Los Angeles herald. [volume], December 05, 1891, Image 1

About Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893

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LOS ANGELES HERALD.
VOL. 37.—N0. 46.
A DYNAMITE CRANK
Makes ail Attempt on Itus
sell Sage's Life.
The Millionaire Broker's Mirac
ulous Escape.
His Office Completely Wrecked by the
Explosion of a Bomb.
The Assassin Himself Torn to Pieces, a
Clark Killed and Several Other
feraons Severely Wounded.
Sage Bllghtly Injured.
Auoclated Press Dispatches.
New York, Dec.4.—Russell Sage, the
millionaire broker, escaped death by a
miracle today, bis office and the entire
Empire building in which it was, being
shaken to its very foundation by the ex
plosion of a dynamite bomb, hurled by
a crank who made a demand on Sage
for the immediate payment of f 1,250,
--000, the ultimatum being, in tbe case of
refusal, the death of the millionaire,
the crank himself and those employed
in the office.
Never in tbe history of the metropolis,
is it probable, has an event occurred
that for tbe time caused more excite
ment in Wall street and lower Broad
way. Fully 50,000 people were drawn
to the scene of the explosion, and for an
hoar the police were powerless to bring
order out of chaos.
It was just 2:20 o'clock today
when tbe explosion came with a force
that was absolutely startling, complete
ly wrecking the second floor of the build
ing, throwing pedestrians in the street
to the ground, and startling people for
blocks around. Those close at
hand saw a man blown through
one of the windows of Sage's office into
Rector street. A few minutes later
Sage, himself, with blood streaming
down his face and hands, was helped
out into the street and taken to O'Con
nell'a drugstore, just below Wall street
on 11 roaway. Theie, also, was taken
the man blown from the window.
Within ten minutes after the explo
sion Dr. Munn, the physician of Jay
Gould, was at the side of Sage, and per
sonally attended to bis injuries, which
proved not to be of a severe nature.
Tbe hair and eyebrows of the million
aire were burned, and bis face and
bands were hurt by small particles oi
glass and plaster, the result of the ex
plosion .
sage's statement.
Sage, though suffering from the
shock, made the following statement
while the wound was being dressed:
f"A man who-gave the name of' D.
Wilson came to my office just now. I
had naver seen him before. He had a
carpet bag in his band, and snid: 'If
you will not give me one million two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, I
will blow you "to pieces.' I know
nothing further, except hearing a great
explosion, the falling of tbe floor; until
I regained consciousness. The man
lying on the floor of tbe drag store is, I
believe, tbe same one who asked me for
the money."
When Sage's wounds were dressed, be
was taken in a cab to bis home.
EVERYTHING CONFUSION.
Outside the door everything was con
fusion. Men lost their heads, and ru
mors of the wildest kind filled tbe air.
From the building firemen led or car
ried tho dead and injured. Ambulances
were summoned from three hospitals
and soon the streets around were solidly
filled with a struggling mass of persons,
all eager to get to the scene of tiie
disaster.
When tbe police arrived in force tbe
building was quickly cleared of all per
sons, and search was made in the
wrecked-effices. Just inside of the door
of the general office, was found ! the
trunk of a man in a state that rendered
recognition nearly impossible, the bead
having been severed from the body. A
pointed reddish beard gave the appear
ance of an educated man, which was en
hanced by brown curly hair and tbe
heavy moustache that adorned the up
per hp. When tbe body waa taken up
it was found to have been torn into
shreds by the explosion.
THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION.
The interior of the office plainly
showed that the force of the explosion
was something terrific. All the parti
tion walls ware blown down and the
sashes and window frames were forced
outward. The ceiling had been blown
down, and the floor forced downward,
Tendering it unsafe to walk upon. Desks
and chairs were overturned and hurled
iuto an indescribable mass, and every
piece of glass in the big air shaft that
ran to tbe roof was ahivered.
