Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1876 — Explosion of an Infernal Machine in London. [ARTICLE]

Explosion of an Infernal Machine in London.

About nine o’clock yesterday morning one of the vans of the Parcels Delivery Company was taken to the door of Mr. William Larkin, of 6 Northampton Square, Clerkenwell, a chronometer maker and watch dial engraver. A box addressed to him was delivered to the servant. The latter, having given a receipt, handed it to Miss Larkin, who shook it in order to ascertain what it contained. Hearing nothing rattle, she conveyed it into the workshop, and handed it to her father. Mr. Larkin is in the habit of receiving boxes containing dials for engraving, and at once proceeded to open the box by pry ing up the ltd with a chisel. A slight click inside was followed by a terrific explosion, blowing out the windows, wrecking the shop and its contents, and hurling Mr. Larkin against the wall. The box was blown into atoms, small pieces only of the wood and the infernal mechanism being found. The Volume of flame which accompanied the explosion set fire to the clothing of Mr. Larkin, who was fearfully burnt over the arms, hands and face. The flames having been extinguished, he was put to bed and placed under the care of a doctor. The servant, Emily Chickleberg, who took in the box, gave it as her opinion that it was about eight inches long by five broad, something like an ordinary cigar box. Inspector Freestone and Sergeant Wade went in and made a minute examination of the premises. The box was found to have been of deal, with an inner lining of tin, portions of which were found all over the room. Some of the pieces of tin had been driven into the waHs. The smell of the various pieces of wfibd led to the belief that the agent employed was gunpowder. the police also picked up pieces of spiral springs and nipple*, indicating that thete had been an "arrangement by which the mere opening of the box should cause an explosion.— | Ironton TltMi. ~