The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1920-09-23
n. Y. EXPLOSION
DUE TO GIANT BOMB
Strong Guard Thrown Around the FL
nanciaI Districts of Nation-31
Persons Are Dead; 200 Injured
Cleaning Up Debris.

New York, Sept. 17.S-The financial
centers of Americas big cities from
coast to coast are armed camps today
with police and private sentries post
ed to guard against repetition of the
mysterious explosion that rocked Wall
street yesterday.
From Washington, Chicago, Phila-
delphia, Boston, Detroit, Baltimore,
as far south as Gulf of Mexico. and
west to the Golden Gate, authorities
announced heavy patrols of plain
clothesmen and police reserves in
their big business districts and feder-
al agents worked with state and CITY
officials to run down reports of wide
spread extremists plots.
Thirty-one persons are dead and
more than 200 Injured from the ex-
plosion yesterday, declared by the po-
lice here as probably caused by an in
fernal machine. Discovery of parts
of clock work in wreckage an an
nouncement by experts that trinitro-
toluol (TNT) was used in the bomb
IT their was one, have sent detectives
and department of justice men on
thirty leads. pointing to bomb plots
and radical activities.
Scene Roped OF.
Meanwhile, the scene of yesterdays
blast is roped off while the stock ex-
change and allied organizations pre-
pared to resume business at the usual
hour this morning.
Several New York detectives and
secret service men left the city this
morning for unannounced destina-
/ tons on out of town ends Of the sit
uationx William J. Flynn, chief of
the bureau of investigation of the de-
partment of justice, viewed the scene
of the blast personally, accompanied
by police headquarters detectives and
his own men, steadfastly refusing to
talk on the subject. .
Troops were held in readiness on
Governors Island today and. detach-
ments of the 22nd infantry were In
barracks subject to instant call.
All public buildings and the homes
of wealthy and prominent men here
are under special watch and every
available man is held in reserve or
avtively working in federal, state and
City investigation agencies.
Workers Admitted
Between s and o'clock this naorn-
ing police lines IN the financial dis
trict were relaxed for admission Of
the thousands of office workers. Dur
ing.the same period emergency patrols
were doubled and every doorway and
alley was under close inspection.
Downtown subway stations were
cleared by a large force of police.
During the early hours public and
private agencies cleaned up Wall
street, sweeping up tons Of debris and
wash down blood spattered sidewalks
and buildings. Repair men in force
started to work remedying damage to
twisted iron structures in the Morgan
building and glaciers by scores be-
gan the long task of restoring win
dow panes in the entire financial dis
trict.
There is absolutely no doubt that
il was a bomb" said Chief Flynn. "An
important development in the last two
hours has convinced me Of this. The
bomb was apparently placed by a per-
son who was within four blocks of
Wall and Broad streets when the ex-
plesion occurred"
Certain at last OF tine cause OF the
explosion, federal agents and city po-
lice increased their search for the
driver of wagon drawn by one horse
which was blown to pieces. No trace
of him has yet been found.
The theory Of the investigators is
that time bomb was placed on the
wagon and that the driver hurried
from the scene just after arranging
for the explosion to occur at noon.