Well, that was nerve racking for all of five minutes, eh? Yesterday the Times had itself a little scare when a mailroom worker opened an envelope only to have white powder fall out at them. Also in the envelope was a copy of an editorial called "Patriotism and the Press" with a red X marked over it. The June 28 editorial defended the Times against government critics who want to charge the paper with treason.
Since 2001 when anthrax-laced letters started popping up in newsroom mailboxes (coming from a post office in Hamilton, N. J. of all places) most major newspapers have instituted strict procedures for dealing with this kind mail-borne threats and yesterday's scare is an good example of how well-oiled they have become.
Almost instantaneously after the envelope was opened on the eighth floor of the building proper authorities were contacted and the floor was emptied. Employees who could go home did, and those who still had work to finish did so on other floors. Since the news never stops the rest of the building continued working. The employee who opened the letter was taken directly to Bellevue for examination.
Thankfully, in the end, it looks like the whole thing was a hoax.
The white powder was most likely cornstarch.
Photo by triborough via Contribute.
