Sabotage Strikes the Waterfront
A local stevedore firm investigates the malicious destruction of property following a series of mysterious explosions on their scows.
The story, cleaned up
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“There is going to be something doing which will make someone wish he had not molested our property,” said Mr. Clocker, of the firm of Lewis Clocker, in speaking of the wrecking of the lightering scow a few nights ago. Mr. Clocker came to Tacoma yesterday for the purpose of making a thorough investigation of the malicious destruction of his firm's property. Soon after the explosion occurred the local agents of the company placed the matter in the hands of the police. A few months ago Lewis Clocker had a similar experience with one of their donkey engines and scows at Port Blakeley. A heavy charge of dynamite was placed in the hull of the scow and the whole outfit—scow, engine, and hoist—was blown into atoms. Mr. Clocker has given the police a clue which may result in the arrest of the man who is supposed to have had a hand in the last explosion.
“A heavy charge of dynamite was placed in the hull of the scow and the whole outfit—scow, engine and hoist—was blown into atoms.”
While industrial sabotage via dynamite is rare today, the story highlights the era's volatile labor and competition climate on the Tacoma waterfront, a place where business disputes often turned violent.
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