A search quickly showed that the
body of the man with the pointed beard
was the only one among the debris.
In tbe meantime tbe crowds in tbe
street grew larger, the elevated trains
from up town bringing thousands to tbe
scene, all impelled by curiosity.
THE KILLED AND INJURED.
For an hour confusion reigned. Then
the police found their beads and some
thing like a correct list of the killed and
injured wae had.
But one person had been killed out
iighi, tbe man with the pointed beard.
He is supposed to be H. D. Wilson, the
*nan that made the demand for the
money from Sage and threw the bomb.
Tbe man who was thrown through
the window proved to be Benjamin F.
Morton, a clerk in the office. He was
removed to the Chambers-street hos
pital, where he died at Lj3o.
The following injured were taken to
tbe hospital:
Frank Robertson, 20 years old, clerk
for Imbre & Co., brokers, who was in
Sage's office at the timeof the explosion.
His skull is fractured and he will prob
ably die.
Charles W. Osborn, Russell Sage's
cashier, fractured skull; will probably
die*:
SAOE'S FAITHFUL CHIEF CLKIIK,
Samuel J. 'Calhoun, who was in the
building at the time, received a frac
ture of tbe leg.
Coi. J. J. Slocum, brother-in-law of
Sage, and bis chief clerk, was badly
cut about tbe head and face, and when
bia wounds were dressed, returned to
the scene, declaring that be had left the
door of the safe open, and was fearful
that the securities in it had been blown
out and lost. Quickly gathering to
gether what he found, be placed them
in a small safe and had it removed to
the office of the Manhattan ' railway
company in tbe same building.
THE LKG OF A WOMAN.
In tbe afternoon firemen found among
tbe debris a leg, thought to be that of a
woman- Whether it is or ia not has not
been discovered. Rußaell Sage never
employed a woman typewriter, and as
this fact ia well established tbe aupposi
tiou ia that if the leg ia that of a woman
it ia all that ia left of one of bis put and
call cuatomera who was in the office at
tbe time.
a mf.mohahi.e ixpebixnce.
Chase Jamea, a railroad man and a
resident of Chattanooga, Term., had an
appointment with Sage at 12 o'clock,
and bad an experience he will never for
get. He eaya: "1 called at Sage's of
fice at 12 o'clock and found him out. A
seat was offered me in the main office
near.a deck. I took it and waited Sage's
return. Sitting on a bench near tbe
wall I noticed a man perhaps 5 feet 8
inches in height. He wore a plug
hat and bad a pointed beard
and a heavy brown mouatache. At
about 12:15 Sage came in, and greeting
me, asked me into bis private office.
Sage had juat removed bia hat and
asked me to be seated, when his clerks
entered aud said something to him
which I did not hear. TurniDg to me,
be aaid: 'Excuse me a moment,' and
paaaed through tbe door into the main
office. Tbe door closed behind him,
and I, pushing my chair over to the
wall, sat facing the door through which
Sage bad gone. It might have been
two or three minutea when the explosion
came. I waa blown nearly to the ceil
ing, and the chair on which I aat waa
smashed to pieceß. 1 fell down all in a
heap. Duat, email particlea of plaster
and smoke filled the room. I waa com
pletely dazed and did not know what to
do. I remember making my way
through the paßaage, from which the
explosion had blown the door, into the
main office. There I met Sage,
blood dripping down hia face and
bands, bia clotbea torn and rent,
and covered with dirt and dust.
When he saw me he eaid : 'How Bhall
we get out?' 'Wait,' I replied, until
this duet settles; I think we will be all
right, as the worat must be over.' Then
J. recovered my senses, and taking him
by the arm led him down stairs into the
street."
Washington Connor was in hia office
on the Broadway front of the building
and on the same floor with Sage when
the explosion came. Connor waa among
the flrat out of the building and assisted
Sage to the drug store.
FRAGMENTS OF THE DYNAMITER.
