The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-12-09
A aeMa.s WORK.
Thrown by a ManIac-Tried 20 XII
Russell Sage In HIS Office.

SEw YORK, Dec. 4.-At 12.i5 o'clock this
afternoon small. shsbbiIy dressed man, ap-
parently about thirty five years old carrying
brown leather handbag, called at Russell
sage's stiice. the second floor OF No. Il
Broadway. and asked to see Mr.. Sage. Mr..
W. r. Laidlaw. Mr. Ssge's clerk. told him
that Mr.. Sage was busy and could not be
seen.
The man persisted and continued to talk
in lond tone. Mr.. Sage, who was in an
inner ofice. came out TO see what was the
matter He asked the man what was want
ed. The man demanded a million dollars
from Mr. Sage.
The demand was, Of course refused,
whereupon the visitor opened the bag and
produced q dynamite bomb snd threw it az
the venerable financier's head. A terrible
explosion followed. The man who threw
the bomb was blown TO pieces, one Of Mr..
Ssge's clerks instantly killed, and several
dangerously wounded. Mr.. Sage's injuries
were only slight.
M. SACKS STORY.
Russell Sage was taken to the drug store
opposite the Office, where it was found that
his injuries were not very serious. His IA e
was badly cut and the hair on his head
and face was burned Off He was much ex-
cited, bat said brokenly: "a man who
gave his name as II. d. Wilson came to my
Office just now. Ihad never seen hin be-
fore. He had carpet bag in his hand and
said: 'lfyou Will not give me one million
two hundred thousand dollars l win blow
you 10 pieces know nothing further ex-
cept hearing great explosion"
NEW York. Dec. 5.-For over an hour
afier the dynamite explosion in Russell
ssge's office yesterday afternoon confusion
reigned. Fully fifty thousand people gath
cred in the streets in the vicinity Of the
building. and II was impossible TO get any
accurate information.
Finally the excitement died down some
what and the police found their heads, and
something like correct list of the victims
was obtained But one person had been
killed outright-the bomb-tbrower himself
supposed TO be II. d. Wilson Benjamin F.
Norton. who was thrown through the win
dow, a clerk in the Office of Sage, was re-
moved to hospital, where he died while
under an operation tor fracture of the skull
Charles w. Osborne, Sage's private secre-
retary, sustained fracture of the skull and
will probably die. Several other persons
were badly, but not dangerously injured.
At his home last night Russell Sage saw
the head Of Wilson and identified it as be-
longing to the man who had come to his
office and demanded the money. Inspector
Byrnes took the ghastly, CORY head in
basket to Mr.. Sages house, and, together
with DIR. Dunn, carried it to Mr. Sage's bed
room. on the second floor. The instant the
magnate who was lying in bed, saw the
countenance he said: That's the head Of
the man." The Identification was complete
Inspector Byrnes sent the head TO the NOR
que.
lRuSsel Sage, inancier, was born in
Oneida county, New York, in 1916, and en-
gagged in mercantile pursuits in Troy. He
served in several minor political Offices and
was elected to Congress as Whig in 1853,
serving until 1857. Mr.. Sage was the first
person to advocate the purchase of Mount
Vernon by the Government. Subsequently,
be settled in New York city and engaged in
business in Wall street. He became inter-
ested in railroads, principally in the West,
and for dozen years was president of the
Milwaukee and St. Paul. By disposing Of
bis railroad investments he became enor-
mously wealthy. In late years he has been
closely associated with Jay Gould in the
management of the great western trunk lines
the American Cable company, the Western
Union telegraph company and the Manhat
tan system of elevated railroads in New
York city, in all of which corporations be
was q director. Mr.. Sage was for many
years closely connected with the affairs OF
the Union Pacific road, of which be was
director. Up to the present time he has
been an officer of several banks of New York
Ever since he has been in New York be has
been prominently identified with Wall
street financial interests, and is looked upon
a. one of the greatest financiers of the
world