The Chandler Tribune (Chandler, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 95, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 29, 1907 Page: 3 of 4
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BOMB THROWER KILLS
CASHIER AND HIMSELF
IN PHILADELPHIA BANK I
the nitroglycerin’s force was hurled
flat upon the floor, many beneath
crashing, cutting showers of heavy
glass from the skylights and parti-
tions, some beneath the desks at
which they had been sitting a second
before.
Not only from the bank’s quarters,
but from all over the building came
cries of terror and shouts of warning.
Men and women raced out through
_sfs
fright. Pedestrians stopped in amaze-
ment as they heard the great “boom’'
and saw fugitives with bloody faces
and hands pouring from the building.
In the terrific explosion both Me-
Lear and the bomb-thrower were in-
stantly killed. A negro messenger
named William Crump, who was try-
ing to eject the stranger, had both his
eyes blown out and was fatally in-
jured. A dozen or more employes and
patrons were severely hurt and the
entire first floor of the bank was
wrecked.
The cashier’s body was torn limb
from limb, ftoth legs were blown off,
one arm was blown from Its shoulder;
half the head was all that remained.
Of the bomb-thrower so little was
left that a waste basket contained all
that was later taken to the morgue.
He was literally shattered to atoms.
The only thing that remained intact
about his body or his clothing was a
little brass name plate attached to a
bunch of keys, which was found near
a strip of blue cloth that had been
part of his trousers. The words “U.
Steele, Garner, la.,” were inscribed
upon the plate. Through this clew it
building a desk la sp office directly
over the bank was completely upset
and the employes panic-stricken. A
medley of bells sounded all through
the building as telephone bells in each
office began to tinkle under the vibra-
tion of the building and chimes sound-
ed on every side. The news stand in
front of the bank was mixed up,as
badly as though it had been turned
upside down. Papers, books and mag-
azines were scattered everywhere.
It was an hour before anything like
order was restored. Some of the bank
officials and clerks actually did not
know they were injured until friends
or strangers pointed out their wounds.
The bank’s telephone system was
thrown out of order by the explosion
and the attaches ran all aver the
neighborhood, bloody and disarrayed,
seeking ’phones over which they could
let their families know that they were
safe.
Eugene Mcllhone, secretary to the
second vice president, who was caught
almost in the center of the explosion s
radius, recovered consciousness before
aid reached him, and then walked
about for five minutes, dazed and help-
less, before he discovered that the in-
dex finger of his right hand had been
blown completely off.
Crowds/numbering thousands gath-
ered in Fourth street, in front of the
building; in Harmony street, to tho
south of it, and in Orianna street, up-
on which the rear windows face.
Along both these latter streets ghast-
ly relics abounded. In Orianna street
were fragments of glass and wood to
which particles of flesh adhered. Har-
mony street was littered from curb to
was discovered that the man was Rob- j curb with glass and wood, with here
ert Steele, who had left the Iowa town ; and there a bit of brass from the
six years ago for the east, and had ; grillwork. Some of the ultra-morbid
presumably been living with a wife \ took away in their pockets some bits
and three children somewhere in this of the debris as souvenirs,
city then. His identity would probably j All afternoon and evening the Bul-
never have been known for the little litt building was visited by the
brass plate. I crowds. At night the police were still
President Rushton, whom the ; in charge of the bank. The officials
stranger had left only half a minute j were there, too, going over account*
before throwing the bomb, escaped to see that the money and securities
serious injuries, but had several small were Intact. Outside of the two certi-
cuts on his face and hands. First Vice fled checks reported missing, it was
HAVOC BY EXPLOSION.
The Fourth National is the
wealthiest national bank in Phil-
adelphia.
President Rushton is the head
of the Philadelphia Clearing
House association.
Steele, the bombthrower, Is
known in Chicago as an anarchist.
When the demand for money
was refused Steele dropped the
bomb at the feet of himself and
the cashier.
Roth the cashier and the bomb-
thrower were blown to pieces and
scattered over the bank.
