"LIKE A BOMB"

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1920, Page 5

"LIKE A BOMB"

DISASTER IN NEW YORK. • TERRIBLE SCENES WITNESSED. tf T*U(r«ph.—?ren Assn.^-Copytltht. , r»- ._. New York > Sept W. A 6o»b aploded in a motor-car outir'Jr?. 4 P - M «BM> Company's offices to Wejl Street. All the buildings in Me financial district -were shaken. Tk* explosion occurred at noon, causing great confusion in the narrow ; »t"«tpi wftieh were packed with people. Ho members of the Morgan firm were injured, though the interior of the office 1 waa damaged. Ike Stock Exchange closed for the The .police announce that fifteen persons an Ichown to be dead. The police are unable to state officially the caus? of the explosion, but a swarm of Federal agents are investigating the mat■t« and the opinion Is expressed that the disaster was the result of a collision between a motor and a wagon -toaded with tri-nitro-toluol. One hundred and fiftr person l ; were 'tail* by flying splinters- Mr. J. S. Metgtn, sou «f Mr. J. P. Morgan, was slightly- cut. At least 75 of the :n----'iOTftt are in a serious condition.—Aus.Si'A. Cable Assn. KILLED TOTAL THIRTY. 3BBAT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Received Sept. 17, 9.10 pjn, New York, Sept. 16. i -Jreat confusion is still surrounding the scene of the explosion, which consisted bf the worst disaster of its kind ever occurring on the Island of Manhattan.

Property damaged alone will probably tnount into, millions, While the total known dead is not available. Several persona sitting in automobiles nearby the explosion were torn to bits, and horses were torn into fragments. , The military were caHed out, surrounding tiie explosion area with drawn bayonets, and no one wag allowed to ,'pass. Hundreds of thousands of per* Bon* occupying skyscrapers in the explosion area crowded into the streets, absolutely blocking the traffic, since the •city in that section is extremely narrow. , All glass windows were shattered, and buildings were pock-marked as though & shell-fire. Many of the injured are •ring wounds from flying debris. Among the killed, which is now estimated to be thirty, are several women. >- l Auj.-N.2, Cable Assn.

OAUSE NOT CERTAIN. SCENE LIKE A BATTLE-FIELD. Received Sept. 17, 10 p.m. " ; New York, Sept. 16. While the exact cause of the explosion jmay never be determined, the best theories exiting at present are that a load ttf' tiN.T. accidentally exploded while Hear Mr. Morgan's office. There had been excavations for a new building flew by, and explosives were being used, »nd 4 wagon load of T.N.T. was timed t$ explode as a big bomb. Qwervara say the scene immediately iter the explosion resembled a battlefield- . A cloud of smoke and dust rose fa a huge spiral, and debris was tossed fbout wildly, causing injury everywhere, Mood coloring the streets.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 4san. WAS IT A BOMB? Beceived Sept. 13,12.10 a.m. New Tork, Sept. 16. The New York Times' Washington fcorrfspondent telegraphs that Mr. A M. palmer (United States Attorney-Gen-WW) has ordered an enquiry into the New York explosion. A special agent hat been despatched to begin investigations. It is declared that if the exMotion proves to be a bomb outrage it Srill completely vindicate Mr. Palmers' recent, anti-Bed campaign.—Au».-N.Z. table Attn.