New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-05
SOME FORT UNATE ESCAPES.
MEN WHO WE'RE IN THE EXPLOSION.
w. Il. LAIDIow's EXPERENCE-MR. JAMES Hal
A THRILLING TIMF-OTHFR STORIES

w. II. LAIDLow's EXPEMENCE-MR. JAMES HAD
THRILLING TIME-OTHER STORIES.
w. p. Laidlow, private secretary for John H.
Bloodgood, of Bloodgood d Co., brokers, who
was in the outer office of Russell Sage at the
time of the explosion, and whose injuries were
of such serious nature that he had to be taken
to ST. Vincents Hospital, was able to sit up in
bed last evening and talk about the explosion.
He is suffering with decorations about the hands,
thighs and legs, but is not dangerously hurt
Dr. Ross, who is attending him, says he will be
able to be out in day or two
81 had just stepped into Mr.. Sage's Office"
said Mr.. Laidlow, "and was about to speak to
the banker about the business l was sent to trans
act, when the explosion took place. did not
take particular notice of the stranger in the room,
as l was interested in getting Mr..
Sages attention. saw the banker appeared
anxious to get back into his private office, and l
wanted to speak to him before he got away, and
about to do so when the explosion took place.
| got out into the hallway somehow or other, and
the next thing / knew ] was in the ambulance.
So much confusion followed the explosion that
hardly know what took place after that"
Mr.. JAMEs'S GRAPHIC ACCOUNT.
c. E. James, the banker and broker at No. Z
Nassau-st., who lives at the Gilsey House. was
congratulating himself yesterday afternoon on the
narrow escape he had from death. lie was in
Mr.. Sage's private office at the time of the ex-
plosion and was cut in two places on the head by
flying splinters. He was about the only man
who could be found yesterday who was calm
enough to give connected account of the en-
plOsion and the only man in the Office who was not
badly injured
" If the bomb-thrower had come into Mr. Sages
private office and thrown the bomb" said Mr.
James, " | should not be alive to relate my en-
periences had an appointment with Mr.. Sage
at his office at . o'clock yesterday and was there
promptly on time. When l entered the general
Office of Mr. Sage / noticed a plainly dressed
man with shaggy beard there. | did not take
good look at the fellow, but / thought at the
time that he not the kind Of man to transact
business with Mr.. Sage.
Soon after sent in my card to Mr. Sage /
was admitted, and was closeted with him ten or
twelve minutes, probably, talking business
We were then interrupted by clerk who
came into the private room and said there was
man outside who insisted upon seeing Mr.. Sage.
The banker excused himself. and stepped out
OF the room. low partition separated the
private room from the outer office, and | could
hear every word that passed between Mr.. Sage
and his caller. / distinctly heard the man say
that he had come to get Sl,200.000. and that
he wanted the money at once. / was much
surprised to hear such demand, and was about
as much surprised when l heard Mr. Sage say
that he wanted little time TO get that amount
of money together | thought at that time that
Mr., Sage was seriously thinking of paying out
million dollars in one lump. The next thing
heard was an angry exclamation from
the man, which was Immediately followed by n
terrific explosion. Mr.. Sage came bounding
through the door Of the partition as if blown
through by the conclusion of the explosion l
believe the partition was blown down by the
force of the explosion about the same time Mr.
Sage was sent flying through the doorway
HURRYING TO ESCAPE
g As as the banker was blown back into
MS private office we at once began to look for
some means Of escape. l thought the building
was on fire, as ! could smell smoke / also mis-.
took the dust that was flying in every direction
for smoke. We succeeded in reaching the door
which leads into the hallway from the private
room, and from there We reached the street.
Neither Mr.. Sage nor myself could see much that
was going on when we reached the street. for we
were blinded with dust Blood had STRAINED
down our foreheads and into our eyes. and every-
thing flying in the air clung to us like
so much paste. Mr.. Sage. as near as can recol-
lect was thrown violently against the wall op-
posite the doorway that led from the general
Offices Splinters from the wooden partition struck