Among tho debris in the wrecked of
ficesfvas found the remains of a silk hat,
evidently worn by the man who gave
the name of Wilson, and in one corner
of Sage's private office, where James was
sitting alone at tbe time of the explo
sion, a man's hand was found.
Tbe coroner made an examination of
the remains of the man found in the
office, and from the mangled mass took a
seven-chambered bulldog revolver. This
was all that could be found by which
identification could be made. What was
left of the body was laid out in an under
taker's office on Greenwich street. It
was not much. The head was there,
blackened, but neither cut nor disfigured
in any way. tt was cut off at the top of
the neck, "and looked for all the world
like the mask of a man 35 or 40 years
old, with a full beard that might have
been long, but was now burned in close
to tbe chin and cheek. Then
there was a leg (the right), the
left foot, one baud, and that was all.
The body proper was gone; of neither
the chest nor tbe abdomen was a trace
found. Shreds of clothing were found,
showing that the man had worn trous
ers of blue-black plaid, a black overcoat
and long black stockings, that might
have started the story that a woman's
leg was found. He had been careful to
rid himßelf of everything that might
disclose his identity. His name had
been written in his bat, but be had cut
it out with a knife.
THE DYNAMITER'S DEMAND.
Russell Sage made a statement to
Inspector Byrnes this evening as fol
lows : "I came out ot my office, having
been sent for, and found a man with a
satchel. He handed me a card beariug
the name H. D. Wilson. He said he
came from J. D. Rockefeller, and hand
ed me a written letter in a sealed
envelope. It was addressed to me.
I found it was a demand upon
me for the payment of $1,250,000. The
letter stated that if the money was not
given up at once to the presenter of the
letter, he would blow me, himself and
the entire office up with dynamite. I
read the letter, and replacing it in the
envelope, handed it back to him aud
turned to go into my private office, when
tbe explosion occurred."
A DYING WITNESS'S STATEMENT.
Coroner Messemer went to the Cham
bers-street hospital and took the ante
mortem statement of Frank Robertson,
an employee of Imbre & Co. Robertaon
said he went to Sage's office to get some
shares of stosk. He saw a man talking
to Sage very earnestly, and the man
pulled out what looked like a pistol. It
glittered as the man put it in his right
hand overcoat pocket. I knew nothing
more until I yelled 'murder!' I heard
tbe explosion and everybody yelled
'murder!'"
THREATENING LETTERS.
Russell Sage, Jr., said: Of late Mr.
Sage has received three or four threat
ening letters. One of them was signed
by James Walsh. In one of them the
writer demanded $1,200,000. Why that
sum was demanded, Sage could not say.
The recent troubles between President
Andrews, of the New York Steam Heat
ing company and the Standard Gas
Light company, now come into play in
tho case. A large part of the stock in
dispute belonged to the widows Spinola
and Manheim. These women Walsh
said in hia letters he was about to marry.
He therefore demanded money to pat
him on their financial level. Sage paid
no attention to him. Jay Gould waa
SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 5, 1891.—TEN PAGES.
also attacked in the letters and de
nounced in abusive terms. The writer
threatened Sage's life, but no attention
waß paid to it. as all who knew about
the letters believed tbe writer waa a
"harmless crank," to use young Sage's
own words.
SAGK UMMUIFTSB TUB tIOKV IIKAI).^
Husaell Sage saw the head of D. H.
Wilaon, the man who threw the bomb,
and identified it aa belonging to the
man who bad come to the office and de
manded monsy. Inspector Byrnes took
the ghastly, gory head in a basket to
Mr. Sage's house, and, together with
Dr. Munn, carried it to Mr. Sage's bed
room. The instant the magnate, who
was lying in bed, aaw the head, he said :
"That's the head of the man."
THE CRANK'S IDENTITY.
Hiram D. Wilson, an Bacaped Lunatic,
Exploded the Bomb.
