NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2324, 15 September 1881, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

DISOOVEBY OF INFEENAL MACHINES.

["European Mail."]

What would appear to be the most extensive plot ever arranged by the Fenians for the destruction of publio buildings in England has happily been frustrated by the care and watchfulness of the Custom House authorities, and the Detective Police of Liverpool. For some time past it has been suspected that a considerable traffic in explosives had been carried on between America and this country through the agency of certain people in Liverpool who are not licensed to deal in such commodities. Recently more detailed information was received, which caused a sharp look-out to be kept on all goods arriving from the United States at Liverpool. Major Greig, the head of the Liverpool police, and Chief Superintendent William?, of the Detective Department, wore entrusted with the inquiries, and Mr Gardener, head collector of Customs at Liverpool, was also specially commissioned by Sir Oharles Du Cane, chairman of the Board of Customs, to closely watch all arrivals of goods, and generally to investigate the matter. The reports received were to the effect that by one of the largest vessels of one of the principal lino of steamers sailing between the United States and Liverpool a number of infernal machines loaded with dynamite were being conveyed to this country. Soveral vessels were searched, but without any result. On the arrival of the Malta, belonging to the Cunard Line, however, one particular portion of her cargo aroused suspicion. This was a consignment of a number of barrels of cement. These barrels were detained, and in order to keep the matter as secret as possible it was decided to examine them in the middle of the night. The examination took place in one of the wharves at the Huskisson Dock, none but custom - house officers being present. Six or seven of the barrels were opened, without anything being found, but eventually a barrel Was opened which afterwards was noticed to have on it a black oross not to be found on the others, and in this were found six zino boxes, which upon further examination proved to be infernal machines with neatly constructed clockwork and some stuff like dynamite that looked ready prepared. Dr. Campbell Brown was

