The war chest was at its fullest.

Never, so he tells me, was there so much money in the war chest as at that particular time.

Something had occurred that in his opinion called for extra watchfulness, and so he doubled the guard.
But about midnight there was a tremendous explosion.

The strong door communicating with the passage was wrenched from its hinges and flung outwards into the hallway.

It is said that dynamite must have been used, and that in a very large quantity.