Ai.banv, Dec. 4.—The dynamite crank
is thought to be Hiram D. Wileon, aged
45, an escaped lunatic and a native of
Glens Falls, Warren county. Wilson
escaped previously from Middletown
and other asylums. Hia worst signs of
insanity developed fourteen years ago,
when he kept the Bolton bouse on Lake
George. He was of late years talking
of making horses go faster than they
have ever gone, and of patent rights.
Wilson, after abort terms in asylums,
was discharged as cured, or escaped.
He generally celebrated his freedom by
making attempts to kill some one who
refused to meet bia demands for money.
Several years ago he attempted to kill a
man whom he bad asked for money to
set him up in business.
On another occasion when \V. J.
Arkell WM in Albany, Wilson made a
demand on him, then threatened to kill
him and even attempted to assault him
in bis office. He had also threatened
the life of Goodwin Brown, one of the
state lunacy commissioners.
Wilson waa arrested here about a year
ago for threatening to kill some one. <
CHILE TO BE CINCHED.
UNCLE SAM PREPARED TO EN
FORCE HIS DEMANDS.
A Strong Fleet Rendezvoused at Monte
video in Case of an Emergency—Presi
dent Harrison Expected to Take a Firm
Stand in His Message.
New York, Dec. 4.—A special from
Washington, referring to the new order
placing Admiral Walker in command of
a strong squadron to rendezvous at
Montevideo, says: "These vessels will
then be in easy reach of Chile, and at
the same time be on hand to look after
interests in Brazil, should any rupture
occur."
"It is not going too far to say," adds
tbe special, "that tbe administration is
now pretty well convinced that a satis
factory answer will not be made b -
Chile to the demand for indemnity, and
these vessels may soon be needed to join
in a demonstration for bringing Chile to
her senses. The president, it is under
stood, will take a pretty firm
stand .in his message on this
Chilean matter. The subject was
discussed at great length at the cab
inet meeting today, resulting in tbe ap
proval of the position taken by the presi
dent, which, in effect, means that the
administration is prepared to insist upon
full reparation and an apology if con
gress sees fit to authorize a resort to ex
treme measures."
New York, Dec. 4.—The Herald's
Santiago cable saya: General Holly,
minister of war, will shortly pay a visit
to Europe. The object of his visit is
not known.
Sixteen charges have been preferred
before congress in the name of the
Chilean people against Vicuna,
Godoy and other leading Palma
cedists. The bouses of the accused
men have been searched and their
private papers seized. It is supposed it
is from data found in these, that the
charges were formulated. The charges
include violation oi the constitution,
appropriation of public funds, illegal
arrests of persons, forcing peaceful
citizens into the army, and calling
of the public forces to suppress the civil
war. Vicuna ia supposed to be in Eu
rope, Montt and Codoy in Peru, and the
other three in the American legation.
Citations will be issued by tho president
of the senate and a telegram will be
sent to the foreign governments in
volved, informing them that formal de
mands have been made on their lega
tions for the surrender of the men
wanted. The whole matter will be fully
discussed by congress Friday.
New York, Dec. 4.—The Herald's
Valparaiso cable says: News reached
here today that the United States steam
er Boston arrived at Montevideo last
night. On account of having called at
Bahia, she has been subjected to two
days' quarantine.
Despite tbe protest of Captain Schley,
of the cruiser Baltimore, the authorities
continue the publishing of letters re
garding tbe action of American officers.
Reports from the southern provinces
state that wheat and barley promise a
good harvest.
The Concagua river ia out of its banks
and baa awept. away a part of the town
of Callena, and the railroad is threat
ened.
<•AI.IKOKNI.VS BCULPTORESS.
Miss Rldeout Captures the World's Fair
Contracts and I'rlze*.
