Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1880-09-01
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.
The Quinn Hosting Works De-
strOyed-The Waterman Fright
fully Burned.

was seen oyer Spring Valley about
in the direction of the Quinn
mine. In few minutes afterwards
q bright fash was observed, followed
in short time by the sound of a
heavy explosion. The force of the
shock was so great as to jar houses
in this city.
The Quinn hosting works had
taken fire, and nearly three boxes of
Hercules powder had exploded.
Since the Quinn mine was attached
a short time since, there has been no
person around the works at night ex-
cept Victor Laundry, the Waterman
and keeper.
James A. Waddell, who lives in
the Quinn boarding house, was sitting
at table writing when the explosion
occurred. He Immediately rushed
out aud saw that the works were
COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED.
The boarding house is situated
about 100 yards from the works,
and Mr.. Waddell could see fire scat.
tered around the ground in different
directions, where it had been thrown
by the explosion. He ran to the
hosting works and found Victor
Laundry struggling inside, badly
burned and unable to get out. He
tore his burning clothes from him
as soon as possible, and after great
exertions managed to get him to the
boarding house.
When Mr.. Waddell first arrived at
the scene Of the accident the whole
building had been destroyed by the
explosion, but there was not much
fire except at the east end of the mine.
His first attentions were given to
Laundry, who was crazed by pain,
and unable to make an effort to save
himself. Had he not been obliged
to neglect the fire in order to save
Laundry's life, considerable proper
ty could have been saved from the
fire, as everything was so scattered
that it could have been controlled
US it was, tine building had to be neg
lected, and everything in the vicinity
was destroyed except small pile OF
lumber.
Laundry was horribly burned, hav-
ing been almost roasted from head Il
foot. The skin is blistered from
nearly every portion of his body
even the fingers and toe nails having
come off. His raw fingers grasped in
their spasmodic clutch masses OF
loose skin and flesh which had not
become entirely separated.
As soon as the light was seen, par
ties started to lend what assistance
they could, but when they arrived
nothing could be done.
Mr.. Augustine, Of Walter & Co.,
took DIR. Burgi out ia his buggy, and
had wagon sent out to bring Laun.
dry home, but his condition was so
low that it was thought dangerous
to remove him.
THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE
Could not be ascertained, but there is
no doubt thatit was burning some
little time before the explosion,
Some Hercules powder, about two
and three quarter boxes, and a guam.
tity of caps had been placed in the
building a few days before, and were
stored on the east side near the shaft.
1t is said by some that there were
about 25 pounds of black powder al
so in the building. Laundry was un.
able to spesk intelligibly concerning
it, and the origin of the fire will
probably remain unknown. The
building was torn away almost level
with the ground, and some portions
of the roof were thrown more than
100 yards down the load towards the
Mound House. Mr.. Waidell's house
was violently shaken, but received no
damage. Mrs. Waddell rushed
towards town for assistance, and
overexerted herself to such an extent
that she was quite i'll afterwards.
THE SHAFT ON FIRE.
As nothing could be done for some
time towards extinguishing the flames
they gradually BAD over the mine
aud communicated to the timbers in