The interior of the bank was
wrecked and money and blood
blown even out the windows.
The police reserves and firemen
were called to prevent looting.
Panic reigned throughout the
eight-story structure and in the
vicinity of the bank.
Philadelphia.—It was just 11:10
o’clock, 20 minutes before closing time
at the Fourth National bank on the
morning of January 5, when a tall,
dark, unkempt stranger entered the I jngt
hank corridor from the north corridor
of the Bullitt building. Patrons of
the bank—not many in number, for-
tunately—were passing in and out to
make deposits or drafts before noon.
And he drew from his pocket two
photographs, dirty and torn. One was
of a woman, the other a little girl. It
is supposed that they were pictures
of his wife and daughter. The banker
would not take them in his hand and
scarcely more than glanced at them.
They could not be found later.
By now Mr. Rushton was sure that
the man had no legitimate business
with him, so he excused himself on a
plea of considering the security of-
fered, and went around a corner of
the corridor, waving his hand in the
direction of the cashier’s office, to in-
dicate that Crump should conduct the
unwelcome visitor there.
The man was so big and strong that
he would have been a match for the
negro had it come to a physical en-
counter, and probably both Mr. Rush-
ton and Crump unconsciously decided
that the best thing to do was to let
Mr. McLear attend to him. The
watchman had already taken the vis-
itor towards McLear’s office before
President Rushton’s signal.
The cashier was sitting at his desk,
which was behind a waist-high coun-
ter and separated from the main cor-
ridor of the bank only by a law rail-
William McLear was a big,
President Edward F. Shanbacker,
though only a few feet away, was un-
scathed. Second Vice President B. M.
Faires, whose desk is a mere step
from the cashier’s, probably escaped
death only through having been ill
and having stayed at home.
The explosion’s force swept through
every department of the bank and
wrought havoc as it went. In the col-
lateral department, not far away from
where the bomb was thrown. $100,000
worth of valuable securities were
blown from the desks and trays and
were scattered in a twisted, torn mass.
Just outside the waiting room,
which is in the same section of the
bank, a massive brick fireplace, sur-
mounted by a large marble clock, was
said, unofficially, that everything had
been found.
Bomb Thrower an Iowa Man.
Robert Steele, who undoubtedly Is
the bomb thrower who wrecked the
Fourth Street National bank in Phila-
delphia, left Garner, la., six years ago
with his wife and two children, going
to Chicago where he secured employ-
ment. From there he went east and
while he did not correspond with per
sons in Garner it was learned there
I hat he had located in Philadelphia.
While in Garner he ran a harvesting
machine shop in which he was not
overly successful in securing work
He was of a morose, despondent, retir-
hearty, jovial chap, who could handle
any sort of a man without giving him
offense, and could get rid of him with-
out creating a scene
He was a “good fellow” with every-
The clerks and tellers wrere busy to- body, a handsome, likable man. Every
I hank has a man of that type as a val-
uable business asset, a man who rep-
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W.Z MS Lear.
taling up their sheets for the day. The
officers were hurrying to wind up their
business. Scarcely anyone noticed | resented the institution at conven-
the newcomer. tions, banquets and social affairs, who
He had on a dark blue suit of cloth- j by his personality secures and holds
lng, those who saw him remember, the business of the smaller banks in
ragged and shiny from age. He wore ! country towns. That was McLear’s
a black slouch hat. He peered around, place here. He had been with the bank
hesitatingly, and then caught sight of
President Rushton standing near one
of the vaults, which were soon to be
closed. He must have known Mr. :
Rushton, for he did not ask anyone for !
nearly 20 years, had gained for it
much business, and had been pro-
moted upon his merits from one post
to another until not long ago he be-
came cashier when Vice President
the president, but approached him and j Shunbacker took his present place.
si>oke to him Immediately. | Just exactly what happened then
may never be known. A business
man who was not far away saw- Mc-
Lear rise to meet the stranger and a
moment later heard the latter’s voice,
high-pitched and angry. Only the
words “five thousand* dollars” could
be made out. The business man. not
“My name is G. E. Williams,” he j
said, "and I live in the suburbs of j
Philadelphia. I want to know if you
can let me have a loan of $5,000.”