Chicago, Dec. 4.—Misa Alice Rideout
of San Francisco waa today awarded
first prize in the competition of women
sculptors for tbe attic and cornice of the
women's world's fair buildings. The
award carries with it a contract for the
erection of full-size models of groups, at
prices from $1500 to $2500, for each of
the two smaller divans, and from $2000
to $3200 for the great 40-foot panel. The
successful competitor ia not yet out of
her teens. She has made modelling and
sculpture a study from childhood. The
three groups of figures represent
respectively woman's virtues, woman
as a spirit of civilization, and
and woman's place in history. Miss
Rideout baa already done some very
noteworthy work. Her last success is
the more remarkable that a number ot
older and more experienced sculptors
were among her competitors, but her
designs were far in advance of all others.
DOM PEDRO IS DEAD.
The Ex-Emperor of Brazil
Peacefully Expires.
His Last Words Were for His
Beloved Country.
He Regretted That He Could Xot Re
turn There to Die.
Diabetes Was the Disease to Which He
Succumbed—Princess Isabella and
Her Husband Present
When He Died.
Associated Press Dispatches.
Paris* Dec. 4. —Dom Pedro, late em
peror of Brazil, died at the Hotel Bed
ford five minutes after midnight. His
fever had been increasing since 7 o'clock
in the evening, when Dr. Charcot was
summoned hastily and remained ulttil
tbe end. Princess Isabella and her
husband, Count D'Eu, were also pres
ent. The disease with which the ex
emperor was suffeiing was diabetes. It
is said the last conscious words of Dom
Pedro were an expression of his deep
affection for Brazil and regret that he
could not go back there to die.
I Pedro 11. Joiio Carlos Leopoldo Salva
dor Bibiauo Francisco Xavier da Paula
Leocadio Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gon
zaga was born in Rio Janeiro on Decem
ber 2, 1827. and became emperor by the
abdication of his father. Pedro I, when
but *i years of age. For two years Don
Bonifacio Jose de Andrada c Silva was
his tutor and regent, and became a ward
of a council of regency in 1833. In
1840, though but 14 years of age,
Dom Pedro was declared by the cham
bers to have attained his majority, and
was on July 18, 1841, solemnly crowned
emperor of Brazil. Soon thereafter he
dissolved the Brazilian parliament, the
action giving rise to innumerable diffi
culties. Some attempts at revolution
were made but suppressed, and in 1842
and 1848 other and more serious
attempts were made to over
throw the government. They
were however repreeeed, and the pro
gress of Brazil was steady and rapid
during the whole of the reign of Pedro
11. The emperor was a man of scholarly
attainments and broad viewß, whose
great hope seemed always to be to see
Brazil take her place among the best
and strongest nations of tbe earth.
To this end he founded colleges
and universities, abolished slavery
throughout his dominions and projected
and carried to completion numerous in
ternal improvements, and in 1867
opened the navigation of tbe Amazon
river to all nations.
- The details of his abdication a re fa
miliar to newspaper readers. A little
more than a year ago, feeling assured
that the people of Brazil desired a
republican iorm of government, Dom
Pedro stepped down from the throne,
and by a bloodless revolution tbe em
pire of Brazil became a republic. It
may be that Brazil ia to become great, as
greatness is reckoned among civilized
nations. When greatness shall have
been attained, it will be largely due to
the head and heart of Dom Pedro 11,
and those of hia Bubjects who were
loyal to tbe last may solace themselves
with the thought that the impreßS be
made upon the country was good.
THE LAND OF BLIZZARDS.
A Greut Snow Blockade ln Minnesota,
Dakota and Manitoba.
St. Paul, Dec. 4.—A blizzard is rag
ing throughout Minnesota, Dakota and
Manitoba. All trains running into
Winnipeg are delayed. Threshing is
stopped in Dakota, and it is feared that
the railroads will be blockaded.
A Grand Forks, N. D., dispatch says :
The storm is still raging. The mercury
is about zero. Tbe air is filled with
enow. Railroad men report the first
snow blockade in two years. All trains
are practically abandoned. The Great
Northern passenger, due last evening, ia
in the enow banks two miles from the
city. The mercury is falling rapidly.
