Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-18
Chicago's Deadly Missile.
TRACING THE NATURE OF THE BOAB.-THB
REGULARITY OF THE WOUNDS.

CHICAGO, May I'm the rush of events
following the slaughter on Haymsrket-square,
q very important subject of investigation has,
up to the present time, escaped pubic atten-
ton. Aside from the fact that the police
men were moved down by the bomb, nothing
has been submitted to explain the nature Of
that terrible instrument of destruction. Inc
material is not at hand even yet to supply
perfectly correct description of the missile
but enough IL known to show that 1t was con-
strucred with devilish ingenuity to fully ac-
complish the barbarous purposes Of its man
ufactnrers. While all the wounds produced
by the internal machine have the same gener-
al characteristics, each wound has special
peculiarities, which individualize it. This is
explained by the fact that in every case the
injuries were inflicted by metallic fragments
Of VARYING sizes and forms. This metal,
while it resembles lead, is more frable. and
it il thought to be composite OF solder ard
powdered glass. In every case where the
missile producing a wound in the body OF the
sufferer from the bomb has been found, II
has proved to be this metal. and although the
size of the bomb is not definitely known, 1t Is
agreed that it was hollow and loaded with
sugs Of this deadly composition.
The nature Of the wounds shows that 1t
would be difficult to put in operation more
destructive agent than that employed. In all
their experience the surgeons have not en-
countered anything to compare with it.
1.-The wounds are very peculiar" said DR..
Lee sand so are the missiles that made them.
These have invariably been pieces Of lead,
all of them hollow, scooped out. with ragged
edges, suggesting to me more closely than
anything else the appearance OF broken
peanut shell. The wounds do not at all re-
semble bullet wounds, which are incisive and
clean cut. The bomb slugs made Jagged
wounds, tearing their way through the cloth
ing into the body. On the surface the aptr-
lures seemed small, but on penetrating the
skin, cavities were found that would readily
admit the finger. the muscles and tissues be-
ing SD torn as to indicate that the lead had
revolving motion Another peculiarly of
the action of these missiles is that in every
case they carried into the wounds pieces of
the clothing, and so greatly enhanced the
danger of blood poisoning. The force with
which they were propelled was tremendous,
as was made apparent in the case Of one of
the officers, where the leaden fragment en-
tered the bone without fracturing it. With
ordinary force it would have smashed the
bone when it crashed against it, and its
power and velocity must have oeen extraor-
binary to have penetrated it. | am satisfied
that there were no bullets in the bomb. The
pieces of lead looked AS if they had been put
INTO the bomb in hollow shape, the intention
being to have them rent by the explosion.
Wherever bullet has been found il has
been evident that it was discharged from q
revolver"
DIR Murphy's description of the general
character of the bomb wounds, and OF the
cratic action of the missiles producing them,
. grees in every essential with that of DR.
Lee. He had one especially remarkable case,
however, and it has suggested theory to him
that would not be supplied by any other
wound The case is that Of Officer Lawrence
Murphy, the front half of whose left foot was
crushed and destroyed by slug from bomb
2 inches long and / of an inch in diameter.
The missile was found imbedded in the flesh
and resting against the fractured bone of the
great toe. 1t was cone-shaped and hollow.
the cavity tapering from diameter of half
an inch at the base to a quarter inch at the
apex. V-shsped piece of the missile was
torn from the base, and as the sole of MUIR
phys foot was blown out back of the fracture
tow ard the heel in line with the fracture of
the slug, the surgeon believes that the explo-
sion occurred after the bone was struck
That is the only case where evidence was
found of an explosion in a wound, but it
opens the way for the opinion that the mis-
sies with which the bomb was loaded were
charged with explosives to add to their force
velocity, and destructiveness after they were
liberated by the explosion of the internal
machine itself.
There will be no trouble to account for the
bullet wounds received by the officers. as the
survivors of the companies of Leuts. Bowler
and Stanton can testify They were not 10
feet apart when the bomb struck directly be-
tween them, and at the moment of its explo-
sion they were exposed to murderous fire in
front and rear. These volleys from the an
archsts produced the wounds in the backs of
the officers which have since been the subject
of much speculation.