EXTRAORDINARY BOMB EXPLOSION IN NEW YORK.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3064, 5 March 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY BOMB EXPLOSION IN NEW YORK.

W biting on 51 h December, our New York correspendeut furnishes the following particulars of the extraordinary explosion in the office of a New York millionaire, which was brought about by a lunatic who had made a demand for a large sura of money : — When a sudden panic occurs in our stock tnarkei it is customary to say that a bomb has exploded thare. Yesterday thie inoident was one of a literal charaotor. A little past noou a man entered the etfice of Russel Sage, a millionaire operator on tho Stock Exchange, ard secured an interview by the pretence that ho came prominent operator with bonds to negotiate. He iminedias tely demanded 1.230,000 dol. (£230,000), and threatened that if the money was not

"iveu at once ho would throw a bomb, which was contained in a leather bug iu his hand, and blow everyone in the building to instant death. Mr Sa«e undertook to temporise, seeing that he wae dealing with a lunatic, but the latter drew irapttient and dropped the bag on the floor. Instantly there wan an explosion which slightly wounded Mr Sage, killed one of hi.s clerks and wounded several other persons in the office more or less severely. Tho interior of the office was wrecked and valuable securities were sent flying iu all directions. Firemen came quickly on the scene, but no flames followed the explosion. The madmnn who threw tlio bomb was literally torn to pieces by the explosion, bis bedy being in fragments and the head completely severed. Ho gave tho name of H. D. Wilson on tho card he sent to Mr Sage, but his identity has lot been established. Mr Sage escap°d with a few bruises, althouch he whs nearer to whore the bomb exploded thun was his clerk, Mr Norton, who was 80 badly injured .that he died within an h3ur- Tho occurence causod ir.tonco excitiment, and for an hour or so the bueiness of the Stock Exchange was practically suspended. This is by no means the first attempt upon the lives of millionaires in this city, though it is the firet in which there has been an actual shedding of blood. Several years ago a prominent operator, who was reputed to be very wealthy, was vixited in his office by a man whe demanded 10.000 dol., under a threat of instant death'iit the muzzle of a pistol whiub he held in his hand. " Certainly, " was tho quick reply, "I'll make it 20 000, as that's only the half of what 1 cleared in one speculation, yesterday. Mr Jackson, bring me 20,000 in cash sit once.' , Mr Jackson in the outer office prasped the situation and came, not with tho 20.000 dol., but with a follow clerk of stalwart frame, and the would be murderer was secured from behind and held until a police officer came and carried him away. The assailant proved to be a lunatic, and has since been kept under confinement. Two or three years ago a man called upon the medical adviser of Jay Gould, the wealthiest of our financial magnates, and said he wanted a large Hum of money from Mr Gould, 15 000,000 dol. or ho would certainly put tho millionaire to death. The doctor promised to attend to the matter at once, and assured the man that there was no doubt of Gould's willingness to pay the amount named rather than be put to death An appointment was made for tho next morning, when the doctor would have the money ready ; of course _ when the man came he was secured, and is now in an asylum. Ono rich man has been threatened so many times in this way ;hat he keeps a broad shouldered detective eoudtantly at hand when out of his own house ; it is the duty of th 3 detective not to lose sight of his employer, and to edge very closely to any stranger whose movements are in the least degree suspicious.