NEW YORK SHAKEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20055, 18 September 1920, Page 8

NEW YORK SHAKEN.

TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION IN WALL STREET. VICTIMS BLOWN TO FRAGMENTS. , enormous Damage to property. By TelegTaph—Pmrb Association—Copyright NEW YORK, September 16. breat confusion i s sttll surrounding the scene of the explosion which is cohsidered th e worst disaster of it B kind ever occurring in the Island of Manauan lie property damage alone piobably will mount into millions, while the total number of dead is unknown. Several persons siting in automobiles new by the explosion wor© torn to ments. " VW * rivon into fra 6The military were called tfut and surrounded the explosion area with drawn bayonets. No on e was allowed to pass. Hundreds of thousands of persons occupying skyscrapers in the explosion aiea crowded into the streets, absolutely blocking traffic since the city in t,la .t section is extremely narrow. All glass windows were . shattered, buildings were pockmarked as though )> shellfire. Many injured are suffering lrom wounds from flying debris Among the dead, the number of whom is now estimated to bo thirty, are several women. J ' SCENE RESEMBLED BATTLEFIELD. . THEORIES OF~EXPLOSION. m .. NEW YORK, September 16. Whilo, the exact cause of the explosion may never be determined the best theories existing at the moment nro . J' 10 * » load of tri-nitrotoluene was accidentally exploded while near Morgan s office—there had been excavations for a new building nearby and explosives wore being used_or that a waggon load of T.N.T. was timed to explode a 8 a big bomb whilo directly beloro Morgan's office. The United States Sub-Treasury, Observers say that the sceno immediately after the explosion resembled a battlefield. A cloud of smoke and dust rose in. a huge spiral and debris was tossed about wildly, causing injury everywhere, blood colourinjr the streets. i - INVESTIGATION ORDERED. - NEW YORK, September 16. * t. Xt »\a sh ,"»gten correspondent of the Af?p W i Yorl \ Times " telegraphs that Air Palmer, _ the Attorney-General, has ordered an inquiry into the New York Sn°t S1 ? n j A B P? cia . l agent has been dispatched to begin investigations. It is declared t'hat if the explosion proves to be a bomb outrage it will completely vindicate Mr Palmer's recent anti-Red campaign.