Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-09-13
4 DIE IN EXPLOSION;
Is PEOPLE INJURED
l.. ". w. BLAMED FOR DAMAGE TO
$130ooooo FEDERAL BUILD
ING IN CHICAGO.
FOR PERPETRATORS
1900 Government Agents and the Chi
a O Police Force Scour the City
For Perpetrators Of
the Outrage.

Chicago.-Four persons wero Killed
and more than rs others injured by
the explosion OF a bomb in a crowded
entrance to the federal building here.
The explosion, which not only
wrecked the entrance OF the building
but shattered every window on the
first three floors OF the two buildings
across the street, was attributed 10
the !. w. w. by those In charge OF the
department OF justice.
Raids on two headquarters OF the
l.. W. W. within Is minutes after the
explosion resulted in the arrest Of nine
men. Several more were taken into
custody within the ia, 900 900 federal
building. More than 1900 government
agents and the entire city police force
are seeking the perpetrator OF the out.
rage.
This outrage, in my opinion, wal in
evitable as an act OF reprisal on the
part OF the I. w. w." Philip J. Barry
declared after q hurried investigation.
following the sentencing OF nearly q
hundred OF their members. We are
certain that the |. w. w. committed
this deed. ! believe that the bomb
was composed Of nitroglycerin. Sew
eral arrests have been made and We
are questioning the prisoners as fast
as we can"
The courtroom Of Federal Judge
Lands, where rs /. w. w. leaders
we're recently convicted and sentenced
to prison for obstructing the govern.
ment's war program, Is on the sixth
floor OF the building. William d. Hay
wood, general secretary.treasurer OF
the |. w. W., and one OF those sen.
fenced to 20 years In prison for his
part in the conspiracies, was on the
eighth floor Of the building. with his
lawyer, who was planning to seek q
writ OF error in his behalf. when the
explosion occurred. He deplored the
outrage and, while emphatically de
nying that any OF his men had com
mittod the act, admitted that he be
lieved the |. w. W. would be blamed
The bomb, which is believed to have
consisted OF at least three wire
wrapped steel cylinders charged will
high explosive, was carried into thu
Adams street entrance OF the building
during n OF the most busy periods O
the day. Concealed in a suitcase ant
connected with a time fuse, the device
was deposited behind a radiator
The explosion came just as a bel
in the dome of the building struck 81
o'clock. This bell Is rung at tina
hour each day to mark the change o
clerks in the postoffice.
The force Of the blast tore the rad
ator from Its ~fastenings and hurled
20 feet into the street, where 1t strucl
and killed a horse. smashed desks
tore up great slabs Of marble from tn,
walls and ground the woodwork int
splinters.
Flying debris cut into shreds sewers
war posters and canvas banners tina
were stretched across the front OF tn
entrance and filled the street wit
plaster. stone and broken glass.
The dead included two postal clerks
q sailor and a Chicago woman.
Pete DALEY OF 81. Paul, MINI, VIII
was placed on trial with the other
W. w. members, but was later r,
leased by Judge Lands because OF hi
physical and mental condition, wa
taken into custody for questioning