Reports from Aberdeen, S. D., aay the
worat wind and anowatorm of the aea
aon has been prevailing for the last
twenty-four hours. All business ia at a
standstill, and train service is greatly
interfered with.
At Morehead, Minn., the Great North
ern trains are tied up.
Reports from Crookston, Owatomie
and other Minnesota points say the
blizzard is raging with great fury. Snow
ia falling faßt and drifting badly. Ali
trains are delayed from five to twenty
four hours. Several persona are reported
frozen to death. Pierre, S. D., and
Grand Forks, N. D., each report fatali
ties of this nature.
Winnhtcg, Dec. 4.—The storm con
tinues with unabated vigor tonight.
The only train leaving Winnipeg today
was the Northern Pacific express for St.
Paul. All trains on the Canadion Pa
cific, the Great Northern and North
western are abandoned. The streets
are almost impassable and serious loss
of life iB feared, as tbe mercury is drop
ping. At Delcraine, Mrs. John Peddie
was found this morning frozen to death,
about 400 yards from her home. She
was driving home from market and waß
caught in last night's blizzard. Her
two children were badly frozen.
A Gory Tragedy.
Paris, Dec. 4.—The mother of Baron
Dollard, a high official in the ministry
of War, and her.maid, were found in a
room today with their throats cut. The
old lady, who was 70 years of age, is
dead; the maid is still alive, but in a
serious condition. It is supposed they
are the victims of a murderous plot.
The Melbourne Panic.
Melbourne. Dec. 4.—As the result of
the financial disturbance in this city,
the Standard bank ausDended last night.
Its capital was $500,000. Better feeling
prevails today, and it is thought the
crisis is passed.
Good valueainFine Tailoringa Perfect
Fit, and a large New Stock at 126 W.
Third street. H. A. Get/..
The Union League club has endorsed
the Agnes Booth cigar.
UNDER THE HAMMER
A NAIL.
The following is a plain statement of
facts, not fiction, and need not be taken with
sauce or seasoning ; take 'urn plain, just as
they are intended :
We will offer induce
ments to the purchasing
public through the
coming month that have
never been, never will,
and cannot, be equalled,
by any clothing house
in existence today.
Read that over again and commit it to
memory, for we will quote prices on clothing
that will cause our name to be handed down,
to coming generations as Benefactors of
the Present Day.
Visit Our Store, That's All.
lew Golden Eagle (Mhg Bouse,
ADLER k FRANK, Props. ED. B. WEBSTER, Manager.
Corner Main and Requena Sts.,
' 4 .... iMPltoll' lltaH-Ti.,-. XT" if' •;,'.',-/
UNDER U. S. HOTEL.
FOUR POINTS&
-$f ON fc
-)|OUR COMPASS!
We will be glad to latest styles. If you have not de _
have you inspect our [mjj oided upon your Christ
line of dainty Christ- , jul H rrias presents, you will
9) M
mas presents. Our H 1 find what you want in
stock is well selected £ a—in Tr^S =, >5 our exa . u > B i te assort
and varied, and well £ cKC-IL 1 ™""""" ~"""""iJc!f3 g ment of holiday goods,
worthy of an examina- g m Don't wait until the
tion. You can find J k line is broken, but come .
what you want in the • Djy at once and inspect our .
wa y o{ LARGE ASSORTMENT. stock of
EASY CHAIRS RUGS
FANCY TABLES PORTIERES
LOUNGES LACE CURTAINS
DINING CHAIRS DRAPERIES
HAT RACKS CARPETS
No matter whether you buy or not, you will find our salesmen obliging and
accommodating, and willing to show goods. No sour looks at our store.
BAILEY & BARKER BROS.,
THE BUSY B'S,
326-330 SOUTH MAIN STREET.
SOME OF THE REASONS WHY
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Its total payments to policy holders exceed the combined payments of the next
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FIVE CENTS.