DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-05-08 Des Moines Register Article: ""Clean Up After Iowa City Blast"" Page 2

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Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-05-08 Des Moines Register Article: ""Clean Up After Iowa City Blast"" Page 2

p. 2 (of 4)
DMR
5/8/71

Offer $5,000 Reward for Iowa City Blast Arrests
By Larry Eckholt
(Register Staff Writer)
IOWA CITY, IA.—The city council of Iowa City has authorized a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for an early morning blast Friday which caused an estimated $3,500 damage to the Iowa City Civic Center.
The explosion was caused by two or three sticks of dynamite set off by a timing device, officials said Friday. The blast left a 12-square-foot hole in a basement wall, damaged a small air conditioner and shattered 15 huge plateglass windows in the city council chambers. There were no injuries.
Tells Damage
After conferring with insurance officials, City Finance Director Joseph Pugh saaid the blast caused no structural damage to the building. He said the hole in the basement should be repaired by Tuesday.
The blast shook the building about 3:45 a.m. while police were processing those arrested in the second night of disturbances in the downtown area involving young war protesters.
Thursday night's disorders were touched off when two Johnson County deputy sheriffs—dressed in what they considered hippie-style garb and wearing wigs—were spotted in a crowd of about 350 persons milling about on the University of Iowa Pentacrest.
When the two undercover agents were identified, a youth playfully grabbed on agent's curly blond wig and tossed it in the air. People swarmed around the agent as the wig was tossed from person to person amid peals of laughter.
The other agent, wearing a floppy black hat over a stringy black wig, tried to fade into the background. Someone shouted, "There he is," as the agent swiftly walked off campus.
Followed Him
Like the Pied Piper, the undercover agent soon found himself being followed by hundreds of young persons, who trailed him into a restaurant where they photographed and teased him.
When he took off his wig, the crowd left. The officer left quietly via a back door, refusing to give his name.
But the crowd—in high spirits—assembled in the intersection of Washington and Clinton streets. Its size steadily grew while student monitors rerouted traffic.
After the gorup had stood in the street a short time, someone shouted, "To the courthouse," and the mass of young persons began a four-block march to the Johnson County Courthouse.
Leaders of the march ignored
IOWA CITY—
Please turn to Page Four

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p. 2 (of 4) DMR 5/8/71 Offer $5,000 Reward for Iowa City Blast Arrests By Larry Eckholt (Register Staff Writer) IOWA CITY, IA.—The city council of Iowa City has authorized a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for an early morning blast Friday which caused an estimated $3,500 damage to the Iowa City Civic Center. The explosion was caused by two or three sticks of dynamite set off by a timing device, officials said Friday. The blast left a 12-square-foot hole in a basement wall, damaged a small air conditioner and shattered 15 huge plateglass windows in the city council chambers. There were no injuries. Tells Damage After conferring with insurance officials, City Finance Director Joseph Pugh saaid the blast caused no structural damage to the building. He said the hole in the basement should be repaired by Tuesday. The blast shook the building about 3:45 a.m. while police were processing those arrested in the second night of disturbances in the downtown area involving young war protesters. Thursday night's disorders were touched off when two Johnson County deputy sheriffs—dressed in what they considered hippie-style garb and wearing wigs—were spotted in a crowd of about 350 persons milling about on the University of Iowa Pentacrest. When the two undercover agents were identified, a youth playfully grabbed on agent's curly blond wig and tossed it in the air. People swarmed around the agent as the wig was tossed from person to person amid peals of laughter. The other agent, wearing a floppy black hat over a stringy black wig, tried to fade into the background. Someone shouted, "There he is," as the agent swiftly walked off campus. Followed Him Like the Pied Piper, the undercover agent soon found himself being followed by hundreds of young persons, who trailed him into a restaurant where they photographed and teased him. When he took off his wig, the crowd left. The officer left quietly via a back door, refusing to give his name. But the crowd—in high spirits—assembled in the intersection of Washington and Clinton streets. Its size steadily grew while student monitors rerouted traffic. After the gorup had stood in the street a short time, someone shouted, "To the courthouse," and the mass of young persons began a four-block march to the Johnson County Courthouse. Leaders of the march ignored IOWA CITY— Please turn to Page Four