Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-09-11
4 KILLED; 90 HURT
BY I.W.W. BOMB IN
CHICAGO BUILDING
Internal Machine Exploded in
Federal Structure.
MANY SUSPECTS ARE HELD
U. S. Officials Believe Members of On
ganization Sought Revenge for
Conviction of Haywood and
Others-Soldier and Sailor
Among the Dead.

Chicago, Sept. "a bomb placed in
side the entrance % the federal build
ing and post office here exploded with
terrific violence. killing four persons
and injuring thirty. Among the dead
were woman, a soldier and sailor.
Vengeance of |. w. w.
This toll of death and injury was
the vengeance OF the |. w. w. for the
conviction and prison sentences of 81
of their number who conspired to
block the governments war program.
The trial was held In the federal
building.
Definite blame for the outrage was
placed upon the organization by Phil
lip ]. Barry, acting head of the de-
partment of justice in Chicago. Hun
dreds of federal operatives and Ameri-
can Protective league members were
sent out to round up every known i.
w. w. Fifty suspects were brought
in. among them men who were said to
have made threats against the govern
ment after the trial.
Tie force of the explosion was ter
rifle and many of those hurt were out
side or near the building at the time.
Two horses standing near the entrance
TO the building were killed. Windows
in nearby buildings We're shattered.
Haywood Denies Guilt.
William ID. Haywood, leader of the
/. w. w. and under a 20-year sentence,
was in the building awaiting action
on his appeal for bond at the time.
He was Immediately seized by the Off
GERS and questioned. He denied that
any members of his organization could
have placed the bomb.
Following the blast soldiers and
sailors with rifles were thrown around
the building and no one was allowed
to leave until they had been ques-
toned and searched. Witnesses said
two men We're seen to run from the
building a minute before the blast.
Woman Is Arrested.
One woman was arrested as she at
tempted to leave the building.
ITS too bad it didn't kill you ALL"
she screamed as she struggled with
the arresting officer. She gave her
name as Syda Raffell and she was
held for investigation.
James Connolly. alleged to have
been connected with the /. w. W., was
seized standing near the entrance. On
him were found several receipts of the
Sterrett-Thompson company, manu-
facturers of explosives in Virginia. He
said he formerly was employed there.
Blast Causes Panic.
A telegram was sent to the attorney
general at Washington, giving him all
details of the explosion. He will be
kept informed as the investigation
progresses.
The great roar of the bomb was
heard all over the downtown shop
ping district and caused widest con-
fusion. Women fed to elevators or
tainted in panic. Flames followed the
explosion and the fire department was
summoned. Hundreds of persons were
passing in the corridors of the build
ing and the women and children fed
screaming. Fifty feet away from
where the bomb was placed group OF
women were buying War Savings
stamps at a post office window.
Young Woman Killed.
Helen Michlke, nineteen years old.
was killed at her sisters side as they
were passing the entrance. She and
her sister Irene, who is twenty-one,
were both struck by pieces of debris
blown out by the blast. The younger
woman was on the side nearest the
building and was instantly killed.
The jackie, Joseph Laid, whose
home is in Salina, Kan, was detailed
to the information bureau of the Unit
ed States navy and was at a window
getting mail for his Office when he was
killed
f. r. Eolkow, post Office clerk,
was killed at his window William H.
Wheeler was passing through the cor
ridor near the bomb and was instantly
killed.
"Pete" Daley Held as Suspect.
pete" Daley, one of the l. w. W.
members whose case was continued
bv Judge Lands. was taken into Gus
tody on suspicion. Just where Daley
was seized by federal agents was not
learned. Suspicion was directed against
DALEY by reports that he had made
threats against the government follow
ing the close of the |. w. w. trial.