question about binaries

Compiled? No.

Source code? Often.

Yes, but only if you've told the compiler on the intel system to actually compile for a PowerPC architecture, which is probably not a very useful thing to do since you need to compile from source either way. There are many fundamental differences between the architectures, like RISC vs. CISC, big- vs. little-endian, etc.

Hmmph. Well, yes, if you read the OP as "compiled" <verb> "for linux" <object> "on Intel pentium computers" <adverbial phrase explaining where code was compiled for linux>.

I read it as "compiled" <verb> "for linux on Intel pentium computers <object>, i.e., compiled as a binary that would run in a PC Linux environment, specifically. And unless you can compile a FAT Binary that will run on either a PowerPC box or an Intel box (can that be done? has it ever been?), compiling it for Linux-x86-PC effectively means it isn't going to run from the command line of any PowerPC system, let alone the BSD-based Darwin underlying MacOS X. (right? am I missing something? I'm not, am I?)

You could install VirtualPC, put the appropriate flavour of Linux on it, and run the original binary from the shell there.

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Get a used intel box for $50 and run the command from the Mac shell via ssh.

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see of the package is in fink already.