Mr. Rushton saw that the man was |
some sort of a crank, and to get rid of
him, asked that he name his securi- j
ties, which Ihe president would con- j interested in the talk, turned away.
aider before making the loan. At the
same time, Mr. Rushton signalled to
Crump, the watchman, a splendidly
built big negro, who wore a gray uni-
form and to the hank's patrons, was
one of the most familiar figures about
the place.
As the watchman responded. Mr.
Rushton whispered: "Get rid of this
fellow, won’t you, ‘Bob.’ ” addressing
the colored man by the nickname
Crash Heard Blocks Away.
Then came the ripping, grinding
detonating crash. The roar of it was
heard six blocks away. A great puff
of smoke swept upward with the de-
bris and drifted as high as the eighth
or top story of the Bullitt building.
Every pane of glass about the bank
w'as shattered in a twinkling, and
every piece of brass grill work was
which the financial men of the dis- bent and twisted and torn,
trict long ago applied to him. But the A score of desks within a radius of
intruder pressed up close to the presi- ten yards seemed to leap straight in
dent again before Crump could reach j the air. and then drop hack and crash
jj|n) j upon the marble floor. There appeared
Insurance Policy as Security. | to be a sheet of flame in the immedi-
“Mv securities—why, I’ve got a life ate vicinity of the explosion, for some
insurance policy that runs out in five of the desks were blackened and
years." said the stranger. His manner j some curtains and woodwork at the
was hesitating and he stammered
slightly. “I’ll show you some pictures
are worth a lot of money, too.”
eastern end of the inclousre in vhich
McLear had his desk took fire.
Every person within the radius of
the readjustment of the scale of labor
and compensation so that men and
women would receive a like remuner-
ation for like service it would be an
achievement that would bring a prop-
er reward for her labor. It would bo
found that in tho same line of work
in many instances women would re-
ceive more and men less than they
do now—with the fixed standaid that
men are always paid more than wo-
men for equal work. This unequal
pay has led governments, state and
national, and private business enter-
prises into tho employment of many
women, who as a rule accomplish
more and demand less than men.
They are prompt and absolutely relia-
ble in the discharge of duties assigned
them, without questioning the impor-
tance or necessity of them. In conse-
quence men are constantly threaten-
ing rebellion against the employment
of women on the ground that women
can do nothing for the perpetuation of
individual or party supremacy, be-
cause they cannot vote or participate
in political log-rolling.
I do not believe that the organiza-
tion of women’s political clubs ever
materially aided any party. They are
not by nature fitted for the work ex-
pected of political clubs. No self-re-
specting woman could or would en-
gage in canvassing city wards in the
interests of any party candidate, local
or otherwise. Their power lies in a
different direction.
Women, like* men, are always am-
bitious to fill the petty offices of any
organization to which they belong and
aro too jealous of each other to fol-
low the lead of any one woman. They
are not logical and are rarely well in-
formed on the questions which enter
into all political campaigns. They
cannot discuss anything without al-
lowing personal preferences and pre-
judices to enter the discussion. In tho
rivalry for election to the offices of
societies of women everyone has wit-
nessed with much regret unseemly
scrambles and ignoble schemes that
would disgrace even a political dema-
gogue. Frequently these contests, as
in men’s societies, have resulted in
the elevation of the least eligible, be-
cause women of true ability will not
lend themselves to intrigue and dis-
honorable means for advancement.
It should be the ambition of every
woman to be well informed an all sub-
jects, especially those bearing upon
domestic and political economy. She
should be able to give legitimate rea-
sons for her opinions and to defend
them with dignity and intelligence.
Pretensions, unsupported by actual
knowledge, will affect little in the
matter of conversion to one's views or
inducing a following. Brainy women
are apt to be too assertive to accom-
plish their desires or create an en-
thusiasm for any cause they esjKHise.