asked to examine this stuff, and pronounced it to be dynamite. Each box oontained !. about 31bs of the mixture, one or two o of them containing betides a quantity ,f of nitro - glycerine. A clock - worker e was called in to examine the maohinery, and .. he stated that the works were of a very simple .. but effective kind. After being started file e machines would run for about six hours, o. when a portion of the olookwork would move , a powerful spring, which would be brought f into contact with a percussion cap, and so B the explosives would be firod. During the r examination one of the officers incautiously 9 started one of the machines, but the action i was, of course, immediately stopped. The . Home Secretary was. communicated with, and [ one of the machines, the dynarnito having f previously been extracted, was forwarded to 3 London for examination. A few days after , the arrival of the Malta, the Bavarian, one of , Leyland's steamers, having on board pssscn- ; gors, but carryin g principally cattle, arrived in [ the Bame dock. She also had on board some I barrels of cement, consigned to the same persons. These were, of course, examined, and in one of the barrola six more machines , constructed on the same plan wore found, each of them containing three pounds of explosive material. In some of the barrels it is stated some billheads bearing the name of O'Donovan Boss* were found. It is unfortunately almost certain that the culprits in this matter will escape with impunity. It is impossible to bring any charge Bgainßt the American consignors of the goods which would bring them under the Extradition Act; and as regards the consignees in this country, even the offence of importing explosives without a license has not been oompleted, the barrels not having come into their possession. With commendable wisdom they have at present made no claim for the " cement." Every inquiry is being made in the United States with a view to discovering the maker of the clockwork, and to generally tracing up full particulars of the matter, but beyond the information thus afforded to the Home Office and the police here, bat little good result can come of this knowledge. The [Customs authorities at Liverpool are stili on the alert, as several more attempts will, according to the reports received, be made to import similar infernal machines into this country. The authorities at Queenstown and at other ports to which vessels sail from America have also been put on their guard. By the Explosive Acts, 38 and 39 Vic, c. 17, any person importing explosive* without a license is liable to a penalty of £IOO, or to six months' imprisonment, at the discretion of the Justices. The dynamite contained in these machines having been examined, beyond the first examinination made by Dr. Brown, by one of Her Majesty** inspectors of explosives, was taken out in a special steamer, and there destroyed. O'Donovan Bosea's paper, the " Fnited Irishman" says:—"lf those barrels were designed to execute Mr Eorster and Mr Gladstone for their murders in Ireland, we are Borry they did not reach them in proper fashion. It it our opinion that the Irish in fighting England could burn down London, Liverpool, Manchester, and other big English cities, and could easily burn down England's shipping, particularly her merchant ships; and we say the Irish should do it, and hope in God they will do it, if England will not give up Ireland at a lesser sacrifice." Bossa has done considerable business as a ticket agent for several English steamship companies. They have now revoked the agencies, and directed him to return the tickets. Captain Cossack, a member of the United Irishmen Society, and an adherent of O'Donovan Bossa, thinks that if Bossa did not send the machines he contributed to the necessary funds to do so. An aggressive oouree of action is the only way, he thinks, in which Ireland can gain independence. He, therefore, favours dynamite explosions as'a means of giving warning. Bossa himself denies all knowledge of the affair, and also declines to answer whether the Society of United Irishmen is connectedfwith the shipment. He claims that the English shipping is full of men ready to co-operate in every undertaking against the British Government. He also says that he has no fear of the American Government interfering with bis operations. He proposes, when General Garfield is better, to visit him and the Cabinet. DESTBUOTIVE STOBM. A fearful storm has just swept over the Shetland Islands, resulting in the destruction of property and a loss of life unprecedented in the Forth since 1832. The storm burst with a suddenness that gave no preliminary warning. The fisher boats were far at sea; those prosecuting herring fishing had their nets set, and those at cod fishing had lines set. The storm prevented the fishermen from hauling their lines or nets, and a great loss of fishing material was sustained. It is new ascertained beyond doubt that ten boats have been lost in the Isles. These are native boats, looally known as " sixerns," that is, pulling six oars, but also using lug sail, and generally having a orew of six men each. One of the boats belonging to Unst, the most northern of the Shetland Islands, six belonging to the Island of Tell, two to Feedaland, and one to Mossbank, were missing from Fetlar. News from another district states that a boat belonging to Havera, a small island close to Scalloway, has also been wrecked, thus making, so far as is yet ascertained, eleven boats and sixty-three lives lost. One boat bad a narrow escape.. It was one of the large full-decked boats, and the crew having set their nets, decided by them. The boat rode out the Btorm, although the craft waa often covered by- the heavy seas. "When the storm abated the men found an extraordinarily heavy take of herrings in the nets, and the boat was unable to take all aboard, even though the ballast was thrown overboard. After taking on board about seventy crans of herrings, valued at over £6O, the crew handed over the remainder of their nets to an Irish boat belonging to Dublin, at present fishing in Shetland, that came to render assistance. The scenes witnessed at the landing places and along the sea ooast are heartrending. In Shetland it is customary for father and sons, and perhaps other relatives, to fish in the same boat, and thus several families all closely related are deprived of their bread-winners. As a rule, the people are exceedingly poor, and the destitution caused by the calamity among the 200 to 300 dependent widows and children will be fearful, as their neighbours are mostly as poor as themselves. THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFEBENOE. The one hundred and thirty-eighth annual Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion commenced on July 19th, at Brunswick Chapel, Mosb street, Liverpool. Eight hundred ministers were present. The retiring president, the Be v. Ebenezar E Jenkins, took the chair, The first business was the allocation of seats. The roll of the legal Conference was then called, when it was found that four members had died during the year—the Bevs. Dr. Morley Punshon, Dr. Jobson, Samuel Coley, and the Bev. W. Simpson. Several ministers were nominated for the vacancies. A ballot being taken, the Bev. F. W. Briggs, M.A., and the Bev. David J. Waller were elected by nominations, and the Bev. Charlen Carter and John S. Jones on the ground of seniority. The Legal Conference being duly constituted, the next business was the election of president. A ballot was then taken, with the following results : —Arthur, 11, McOullough 12, Dr. Moulton 20, Boberts 22, Garnett 88, Dr. Geo. Onborn, 351. The Bev. B. Newton Young was elected secretary of the Conference by a practically unanimous vote. The ex president having called the Bev. Dr. Osborn, tho newly-elected president, to the chair, congratulated him on the vote which had placed him in that position. The president, in acknowledging the vote, stated that he was now the oldest minister who had sat in tho president's chair since Mr Wesley. He trusted the gracious revival by which the past year had been distinguished might be oontinued during that on which they were now entered. The Bev. B. If.. Young suitably acknowledged his election;, and the hours of session were then fixed. The secretary read tho names of six ministers who cease to be members of the hundred from having been four years' supernumeraries. Tho doors of tho chapel were opened and the public were admitted to the Confarence prayer-meeting. In the evening ths open session of Conference was held, and. largely attended.