Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 225, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1920 — MANY KILLED IN WALL STREET MYSTERY EXPLOSION [ARTICLE]

MANY KILLED IN WALL STREET MYSTERY EXPLOSION

New York, Sept. 16.—A mysterious explosion in Wall street, near Broad, believed by trained department of justice and police investigators to have been caused by an infernal machine, rocked the heart of New York’s financial district at noon today, leaving death and destruction in its wake. At least twenty persons were killed, more than 200 were injured, the banking house of J. P. Morgan and Company, the sub-treasury and the assay office were partially wrecked and property damage estimated in excess of >1,000,000 was caused by the blast. Thomas W. Lamont, of the J.F. Morgan firm, expressed the belief, however, that the explosion was purely an accident caused by a collision between an explosive-laden wagon ■ and another vehicle. The firm had received no threats of any kind, he said, and there was no real reason for the planting of a bomb outside the firm’s office.

At Busy Hour. The noon hour had struck and an 1 endless stream of office workers had just s&rted pouring into the streets from the buildings in the neighborhood. Suddenly a cloud of yellowish, black smoke and a piercing jet of flame leaped from the street outside the Morgan office. Then came a deafening blast. A moment later scores of men, women and children were lying prostrate on the ground and the streets were covered with debris from thousands of broken windows and the torn facades of adjacent buildings. Two minutes later the stock and curb exchanges, the financial pulse Of the world, had closed. Panic and confusion reigned in the heart of New York’s financial district Thousands of clerks and stenographers fled in terror from adjoinng structure. Scores fainted, fell and were trampled on in the rush. Meanwhile, the noise of the , explosion which was heard throughout lower Manhattan and across the river in Brooklyn brought thousands of the curious to the scene. The few police on duty m the district were unable to cope with crowds and a hurry call for ponce reserves was sent to all downtown

police stations. Guard BuUdins. Sub-treasury officials, fearing that an attempt might be made to rob the building, all of the windows of which were broken, requested t assistance of the military authorities at Governor’s island and a company of soldiers was sent to guard the institution. Calls Ta Hospitals. Hurry calls were also sent to all hospitals in the downtown section of New York and scores of anfbulances were soon speeding through he narrow streets. Dressing stations ■ were established in the lobbies of buildings nearby where me less injured were given immediate treat-, ment.