Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-03
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
IN CAPITOL BUILDING
Believed to Have Been Caused by
Some Kind of Bomb or In
fernal Machine.
WRECKS ROOM ON SENATE slDE,
Officials Think Explosive Was Placed
by Crank. Who Desired TO Create
Scnsation-No One lis Reported
Injured

WASHINGTON, July "A trcmend-
GUS explosion. believed to have been
caused by some kind OF bomb or in
fernal machine, wrecked the public re-
cepion room on the east side of the
Capitol Building shortly before mid
night to-night. No one was injured
officials believe that the explosive
was placed by crank. who desired to
create sensation. Visitors were al.
lowed in the room during the dag. and
"a timed machine might have been left
without attracting attention.
The explosion was in the reception
room on the second floor. next 10 the
sergeant-at-armss Office The doors of
the room were blown out. Authorities
immediately began an investigation.
The doors OF the Capitol were closed
immediately after The explosion and
no one was permitted to enter while
the investigation was under way Be
fore the origin of the explosion had
been explained. some reports in ctrcu-
!ation said II might have been caused
by a bomb
Reports said the windows in the re.
ception room had been blown out, that
an immense piate-glass mirror had
been demolished. and that part of the
ceiiinE and walls were torn down. The
explosion was heard for several blocks
PERSONS who reached the Capitol
soon AFTER the explosion occurred said
they noticed the odor of burned powder
which persisted for some time
Elliott Woods. superintendent Of the
Capitol Building; Sergeant-at-Arms
higgins. of the Senate, and the head
OF the Capitol police, who directed the
inquiry refused TO give any theory of
The cause OF the explosion until the
investigation was concluded.
no OFFICIAL. STATEMENT
YET MADE PUBLIC
superintendent Wood. OF the capito,
Building. summoned by panic stricken
watchmen. made Il hurried investiga-
tion. and then telephoned for an ex-
pert OH explosives
Until the expert has made his report.
no official statement concerning the
incidcn, will he made public
The building had been closed since
dark. and there was no one IN il but
the watchmen and telephone. switch
board operators. Waterman Jones. ON
the floor below at the east entrance.
said he vas blown from his chair.
The report could be heard for a mile
Gnu III al lie" minutes crowd
cited people had gathered In the
meantime, lights had been switched on.
ana excited officials We're rushing back
and forth on two floors OF the great
building After the nrst lumors OF q
bomb. some of the investigators con-
cluded that the blast had been caused
by spontaneous combustion in gas
pipe. The sides of the wall were torn
out however. and all the pipes appar-
emily were intact There has been no
gas fixtures on the Senate's side since
an explosion occurred there twenty
years ago.
strong odor permcated the bujld
ing. hut none seemed able TO detect
what II was. No trace could he found
OF an exploded bomb or of anything
else which might have caused the eX
plosion.
Superintendent Wool said he had
examined the structural features of the
building and found there was no
damage except in the Immediate vicin
ity OF the reception-room.