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

New York. Sept. H. tBy the Associated
Press).-The exact cause Of tho explosion
which in the twinkling of an eye yester-
day noon transformed Wall Street. noar
Broad from a scene of busting activity
to ne of dreadful carnage, remains to-
night mystery.
official opinion, as expressed by William
j. Flynn, chief OF the bureau of inves tiga-
ton of the department of justice, and
Fire Commissioner Thomas Drennan, Is
that the disaster was caused by time
bomb loaded with high explosives and
reinforced with metal slugs. The early
theory that the blast was caused by a
collision between an exploslve-laden
wagon and another vehicle seems 70 have
been dspelled by subsequent investigation,
although II has nor yet been entirely dis
carded by official Investigators.
FLYNN IN CHARGE
Chief Flynn, who arrived he.'s from
Washington last night to take personal
charge of .hc federal investigation de-
clared, after leaving the J. F. Morgan Of
fee late to-day, that from evidence OBJ
tanned within the last few hours it has
been definitely established that the ex-
THE bomb was taken to Wall Street"
he added. ''in the wagon which was
blown to pieces. The Internal machine
was timed to go off at noon and appar-
emily was placed in the wagon by per-
son who was within four blocks Of Wall
and Broad streets when the explosion
occurred
SIX MORE DEATHS
49,.
the death total tonight to So. The
number of injured. including those treated
at the scene, in hospitals and at their
homes. was approximately 300. Nearly
| 100 of these are still being treated in
hospitals. The property damage is var-
ously estimated from 100000 to $2.5OoOO0.
Eight Separate Investigations of the
explosion were under way tonight.
, They we're being made by the depart
/ ment of justice. under the supervision
Of Attorney General Palmer and William
j. Flynn, chief of the bureau of investi-
cation: the New York police department.
under the supervision of Commissioner
Enright and Chief Inspector Lahey; the
fire department. the building department.
the September grand jury. the medical
examiners office and two private inquiries
| by insurance companies and J. p. Nor
gan & Co.
WAGON is KEY TO MYSTERY
The key to the mystery apparently lies
! in the Identification of the rickety old
wagon drawn by an old horse. which was
left standing at the curb in Wall street
near the United States assay office and
across the street from the Morgan bank
a few minutes before the explosion. The
horse was killed and the wagon blown
! to bits in the blast. The driver of the
wagon Is believed to have escaped. Fed
eral and police authorities tonight were
centering their activities in this phase
Of the case
Every livery stable in the city is being
! canvassed to determine whether a horse
and truck are missing. Examination OF
the horses body disclosed that 1t hat
been newly clipped and shod This and
a mark on the horses shoes furnish the
only clues to It's Identity
Conflicting descriptions OF the wager
itself have been received by the police
All available bits of the vehicle have
been taken to police headquarters, where
efforts are being made to reconstruct the
vehicle sufficiently to determine its exac
type. A cursory examination indicates
it was Of unusual breath which leads
II was of the type used in transporting
crates OF eggs. Official opinion |!
almost unanimous that it was not thu
regular type of wagon used In the trans
portation OF powder or explosives through
the city streets.
MYSTERIOUS WAGON DESCRIBED
One Of the best descriptions Of the mys
tcrious vehicle was furnished by Law
renee Serbin. who. with his partner, wal
engaged in selling chocolates to the noon
day crowd from a wagon at the corner
of Nassau and Wall streets, less than go
feet from the scene of the explosion. HI
declared the cart came from New stree
and was driven by man who spoke witt
a strong Scotch accent
Jus. before II O'Clock Thursday, Serbil
said that he and his partner were doin,
business on Broad street where the new
stock exchange addition is being bull
when they were chased away by maj
in civilian clothes whom they took to b.
an officer. He added that they turned
their horse around, passed the Morgan
bank and went to the corner of Wall AM
Nassau streets where they resumed bust
ness.
DRIVER HAD SCOTCH ACCENT
MY wagon was on the right side O
Wall Street. looking toward Broad" h
added, land across the street from M
was an automobile. We began to do
good business with the noon crowds. Thel
some one sang out to me a Scotch accent
Pull your horse up Buddy'-I looked VI
at him and his wagon.
He must have come from New Stree
because l was watching the cop on Broad
way al the time. My partner was do!ni
the selling. II he came DOWN Wall Stree
/ couldn't have missed him. When
pulled out of the way he went straigh
down Wall Street and about minute
later was knocked down and didn't 70
member anything until ! came to Ia thu
Broad street hospital
The wagon was bum work wager
with dark. dirty red paint. something
like a dirt wagon and about twice thu
size of those used by street cleaners. i
was a rusty red color and was drawn
by an old brown horse.
THE driver was a dark complexioned
unshaven, wiry man, probably 30 OF
40 years old and dressed In working
clothes and dark cap. He seemed Il
be about 6 feet 6 inches tall. He hat
dark hair"
ANARCHISTIC WARNINGS
Chief Flynn of the department o.
justice tonight made public copies o.
five circulars. signed "Americaned an
archists. fighters which no said were
found In a letter box at the corner o.
Cedar street and Broadway shortly be
fore noon to-day. The circulars. Il
which he said he attached the utmos
Importance, read: Remember we will