Women are too honest and too frank
to cope with men in the science and
manipulation of politics.
We believe that woman’s greatest
strength and influence lies in her tact-
fulness and intuitions. She may ho
gratified by seeing her opinions ap-
propriated and manfully defended
provided she makes no sign of recog-
nition of them, for few men will ad-
mit that they are the least impressed
by any theory or suggestion advanced
by a woman.
The women who have wielded tho
most powerful influence over tho mas-
terful minds of tho world have claimed
tho minimum, been tie* most reticent
and Hie least in evidence in the vic-
tories scored. Their keen perceptive
others of their heroic colleagues kept | faculties and intuitive knowledge of
up the warfare until the obnoxious ! human nature are heaven-born gifts,
laws were expunged and much more | an,j the women who have cultivated
What Women
Have Done
in Politics
■» 'Ey cMrs. John cA. Logan r~
Their Crusade Against Unjust
Laws — Women Prime Movers
in all Great Reforms — They
Cannot Cope With Men in the
Manipulation of Politics —
Strength Lies In Tact and
Intention.
—>
(Copyright, 1900, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
(Mrs. John A. Logan Is known and es-
teemed by all Amerieans. AecompanyhiK
her distinguished husband, the me
Inent of all the volunteer soldiers, through
npu
>st prom
volunteer soldiers, througi
the civil war, to her belongs the honor of
establishing the first hospital for sick sol-
diers. From the close of the war till her
,.1'u
;rs. _
husband’s death she was his closest ad
viser In political matters. Since his death
she has retained her prominence before
uence in nulioual
site
the public and her
affairs.)
That women have wielded a power-
ful influence in the political world can-
not be denied when we contrast tho
position she occupied in this country
as late as 1850 with her present stat-
us. There was not a state in the
union which did not bear upon its
statute books most unjust and .un-
righteous laws under which a woman
could be deprived of her property and
subjected to the most outrageous
treatment and literally robbed of her
inheritance through the profligacy and
recklessness of an unworthy husband.
She had no protection against the
cruelty of parent or husband or tho
disposition of anything without her
consent. If she rebelled against their
authority they had the power to de-
stroy her reputation and could take
her children away from her, if she
had any, and they were so disposed.
If the laws did not give them this
power the practice sanctioned and
sustained men in their unjust domina
tion over women.
The unjust rulings of a school board
precipitated Mis Anthony’s rebellion
against the unfair treatment of wo-
men and caused the first movement
for woman suffrage. For a half-cen-
tury Miss Anthony, Mrs. Stanton and
UN/DEHT/nZD PW07V 61/PP06ED TO
HAV£ BflOHGEQ TO
wiped out of existence, not a trace re-
maining of either timepiece or bricks.
Bank Notes Swept Away.
From the desks of the paying teller
and receiving teller the concussion
and consequent rush of air swept at
least $20,000 in bank notes. The clerks
and officials there, as well as those in
the collateral department, forgot their
injuries, heroically, and went to work
at once to rescue the mouev and se-
curities. It was reported that two
certified checks—one for $20,000 and
the other for a still larger sum—were
Wm. Cpump
ing disposition, mixing little with peo-
ple generally.
He believed the world owed him a
living and in numerous letters writ-
ten while he was in Garner said that
the United States owed him a liveli-
hood and that he was going to collect
it though he was having difficulty in
doing so. Because of this attitude he
was considered by many to be men-
tally deranged but was never looked
upon as a dangerous or desperate
man.
After giving up his machine shop he
missing. It was not known whether I poddled patent rrrfdicines for a time.
just and righteous ones enacted.
In some of the states the rigid of
female suffrage has been extended
and women have been chosen to offi-
cial positions, including that of rep-
resentatives in the state legislatures,
and I am proud to say that they have
made good records. It has been grat-
ifying to know that the presence of
women at the polls has had a salutary
effect on the elections. The riotous
disposition which characterized the
balloting on election days, and not in
frequently ended in bloodshed, has
been changed to a holiday occasion
and general good-natured festivities
I hope to see the great improvement
in political methods anticipated and
claimed by the advocates of female
suffrage.
