The New York herald., 1922-05-17
Explosion Precedes 100000
Blaze in Seventy Apartment
House Being Built.
LABOR GANGSTERS' WORK
sTo He'll With Lands Award
Shouted One as Torch Was
Applied.

| CHICAGO. May 16.-Open defiance Of
the efforts Of the police to check an
| outbreak of labor warfare which has
terrorized the city for two months was
| seen tonight in spectacular fire
which partly destroyed seventy
apartment building under Construction
at I'LL Sheridan road, in the heart Of
wealthy residence district.
Starting just before dark at several
points on the first floor. the flames
spread rapidly through the s5o0.0oo
structure. and practically all the fire
nghting apparatus in the northern sec
ton of the city was called before II was
brought under control. with half the
building in ruins. The entire Rogers
Park police force was needed to keep
back the crowds. estimated at more
than 5000.
Workmen on the structure were en-
ployed under the Lands wage award
and the police declared the fire is an
other step in the campaign Of terrorism
directed against the award which was
made by former Judge X. NJ Lands
sitting as mediator in wage dispute be-
tween the building trades workers and
contractors. The award was accepted
by the contractors. but has been ac-
lively opposed by several of the unions
which were dissatisfied with It's terms.
The fire followed several days Of
quiet during which the police have been
checking up much evidence seized last
week In raids on union headquarters.
the arrest OF more than 150 labor lead
ers and the indictment OF eight. includ-
ing Fred Nader. president of the Build
ing Trades Council IN connection with
the staying of two patrolmen by four
1.f.x.a H. t. III
The fire recalled threatening letters
received last week by Assistant States
Attorneys warning them that IL Nader.
big Tim" Murphy and Cornelius
cCon") Shea were not released fires
would be started in buildings under con-
struction. The letters set the time limit
for the release at last Saturday
Investigation of the fire showed that
IL had been started simultaneously in
several places and had been preceded
by the explosion of bomb. Two women
in an adjoining apartment building told
the police they were warned by man
shortly before the FIRE was discovered
that the next building would soon be in
flames and that they should flee.
"Get out quick. this building is going
to burn. You'll hear an explosion in a
minute. To HI with the Lands
award" the man shouted to Mrs. Mary
Corbett after calling her TO the door
of her apartment.
He then hurried to the apartment of
Mrs Frances Choate, wife of an Of
fcial of Sears Roebuck Company, and
repeated his warning. Mrs. Choate was
bewildered by his words and asked him
to repeat them. In answer he attempted
to Kick her and then fed.
Squads OF patrolmen armed with
20. htttfd I'M nd
a search begun for the man. The loss
to the structure was placed at 5000, 900.
Two new arrests were made to-day
following reports that a confession Inn
plicating several persons had been made
by John Miller. owner OF the death car.
Miller previously has been quoted as
saying the automobile was stolen from
him several days before the crime. One
Of those taken into custody was Mrs.
Margaret Miller, his wife. The other is
mysterious stranger
The same mercenaries. II was said.
had been used to intimidate both union
men and contractors. their leaders II
was declared. collecting tribute from
both sides while posing as labor lead
ers. II was also charged that they had
engineered robbertles. the proceeds being
used TO finance the reign Of gun and
bomb terrorism which eliminated In the
Staying OF the two policemen.
big Tim" Murphy, one of the labor
men under indictment. II was pointed
out by Edwin w. Sims. president of the
Chicago crime commission. was recently
convicted OF having taken part In a
$500. 600 mail robbery and was sem
tenced TO the penitentiary for five years.
Murpy was out on bail pending an
appeal to the Supreme Court when ar
rested last week.