Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-08-31

y
rooms OF the houses and this morn
ing the interior Of one or two O
the kitchens looked as II a cyclon
had struck the tinware. pots ant
dishes, all OF which were scattered
about.
The only clue which the railroad
and city police have to work on to-
day was that furnished by Andrew
Balback. of 1906 East 14th street
his sleep by hearing two men talk
ing. The Balback home is opposite
the damaged bridge. His home
was badly damaged. Balback said
that just as he was preparing to
leap from his bed to see who the
men were that were talking the ex-
plosion occurred.
Despite the fact that Balback and
other residents rushed to the win
dows, no one was in sight at that
time. This leads the police TO be-
lieve that the men heard by Bal
back were involved in the outrage
and had run south on Bowers street
along the tracks OF the raillpad COM
pany.
With the report Of the explosion
came the sound of crashing glass
and within a few seconds the street
was black with excited residents and
| crying children. The noise OF the
explosion brought the railroad police,
who wher stationed at HA tower,
at Vandever avenue. a square away,
and two city police officers who were
at Vandever avenue and Claymont,
distance Of three squares. Word
of the outrage was sent to the police
station and the police patrol with
officers sent TO tho scene under COM
mand of Sergeant Devinney.
The railroad police department
was notified and Captain Ward OF
the railroad police and his men were
soon on the scene. The police threw
the men who had run down on Bow
ers street were not seen, they having
escaped IN the darkness and are
thought to have Joined the crowd
which gathered about the damaged
bridge.
The dynamiters had evidently plac-
ed the explosive alongside a heavy
steel girder supporting the bridge
tracks and this saved the structure,
according to railroad officials. The
force of the explosive swept along
the Lines of least resistance. to-
wards the east, the row of houses in |
the street opposite the bridge re-
ceiving the full force of the blow. !
At the home OF Andrew Balback. |
1906 East Fourteenth street, every |
window in the house was shattered. |
lives with his mother, Mrs.
Elizabeth Balback. as years The
aged woman was asleep at the time.
and a large picture hanging on the
wall over her bed fell. She escaped
being struck.
In the dining room of the Bal
back home the furniture was upset
and every gas mantle in the house
was broken.
At the home of Fred Balback
1908 East 14th street, plaster on
several of the ceilings of the bed
rooms, was torn off. Balback who
Is employed at the Todd's Cut shops.
said he had never been threatened
by strikers and had received no
threatening letters. Balback Is the
father OF seven children. The little
ones were thrown into a panic when
aroused from their asleep by the
loise. All the windows in this
louise were shattered as were those
n the dwelling adjoining, 1910,
coupled by Mrs. Vandever. {
Mrs. Vandever said that while the I
lass from the windows fell into her ,
lp as she was sitting at the window \
he was so stunned that she could =
OF move.
Windows were broken in the home d
Max Keller. 1912 East Four
zenith street, and in the home of
ames Zimmerman adjoining, 1916 o.
last Fourteenth street. The glass in 2,
ne vestibule IN this house was a
roken despite the fact that the "
-ont door OF the house was closed u,
nd locked. c,
The force OF the explosion was S.
1T square away. the glass in the
ONE OF J. J. Collins, at 1923 East lee
It'll street being broken and in the OF
ONE of ]. T. Kitchens, adjoining. RI
At the home OF Frank Simmons, | te
1913 East 14th street, the attic win L
ows were broken. Scarcely a a.
ouse in the entire block immedi- o.
tely east OF the bridge escaped ~
lmage and at the home of William
Tlley. one square west of the bridge, II
lie window panes were cracked. -
Wind nud IN Tho ctOrnCa hotaa nF y
he J. d .Sisler Company, wholesale l.
ROGERS, at the northeast corner ~
ourteenth and Bowers streets, OPP Dl
osite the bridge. were also shat ~
red but no damage was done to Al
he building or its contents. III
Today's outrage, coming so close
n the attempt TO dynamite the tool
ouse at the Wilsmere yards OF the -
/. and o. Railroad Company at Els %
lere. and the home OF Pellegrina
a railroad worker at Sic
lincoln street. caused Superintend-l O..
Mt OF Police Black to issue orders -,
, all patrolman to keep n watchout -,
n anyone trying to purchase dyna- ~
lite here. The patrolmen were ad- p,
ressed at roll call by Superintendent ne
lack who advised them that the %,
lie of such explosives were forbid an
N and a check should be made Pc
lily at all places where such ex-
osives are handled.
While the railroad police would
L discuss today's outrage. It was to
timated that those who were re- Sc
onsibie for the attempt TO dyna- in
te the bridge might have been in ag