The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-09-06
Federal Building in Chicago
Where l. w. w. Were Tried
is Blown Up.
NINE MEN ARE ARRESTED
Bomb Was Placed i'm Suit Case
Behind Radiator When the
Building Was Crowded With
People.

injured by the explosion Of a bomb
in crowded entrance to the federal
building at $40 o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
The explosion, which not only
wrecked the entrance of the build
ing. but shattered every window on
the first three floors OF two buildings
across the street. was attributed to
the l. w. w. by Phillip ]. Barry. in
charge OF the local Office Of the de
partment of Justice
Raids on two Headquarters OF the
|. w. w. within 15 minutes after the
explosion, resulted in the arrest of
nine men. Several more were taken
into custody within the federal build
ing and a woman whose name was
suppressed was arrested In a nearby
building More than 1900 govern
ments agents and the entire city no.
lice force was seeking the perpetra-
tor of the outrage.
This outrage, in my opinion, was
inevitable as an act OF reprisal on the
part Of the l. w. w" Mr.. Barry de-
clared after a hurried investigation
following the sentencing OF nearly
100 of their members. We are GER
tain that the 1. w. w. committed this
deed. / believe that the bomb was
composed of nitro glycerine. Sew
eral arrests have been made and we
are questioning the prisoners as fast
as we can"
The court room OF Federal Judge
*. M. Lands. where 95 1. w. w.
leaders were recently convicted and
sentenced to prison for obstructinp
the governments war program, is on
the sixth floor of the building. VIII
liam ID. Haywood. general secretary
treasurer of the /. W. w, of one of
those sentenced to 20 years in pris-
on for his part in the conspiracies.
was on the eight floor OF the build
ing with his lawyer who was plan
ming to seek a writ OF error in his
'N'"i' " hSh INC tAplUSlOU occurred,
He deplored the outrage and while
emphatically denying that any of his
men had committed the act, admit
ted that h ebelieved the /. w. w.
would be blamed
The so-called "uncrowned kim
of the l. w. w. plainly felt the build
Wi ha
the bomb and heard the glass crash
in the dome Of the structure and the
cries OF the injured. He appeared
calm and did not leave the deputy
marshal's office.
1T is unfortunate that this thing
happened at this time," he said feel
ingly. II know that the I. w. w.
will be blamed. but l am convinced
in my own Heart that no man of NV
organization was in any way con-
nected with this matter. 1t would
be insane for an I. W. w. to commit
such an act at this time"
The bomb, which is believed to
have consisted OF at least three wire
wrapped steel cylinders charged with
high explosives, was carried into the
Adams street entrance of the build
ing during one Of the most busy pe-
riods OF the day. Concealed in a
suit case with time fuse. the device
was deposited behind a radiator un-
noticed by the passing throng.
Nearly hundred persons were in
the corridor at the time, at the
stamp windows, writing desks and
letter registry division.
The explosion came just as a bell
in the dome of the building struck
2:1O o'clock. This bell is rung at
that hour every day to mark the
change OF clerks. The force of the
blast tore the radiator from its fas-
Jennings and hurled II 90 feet into
the street. where ii struck and killed
a horse; smashed desks, tore up
great slabs of marble from the walls.
and ground the woodwork into
splinters. Flying debris cut into
shreds seye7ss3A,xsr posters and can
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