The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-04
WITH A BOMB.
An Attempt on Russell
Sase'S Life.
HIS OFFICE WRECKED.
H. B. Wilson the Man Who Perpetra-
ted the Dastardly Deed.
DEMANDED A COOL MILLION.
Mr.. Sage Badly Injured. One Of His Clerks
Killed and Wilson Dying in a Neighbor-
ing Drug Washington r.. Connor
Narrowly Escapes-Great Excitement
in Wall Street.
ESPECIAL TO THE NEwsl

NEW YORK, Dec 4.-Soon after busi-
ness opened in Wall street this morning
man who was unknown then but who has
since been recognized as II. B. Wilson,
went into Russell Sages Office in the
building No. n Broadway. Mr.. Sage was
at the time talking to Washington 4. Con-
nor, the partner of Jay Gould in many
stock ventures.
The man was in the Office for about five
minutes He walked quietly up to Mr.
Sage and made some demand upon him
which was not distinctly understood by
those who were near. He was seen to
ra ise his hand in a threatening manner,
but instead of striking blow he dropped
1t to his side and began talking calmly
again.
Mr. Conner walked away from Mr.. Sage
and Wilson at this juncture, but when he
reached the opposite end of the Office he
was attracted by the loud voice Of the man
exclaiming:
"lf you don't do it I'll blow the whole
place to hell"
Mr.. Conner turned around and Mr.. Sage
hastily stepped back, as the man, takinga
package from under his coat, threw it
forcibly at Mr.. Sage. Ii missed him and
struck against a wall opposite.
What followed after that no one can tell.
There was a deafening explosion, smash
of glass. timber and plaster and a cloud of
smoke that hid everything from view. The
explosion shook the building, tore great
rents in the floor, smashed partitions and
overturned dishes.
The building shook with the force. that
was expended, and passersby on Broad
way and Rector streets stopped, wonder
ing what was the matter
ha hrt 10 ag a m la IN "a
tain extent, the passage-way from Broad
way leading TO the down town station
of the Manhattan Elevated railroad on
Church street. This passage way was
filled with brokers and Others hurrying to
their places of business and when the ex-
plosion occurred it almost caused a panic
among them. There was wild rush 10
the entrances to the building in both di-
rections and men toppled and tumbled
over each other.
There are also over a hundred Offices in
the building and they were filled with
mated that there were over 500 persons in
the building at the time.
Word of the explosion was carried
quickly through Wall street and the
Stock, Produce, and Consolidated Ex-
changes, and business was for time en-
tirely suspended. 1t was reported that
Mr.. Sage and Mr.. Conner were both killed
at first, and the loss of life was placed at
a large number.
For long time it was not known what
damage had been done. The police have
stretched fire lines across Broadway and
around the building and began a search
for the wounded and the dead.
One of the first carried from the build
ing was Wilson, the man who had thrown
the bomb or Internal machine. He was
not dead, but he was horribly mutilated
and unconscious.
ba fror ha fha, har
Hospital, who examined him, said he
could not live.
Col. Slocum, Mr.. Sages chief clerk, was
then taken from the mines. He was Sc
verely hurt, but 1t was thought after a
hasty examination that he would
recover. Others were taken from the
building later until until the number was
nearly dozen. II was difficult to
learn whether their were any
killed outright with the exception
of one clerk in Mr.. Sage's Office
who stood near where the bomb struck
the wall. He was frightfGlly cut and
mangled about the face as to !be unrecog
niZable.
1t was not until pearly noon that it be-
came known that Mr.. Sage und Mr. Con-
ner had escaped with their lives. Mr..
Sage was severely cut about the face and
hands, agd it is thought that he may lose
the sight Of one Of his eyes. Mr.. Conner
almost miraculously escaped uniniured.
Mr.. Conner when seen said, "Mr. Sage
is al,ya, but he is u badly shaken up man,
and the shock will cause him TO keep to
his house for some time"
What happened before the throwing
of the bomb % Mr. Connor was asked
well the man came into Mr.. Sage's
office and handed him card bearing
the name of Wilson. think He began his
tplk by demanding "A million dollars. He
talked nationally and did not seem
TO be out Of his chair | suppose he was
one of those cranks that Mr.. Sage and
other wealthy men are occasionally bother
ed with, and walked TO the opposite end
of the room. While / was there | heard
him say he would blow up the Office
IL Mr. Sage did not give him
the money. That was all. The crash
came next.
IL is feared that dozen lives may be
buried In the building