New-York tribune., 1907-02-25
BOMB WRECKS STORE.
WORK OF BLACK HAND.
Frightened italians Flee to Street in
Scanty attire.

One Of the most serious explosions attributed
% Black Hand agents occurred early yester-
day morning In the heart Of the Italian quarter,
between Broore and Spring streets The dyna-
mite was exploded in front Of the big double
tenement house at No. 164 TO 166 Elizabeth
street There was d terrific explosion. Half a
hundred windows were shattered. and nearly a
thousand scantily clad men, women and chill
dren rushed out IN the bitter cold.
There Is a grocery store on the ground floor Of
the building, and its owner. Michael Angelo
Alonge. is believed TO have been the intended
victim. Soon after the explosion he handed 10
Detective Sergeant Petrosino six Black Hand
letters. which ne says he received during the
period beginning December and ending jan
uary 9. These letters threatened his life unless
he paid sums ranging from 5000 upward
AIonge placed little credence in the letters, and
was not at all worried by the threats.
On; on the early morning tour, which begins
at O'Clock. Patrolman Bruckner started down
Elizabeth street from the Mulberry street sta
ton. trying doors. while Patrolman Kingston
Of the same precinct. wa on post over in Broone
street. Kingston looked down the street ane'
seeing sparks sputtering UP from the sidewalk
between the stoop and a coal box in front o.
AIonge's grocery store, whistled for Bruckner'
and both started on the run TO stamp out the
blaze. When they got within few feet Of 1t
terrific explosion threw both Of them into the
gutter. Glass began 10 fau out Of the windows
and in an instant. it seemed. the street was
crowded wiz .sGople.
Sergcan; Farrell. on the desk at the Mulberry
street station. felt the tremor. With Rounds
man Aurnon, Farrell got out the reserves and
hurried them TO the scene. The policemen had a
hard time trying 10 bring some sort of order out
Of the chaos. For some unknown reason nobody
was hurt
The front door Of the grocery store was blown
in. the transoms shattered, one Of the big plate
glass windows Of d saloon and various windows
on the upper floors IN Nos 164, 1856 and l6S
were shattered. Within the store there was IN
indiscriuinate confusion Of groceries. Across
the street windows were shattered in the two
story frame building at No. 157. in the four
story tenement house at No. 159, in the five
story tenement house at No 161. in the four
story tenement house at No. 163 and IN the two
five story buildings at No. 16I.
There was the greatest excitement for an hour
until the extent Of the damage had been learned.
Then the frightened tenants went back to their
rooms and stuffed the holes in the windows with
colored quilts. so that by the time the GLACIERS
got to work with daylight the block presented
curious appearance.
Both Kingston and Bruckner say there wasn't
q sign Of a man in the street when they saw
the sparks from the sputtering fuse. This leads
the police TO believe that the person who placed
the bomb lived either in the house attacked or
in the immediate vicinity No sign Of the vessel
which contained the explosive could be found.
one Of the letters received by Alonge read as
follows:
Get on q subway train and ride to Fort George.
Come at . o'clock in the morning, and come
alone. I will ask you for q match, and then give
me the money. Look out; for If you don't come
with the money we VIII blow up the house. We
viii kill you. Don't 90 TO the station house.