, and has ordered the destruction of every steamer flying the British flag that sails out of New York harbor. The undersigned has received orders to begin operations by sinking the “Oceanic,” but so many women and children took passage on that boat that the society’s plans were changed at the last minute. The machine in the box is the first made, and is a crude affair, and is inclosed simply to show how easy it is to sink a steamer, and convince those interested that the society is not making idle threats.

The society has undertaken to clear New York harbor of British ships, and will succeed. The reason for this movement the society does not wish to disclose; suffice it to say that the society, in order to protect itself, must carry war into the enemy’s country. It goes without saying that it proposes to wage it as fiercely as it knows how. This is the society’s first and last warning. Those who purpose to patronize British steamers must take their chances. In the future the society asks and will give no quarter.

PIETRO DEMARTIN.

P. S.—The battery is not attached, and the fuses are without caps, or lighter, and is not set, consequently there is no danger in handling the box.

No clue to the identity of the letter writer or of any others concerned in the plot, has been obtained, and this question, together with that of the real intent of the act, have been a subject of much speculation. By some it is viewed as a mere practical joke, perpetrated for the sake of the resulting scare and excitement. This is a possible explanation of the occurrence, but under the circumstances, not a probable one. And whether a joke or not, society does not contemplate with composure the demonstrated possibility of the perpetration of such horrors as this occurrence suggests. It can hardly be doubted that such deeds would not lie beyond what secret organizations at war with governments or with the present structure of society would be willing to attempt if moved by the idea that such things were necessary to the accomplishment of their ends. It remains for future events to indicate whether any of these organizations are actuated by such an idea at the present time.

L. A. S.