The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-09-23
GREAT EXPLOSION
SHOCKS new YORK
SCORE KILLED, HUNDREDS IN.
JURED-PROPERTY DAMAGE
OVER MILLION

ed Department of Justice and police
investigators to have been caused by
an internal machine, rocked the heart
of New York's financial district at
noon Thursday, leaving death and de-
struction in its wake.
Twenty-nine persons were killed,
more than 200 were injured, the bank
ing house of J. P. Morgan & Co., the
sub-treasury and the assey office
were practically wrecked and proper
ty damage estimated in excess of ST.
100000 was caused by the blast.
Thomas M. LaMont, of the ]. P.
Morgan firm, expressed the belief,
however, that the explosion was pure
ly an accident caused by a collision
between an explosive-laden wagon and
another vehicle. The firm had re-
ceived nothing indicative, and there
was no real reason for the planting
of a bomb outside the firms office.
The noon hour had struck and an
endless stream of office workers had
Just started pouring into the streets
from buildings in the neighborhood.
Suddenly, a cloud of yellow smoke
and a piercing jet of flame leaped
from the streets outside the Morgan
office.
Scores Lying PROSTATE.
Then came a deafening olast. A
moment later scores Of men, women
and children were lying PROSTATE on
the ground and the streets were COW
cred with debris from thousands OF
broken windows and the torn facades
of adjacent buildings. Two minutes
later the stock and curb exchanges,
the financial pulse of the world, had
closed. Panic and confusion reigned
in the heart of New York's financial
district.
Thousands of clerks and stenog-
raphers fled in terror from adjoining
structures. Scores tainted, fell and
were trampled on in the rush. Mean
while, the noise of the explosion which
was heard throughout lower Manhat-
tan and across the river in Brooklyn,
brought thousands of the curious to
the scene.
The few police on duty in the dis
trict were unable to cope with the
crowds and hurry call for police re-
serves was sent to all downtown po-
lice stations.
Sub-treasury officials, fearing that
an attempt might be made to rob the
building, all the windows OF which
were broken, requested assistance OF
the military authorities at Governors
Island. A company of soldiers was
sent to guard the institution.
Hurry calls were also sent to all
hospitals in the downtown section OF
New York and scores of ambulances
were soon speeding through the mar
row streets. Dressing stations were
established in the lobbies of the build
ings nearby where the less seriously
injured were given immediate treat
ment.
Bomb Evidence Found.
Evidence tending to confirm the
theory that the explosion was caused
by a bomb or some other Internal
machine came from various sources.
Chief Police Inspector Lahey re-
ported late Thursday that he had
found evidence to justify the conclu-
sion that the explosion was caused by
a huge bomb loaded with T. N. T.
trinitrotolool- reinforced with iron
slugs from window weight bars
Pieces of these slugs were found IN
several adjacent structures. This type
of weight bars, a close inspection by
police and Department Of Justice
agents disclosed, is not used in New
York buildings within radius of sew
eral hundred feet from the scene of
the explosion.
Warning that radicals planned re-
newal of bombing outrages were sent
less than month ago to all Eastern
clients of the William ]. Burns Detec-
tive Agency according to statement
by Mr.. Burns, who said he was con-
vinced that today's explosion was a
premeditated attack and was not ac-
cidental.
Believes Driver Left.
Mr.. Burns, who said he had been en-
gagged by the Morgan firm to make an
investigation of the attack, stated
that his personal investigation con-
vinced him that a wagon containing a
bomb or bombs was left in front OF
the sub-treasury building with TIM
ing device so fixed as to cause 1t to
explode precisely at noon. No trace