Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-26
A TERRIBLE ACClDEgT.


a correspondent OF the RECORD UNION,
writing from Rowland Flat, Sierra county,
under date of January ooh, gives these
details of the late accident there. He
says: During the afternoon of the 10Th
instant blast OF - pounds of giant pow
| der had been set off in the top section of
the Bonanza shaft, which is down l02 feet,
to connect with the lower section of the
shaft, which is up 254 feet, the two Sec
tons having been brought very near to-
gether, as had been previously ascertained
by sounding. Three men were on the
ground at the mouth of the shaft on the
mountain when the blast was set off, but
one, being sick, went home. After wait
ing half an hour or so for the gas and
smoke to clear away, John A. Mcdonald,
one of the two men left, determined
to go down the ladder, though L.
ID. Davis, the other man, strongly
urged him not to do so, as he
(Davls) had already been down part way
and had been obliged to return on account
OF the gas and smoke. Regardless of this
remonstrance Mcdonald went down and
stirred mp the debris occasioned by the
blast. He Immediately signaled to Davis
to be hoisted, but on being hoisted about
fifteen feet fell out of the hosting tub,
being insensible as is supposed. Davis
then went down the ladder to render assist
ance, but could not endure the gas and
smoke. He assembled and went with all
haste down the mountain to the Bonanza
Company's works, half mile distant, for
help. Crowds of men Immediately ran up
the mountain to render all the assistance
in their power. William Lucas descended
the ladder, but soon called for help as he
was fainting then George E. Rolfe de-
scended, and then Antoine Brown and D.
B. Russell went down, but Russell soon re-
turned, bringing out with him Brown, who |
was insensible, but soon recovered. |
Charles Hughes was now dashed to |
the hosting tub and let down. In the |
meantime air had been forced into the shaft |
with pair of bellows and a rubber hose.
Hughes succeeded in sending out the three |
men, one after another, but when raised to
the surface they were found to be dead.
The three were found embracing each other
at the bottom of the shaft. Hughes now
signaled to be hoisted, but when ND the |
shaft about fifty feet the hosting gear gave
way and he was precipitated to the bottom
of the shaft, calling out while going down,
"Oh, boys!" several times. j. NJ. Skin
ner was now let down by rope to render
assistance to Hughes, whom he succeeded |
IN bringing out alive, but sadly though |
not fatally injured, according to the opin-
ION OF DR.. Mussey, who had been
telephoned to, and was soon on the ground. |
Hughes has no bones broken. and is in a |
fair way to recover. The killed are John |
A. Mcdonald, native of Nova Scotia, |
aged % years; George E. Role, native !
of Nova Scotia, aged % years, and William
Luras, a native OF Sierra county, Cal, |
aged 20years. 1t was about 5 o'clock P. NJ |
when the first nan fell into the shaft, and |
about s o'clock P. NJ. when Hughes sue
ceeded in sending out the three dead |
bodies. In addition to the casualties
already mentioned, number of other men |
who went down the shaft came out. or
were brought out, in nearly an insensible |
condition, and had to be carried nome.
Parties have left to-day with McDonald's |
body for San Francisco, where
his relatives reside. The bodies of |
the other two will be buried here |
tomorrow. Alexander McNee, the |
superintendent OF the NINE, was IN the |
diggings when the alarm was given, but |
Immediately went to the scene of the dis
aster and rendered all the assistance in his |
power. To-day all business is suspended,
and gloom such as never has heretofore
prevailed in these parts has settled over
this entire community. The Bonanza
Company are indefatigable in their efforts
to relieve the distress of the bereaved |
friends and relatives of the deceased. The |
killed were all able-bodied and intelligent
young men, and their loss is deeply and
sincerely deplored by all