Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-09-17

tween this explosive laden wagon and
another vehicle.
From what we have learned I am
inclined to believe that the explosion
was due merely to an accident"
Thomas w. Lamont of the Morgan
firm declared tonight. There are
no reasons that we can { find that
would lead to a premeditated bomb
ing. can see nothing to be gained
by such an act Circumstances of
the occurrence surely do not point to
an attempt to wreck the Morgan
Offices.
IF anybody really plotted destruc-
ton of our building I believe that we
would have been sent the warning that
is us ual in such instances. and we
have not been threatened in any man.
ner. ] believe the explosion was due
to nothing more than an unfortunate
accident to dray loaded with explo-
sives, which I am informed had ar
rived on the site of the Stock Elk
change building addition across the
street from our Offices
An investigation by representatives
OF the fire commissioner, however,
showed that no permits had been is
sued today for the transportation of
explosives in the area surrounding
Broad and Wall streets. Shipments of
explosives were neither receives nor
expected during the day at any other
buildings under construction in the
immediate vicinity. according to the
hre commiss ioner, who said a canvass
had been made of all construction work
IN the neighborhood
batteries of searchlights were scat
tered through the financial district to-
night and kept the place as light as
day Extra guards were on duty
around the city hall. the county court
house, st. Patrick's cathedral, the Ca
thedral Of ST. John the Divine, and
the homes Of prominent officials and
weil-known wealthy men.
DR.. Charles Norris. chief medical ex-
amlner. declared the explosive force
was triintrotoluol Whether the stuff
was hauled into the district in the
oadiy Kept wagon that stopped in the
curb not far from the Morgan build
ing a minute before the explosion is
not known. The wagon, once red and
gearing according to witnesses, the
name of the Du Pont de Nemours Co.
was converted into dust and small
klndling by the blast. The detected
logging horse that dragged it was
blown to pieces.
Beside the dead horse the police
lound trunk check. Whether it is
important remains to be seen. II was
issued by the New York Central rail.
road at Saranac Lake to someone
sending trunk from that place to
Washington, d. c.
IL IS DR.. Norris belief that the dis
aster was caused by a bomb as large
as good sized she'll or small torne-
oo thrown from speeding automobile
OF dropped or hurled from a high cor
nice he reported that he found in
the body of Robert Westday, a 17-vear-
GA victim section Of smooth curved
'Heet IRON and declared this to be a
section of the jacket of the bomb
"estday was instantly killed.
Inc only theory the police entertain
is that the old red dray standing nv
the assay office curb bore the honh
ana that it was touched of by per-
cusslon cap at the end of time fuse
Two men and a boy told the poi,ce
.heF saw covered wagon marked
explosives going south in lower
broadway about Is minutes; before the
explosion. The boy said he saw tho
wagon at Broadway and Veezy street~i
"hile the two men who were in tho
autofhooiie said they passed the wagon
at broadway and John streets.
Inc New York stock and curb ex-
changes VIII be opened for business
tomorrow morning at the usual tin,e
!. was ohcially announced tonight
oiilcials or the stock exchange declared
.n"' oohds valued at $4,000 and e574
shares OF stock are missing as a re-
suit of the explosion.