Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1891 — THREW A BOMB AT SAGE [ARTICLE]

THREW A BOMB AT SAGE

HORRID ACT OF A MURDEROUS NEW YORK MANIAC. He Demands Twelve Hundred Thousand Dollars and Then Hurl* an Infernal Machine, Killing Himself and Another Mali, aud Wounding the Millionaire. Gotham Startled. A madman attempted the life of Russoll Sage at the risk of destroying himsalf, tho great offleo building at 78 Broadway, Now York, and more than two hundrod person who worked within its walls. Hiram D. Wilson, the maniac, whoso weapon appears to have boen a nitro glycerine bomb, accomplished his own death, and tho doath of at least one other, infllctod wounds upon his intended victim among them, and partly wrecked tho building. Ho himself was blown to pieces. Hiram 1). Wilson has beon known as a dangerous, unbalanced person for fourtoon years. Ho ha 9 beon in insano asylums several times, and has teen released each tlmo straightway to threaten the life of somo one about whom his unsettled wits were busy. Russell Sage, as has been often to d of him and other millionaires, is constantly getting letters from cranks of all descriptions, demanding great or small sums of money, and the demands aro often accompanied by threats Within tne last month he has received four letters from ono crank signing hlnyiolf “J. D. Walsh." These lottors have sot forth that Mr. Walsh was on tlie eve of marrlago with the widows oT Alderman Monhoimer and Goneral Nplnola, two of tho holders of tlie disputed Standard Gas stock. Mr. Walsh said that 111 order that this marrlago might lie accomplished It was necessary that 110 have $1,200,(100. Ho sa'd that Mr. Sago or Mr. Gould, or both, must furnish this money or take the consou uonces.

On tho afternoon of tho explosion a shabbily dressed man had ontorod tho ofllcn of Mr. Sago just as tho latter was preparing to loavo his desk to go to luncheon. Tlie man had a pack ago in ids hand, and when Air. Sage looked up tho visitor held it above tlie millionaire’s head. “What do you want?” asked Mr, Sago, noting a wild look in tho faco of his visitor. “Russell Sago," responded tho man, "I want a million and 11 half dollars.” Mr. Sago at onco know that tho man was insane, and rising from his chair, salu: “Ail right, I’ll have to soo about it and will let you know. ” “No, I want It now,” said tho man, motioning Mr. Sage to stop. “If 1 don’t get it,” ho contlnuod, raising Ills voice so that pooplo in tho outer offleo could hear, “you will regrot it. Will you glv» It to mo?” said Mr. Sa v o, quietly, “not now; como after It some other time." Mr. Sago had hardly spoken whon tho man ratsod tho package he hold in his hand a' ovo Ids head and saying: “Horn goes,” threw it to tho floor, almost, at tlie foot of tho millionaire hiokor. Tliero was Instantly a tremendous explosion. Whon tho relief party of pellco wont In o the room half an hour later they found tho body of tho man who threw tho dynamite lltorally torn to plocos The explosion took plaeo In tho outer olllce, whore tlie man had backed from Mr. Sago's private office In his efforts to konp tijo millionaire from getting away. A c ork who was in tho outer office says the man slood almost In the doorway between th ) outer and inner offices when ho threw tho bomb. Just before ho did so another man came Into tho outer offleo. The clerk thought ho was a companion of tho first. Ho said nothing, but ho nvlaoutly knew tho man who had demanded tho monoy of Mr. Gage, for ho nodded to him. Tho second man stood within throe foot of the man with tho bomb, and whon the iattor threw It to the floor ho turned as if to run, but he only advanced a sow feet when the explosion occurred. Ills body was found stiotchnd through a window leading from tho outer office into a court, terribly mangled. After tho explosion, Mr. Sago, who 101 lto tho floor of his office with n six feot of tl e man who had thrown the bomb, struggled to Ills feet and gropod ills way out into the passago Jlis head . and taco were dripping with blood. Ho was almost unconscious Two men carried him down-stal.s and acrosi Broadway to a drug store. Wilson, tho lunatic who throw tho bomb, was killod, as was also B. F. Norton,ttussell Sago's private secretary. Sovon othors wore sovorely injurod.