Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-23

New York, Sept 16, tBy the Associated
'ress.)A mysterious explosion this noon
n Wall street near Broad believed by
rained department of justice and police
Investigators TO have been caused by an
Internal machine. rocked the heart of
1ew York's financial district, leaving
lcath and destruction in its wake.
At least % persons were killed. moro
han 200 were injured, the banking house
# j y. Morgan & Company. the sub
treasury and the Assay Office were par
tally wrecked and property damage es-
mated In excess Of 100000 was caused
~ the blast.
The noon hour had struck and an end
ess stream of office workers had Just
itarted pouring into the streets from
buildings in the ncighborhood. Suddenly,
cloud Of yellowsh, black smoke and a
piercing jet Of flame leaped from the
street outside the Morgan Offices Then
came a deafennR blast. A moment later
scores of men, women and children We're
wing PROSTATE on the ground and the
streets were covered with debris from
thousands of broken windows and torn
facades of adjacent buildings and two
minutes later the Stock and Curb eX-
changes. the financial pulse of the world,
had closed. Panic and confusion reigne |
n the heart of New York's financial dis
trict
THOUSANDS FLEE IN TERROR
Thousands of clerks and stenographers.
many of them girls, fed 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 Manhattan,
and across the river In Brooklyn brought
thousands of the curious to the scene.
The few police on duty in the district
were unable to cope with the crowds and
a hurry call for police reserves was sent
to all downtown police stations Sub
treasury officials, fearing that an at
tempt might be made TO rob the building,
all the windows of which were broken.
requested assistance Of the military au-
thorities at Governors Island and Il COM
pany of soldiers was sent to guard the
structure.
HURRY CALL TO HOSPITALS
Hurry calls were also sent to all hos
pitfalls in the downtown section of New
York and scores of ambulances were
soon speeding through the narrow
streets Dressing stations We're estab-
lished in the Hobbies OF buildings nearby
where the less seriously injured were
given immediate treatment.
Evidence tending to confirm the theory
that the explosion was caused by a bomb
eral sources.
Chief Police Inspector Lahey reported
late today that he had found evidence
to Justify the conclusion that the eXplO-
sion was caused by huge bomb loaded
with r. n. T. trinitrotoluoD reinforced
with iron sugs fashioned 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 any building with
In radius of several hundred feet from
the scene of the explosion,
RADICALS SUSPECTED
Warning that radicals planned a re-
newal of bombing outrages was sen
less than month ago to all eastern
clients Of the william ]. Burns Detec
tive agency, according to a statemen
by Mr.. Burns who said he was con
WINGED that to-day's explosion was
premedidated attack and was not &C
cdental.
Mr. Burns. who said he had beer
engaged by the Morgan firm to make
an investigation of the accident, stated
that his personal investigation con
WINGED him that a wagon containing {
bomb or bombs was left in front o
the sub treasury building with a time
explode precisely at noon. No trace o
the driver has been found he said ant
added that In his opinion the man es
capped n few moments before the OK
plosion occurred.
CERTAIN 1T WAS A BOMB
Fire Chief Kenlon and other officers
from the bureau Of combustihes als'
expressed the belief that the explosion
was caused by bomb after examining
fragments Of metal found in the stree
in front of the Morgan offices. DR.
william F. Doyle, chief of the bureau
of combustibles pointed out that tn
small hole found in the street near TIL
the Morgan offices and the widel,
scattered scars on the facades of near
by buildings indicated that the bias
was caused by bomb rather than b.
an explosion of quantity of dynamite
or other explosives.
Thomas w. Lamont, OF the ]. p, Nor
gan firm, expressed the belief. however
| that the exploso was purely an acct
dent caused by a collision between a
explosive laden wagon and anothe
vehicle. The firm had received n
threats of any kind, he said, and Their
was no real reason for the planting o
bomb outside the firms office.
LIST OF DEAD
A partial list of the dead follows
William T. Joyce, clerk OF ], p. Morga
d Co.
Jerome III. Mexican, chauffeur.
Ludolph Portong, bank teller,
McCauley avenue, Jamaica N. Y.
Col, Charles Neville. U. S. A.. "A Yves
44th street, New York city
Alfred Mayer. Ell West 13Sth street
New York city.
Mildred Alexander. 46 Commerce street
New York city
IL. A. Sweet, address unknown.
Mr.. --McArthurs, address unknown
Mr. Ellsworth, 1898 Gerard stree
Brooklyn,
| Miss l.. NJ. Dickinson stenographer,
| Hanover street, Emhurst, N. Y.
Charles Landrothe, Brooklyn,
An unidentified woman, 60 years old, q
Volunteer hospital.
A boy, about 16. at Volunteer hospita
man. about 40, Ave feet ten, brow
hair. at Volunteer hospital.