Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1904 — TOM McCOY’S HOUSE BLOWN UP. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TOM McCOY’S HOUSE BLOWN UP.

Handsome Residence of the Ex-Banker Compltely Wrecked With Dynamite Sunday Night.

HOUSE WAS UNOCCUPIED AT TIME. * Bloodhounds Fail to Locate ihe Culprit, and He May Never Be Apprehended. y ifVThe fine residence of T. J. McCby was completely wrecked Sunday night at ten o’clock by an explosion from within that was of terrific force and is generally believed to have been caused from a big charge of dynamite placed in the basement with felonious intent. The explosion blew out the whole east side of the house, bulged out the west side thereof,

tore np the foundation, blew out !doors and windows and wrecked the big porch. While the outer view presents a picture of desolation and ruin, the scene within is a great deal worse, the whole interior being torn and wrenched in a frightful manner. The damage is simply beyond repair, arid tlw* whole edifice must be torn dovrnV The house was unoccupied at the time of the explosion. Tom and his wife have been staying at Lafayette nearly all the time since the closing of the McCoy bank, only' returning occasionally to answer a warrant of the court or to greet the few admirers that yet remain here. Both Tom and Mrs. McCoy were here Saturday, but the former returned to Lafayette Saturday evening. The latter was at the home of A. McCoy, next door and within the same yard, when the explosion occurred, and it is asserted that the striking of the match that is supposed to have ignited the fuse that set off the explosive was heard by the two Mrs. McCoy and a lady friend who was visiting them, they not having yet retired for the night. At first they thought the explosion was at A. McCoy’s, andvvbeti Mrs. Tom ran out and excitedly asked what it all was, etc., a neighbor who had arrived on the scene with others attracted by the noise, told her her house was blown up. “Well,” said she, “I just expected they would do something.” “They” is inferred to have meant some of those who lost their money in the busted bank. The explosion was heard in all parts of the city, yet many people who had gone to bed and to sleep were not awakened, and it was not until Monday morning that it become generally known. Throngs of people then hutried to the scene and most of the pieces of the expensive heavy plate glass from the windows that had fallen in crackled bits on the sidewalk and street were eagerly picked up as souvenirs. Several amateur photographers hurried to the scene, anxious

to get a “shot” at the ruins, but Airs. Tom refused to allow them to picture it even from the street, possibly because the aforesaid street is called McCoy avenue and she may have thought that it belonged to them as a part of their holdings. One more persistent photographer than the rest, however, informed the lady'that he was going to take a picture, either with or without her consent, and did so. After the ice was once broken others “shot” at the ruins, and many pictures were taken. The cut published herein gives a good idea of the havoc wrought by the explosion, and shows the northeast view, probably the very best view that was taken. While the west side of the house is bulged out and a part of the foundation shattered, yet a picture from that side does not show very great damage, the worst being on the front and east side, as shown in our picture. Hundreds of people viewed the wreck all day long, and while the more cool headed ones condemned the act, yet it cannot be denied that there were many who expressed a wholly different opinion, and not a word of sympathy for the AlcCoys was heard on any hand. This condition has been brought about by the action of the McCoys themselves in their determination to hang on to every dollar's worth of property the law will give them, and if the house was blown up with dynamite it was probably the ill-advised act of some poor, half insane victim of the wrecked bank who had got so wrought up over his loss that he concluded he would spoil a few thousands for them by wrecking their property, which was in Airs. T. J. AlcCoy’s name, and therefore not included in the AlcCoys’ assets. The furniture and bric-a-brac which had been packed and was still in the house awaiting shipment to Lafayette, was badly damaged, the tine cut glass, etc., being broken to powder, almost, it is asserted. The dynamite seems to have been placed in about the center of the cement floor in the basement, and a fuse, (the remains of which have since been found) was run out of a side window, the fuse probably being twenty feet in length. When the explosion took place the two lower floors were blown up and the furniture, piano, etc., got a severe shaking up. and was about ruined. The report published in the city papers that the roof fell in after the explosion and r that windows were shattered in all parts of the city is wholly untrue. VThe roof is apparently little injured. and we have not heard of any damage whatever to any other property. The only clue, so far as known to the public, of the perpetrator of the lawless act, was some footprints <n the earth on the tennis court, in the rear of the house. These were quite far apart, and would indicate, that the maker of the “prints” was in a hurry to get away. Officers guarded the property and took care that no one was allowed about the yard and tennis court Monday, and on the 3:30 p. m., train the Chalmers blood hounds were brought in and placed on the “trail.” They seemed to get the “scent” at once and started off tugging at the ropes with which they were held in check, in a southeasterly direction across the field, over to the Alonnett. Phillips and Robinson residences and thence on to the river, where they appeared to have considerable trouble in following further. They finally did cross the stream and went along to the gravel road at the south end of Van Rensselaer street, where they got completely muddled agaiu and were taken back to the house to get a fresh scent. "The second effort was without avail, however, anti Tuesday morning the dogs were taken back home. Nothing new has since developed and it is scarcely likely that the culprit will ever be apprehended. The wrecked house was probably worth $3,000 to $4,000.

View from the northeast, showing the force of the explosion.