'A wireless message received at the American Consulate last Friday, and private telegrams despatched to various banking houses in Shanghai, announced that a disastrous explosion had occurred in Wall Street, New York, According to available information, the explosion occurred in the financial centre, from -ome cause not at present determined. A number of people were killed and many injured. The explosion apparently occurred during the busiest part of the day when the street was crowded with office workers, and tragic scenes were witnessed. The pavement was "lifted" by the force of the explosion, and the scene presented after the explosion is said to have resembled a battlefield. Several men and women were found lying beside the carcases of horses in the street. Some of the bodies were hopelessly mutilated. The Stock Exchange was used as a temporary hospital.
The Assistant District Attorney is reported as saying that the affair could not have been an accident. A strong guard was thrown round the explosion area whilst the police searched the debris and the wounded were being attended to. The Police Bureau has announced discovery of a black box, about 1 ft. square, bound with wire, and containing two clocks set for explosion at 4.30. At the time the message was despatched, 12 bodies had been recovered. The damage done is estimated at $2,500,000.
Private advices state that the New York silver market was closed on Thursday on account of the explosion, which presumably took place about noon on that day. There has been some anxiety locally as to the probable effect on the silver market here, but up to the time of writing the market does not seem to have been affected.
According to the message quoted above, the Governors of the Stock Exchange announced that the Exchange would re-open on Friday.
Appauttne Scene or Destruction.
Telegraphing on September 16, Reuter's New York correspondent says:—
A mysterious explosion occurred in' Wall Street to-day as the result of which a number of persons were killed and injured. Down town, New York was filled with the usual hustling throng of office workers when an explosion was heard in Wall Street. What had happened is not clear, but the sight that met the eyes of those who rushed to the scene was the street strewn with the bodies of men and wouien and the carcases of horses and the pavement covered with broken glass and running with blood. The bodies of the victims were conveyed to Morgan House and the Consolidated Stock Exchange, where the work
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