Through the coalition of the various
elements of discord some of these
states had passed into the hands of
irresponsible men without records
which entitled them to fill these post
tions. They have been a hindrance
to all legislation for the welfare of
state or nation. But in the recogni-
tion of the betterment of social and
political conditions it is to be hoped
that the ablest and best of all com-
munities may be brought to the front
and that speedily the highest class of
representatives may come from the
states that have inaugurated woman
suffrage. „
these gifts and have filled the posi-
tions of devoted wives have had the
immeasurable gratification of knowing
they had rendered valuable aid to
their husbands in the realization of
their ambitions by the judicious exer-
cise of them.
There are many brilliant women
who have left an impression upon tho
times in which they lived who havo^
never been wedded except to the spe-
cial cause they have espoused. I am
ready to ascribe all honor to them
and can feel that had the fates de-
creed an eligible copartnership they
would have achieved even greater re-
nown.
Bismarck’s Lucky Number.
Bismarck held that three was tno
perfect number. His own associations
therewith were remarkable. He had
j served three masters. He had three
names: Bismarck. Schoenhausen and
Lauenberg. lie was concerned in three
j wars and signed three treaties of
peace In the Franco Prussian war ho
| had three horses killed under him.
• He brought about the meeting of three
[ emperors and was responsible for tho
! triple alliance. He had three children,
1 ids family motto was "In trinitate ro-
lntr” (strength in trinity) and con-
temporary caricatures pictured him
! with three hairs on his head.
Came Home Out of Curiosity.
- A Springfield man whose wife wa9
The most ungenerous must confess • away on a visit became tired of "bach*
that behind all great reform move- jrig” and hit upon a plan to induct her
ments in this country women have ! to return, says the Kansas City Star,
been the inspiration and most potent | He sent her copies of the local papers
they were destroyed, blown out of the
building, or stolen in the excitement.
So terrific was the force of the ex
plosion that the dead cashier's watch,
a heavy, gold hunting-case timepiece,
was bent from Its flat shape into the
form of a horseshoe. A flat, mashed
piece of gold found upon the floor |
near where the bomb was thrown was
identified as a ring he had worn. ( She-
Whole Building Shaken. like himself, don’t you think?
As high up as the fifth Ikmr of the j is dead.—Puck.
Steel was 25 years old. He has a
brother, Charles Steele, living at
Klemme, la.
Steele’s widow end family live at
1770 North Ashland avenue, Chicago,
His father, now dead, was an active
Socialist.
Accounted For.
Mr. Dudleigh is looking more
force. In religion, temperance, social
j and municipal reforms women have
been the primary and untiring work
ers; to them much is due for the high
moral and religious standard of our
progression and Christian civilization.
In the education of the masses women
have been most conspicuous; a ma-
jority of the teachers in the public
Bchools are and always have been wo-
men. This daily contact with the
youth of the country bus given them
tho largest opportunities for the
guidance of their pupils into channels
of the highest moral rectitude and
patriotism. Next to the mothers the
public school teachers are the most
potent influences in the land.
If they go further and accomplish
I with some items clipped out. The
I scheme worked admirably'. In less
' than a week she was home to find out
! what it was that had been going on
that her husband didn’t want her to
know about.
Fine Speeches Accounted For.
John Bright was once asked how it
j was that Pitt made one of the finest
! speeches after drinking two bottles of
| port. John Bright was as usual equal
I to the occasion. Ho pointed out that
| verbatim reporting was unknown in
those days and he suggested that the
i other members of the house, on whoso
opinion Pitt’s reputation largely de-
pended, had probably drunk three but*
1 ties.
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Smith, G. A. The Chandler Tribune (Chandler, Okla.), Vol. 6, No. 95, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 29, 1907, newspaper, January 29, 1907; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc915305/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.