The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1881-07-16
FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE STAR.


a messenger arrived from the Star
mine with the Intelligence that a
dreadful accident had occurred there,
and desiring immediate medical as
~sistance. In company with Drs.
Tufford and Hagar a NEWS reporter
proceeded to the mine, and arriving
there found the sad report to be too
true. The mangled body of Thomas
McGrath had just been hoisted from
where the accident occurred, and
Robert ~Sargentson, his companion,
lay in the Office, terrible shocked and
bleeding profusely about the face and
head. His body shook SO violently
from the fearful shock received that
all that could be done for him
at that time was to administer suck
stimulants as might calm his nerves
and restore circulation to the shat
tered system. 1t seemed impossible,
and the physicians did not think it
desirable, just at this time, to ascer-
tain his real condition and the chances
in favor of his recovery, and the loss
of his sight, if he survived, seemed
almost inevitable.
How this fearful accident occurred
Is not exactly known, but is one of
the many which seem 10 be SO intim-
ately connected with the hazardous
vocation of the miner. McGrath and
Sargentson were working on the 30
level, and the former went TO the
powder box, which contained twelve
giant cartridges, to prepare a charge
for a hole he had ready. VIM. Aims
coli, who worked in a drift near by,
and ~conversed with the deceased a few
seconds before the explosion, thinks
that the only reasonable theory for
the explosion is, that in attacking the
cap to the fuse, McGrath must have
used his knife and in some way struck
the cap. The powder box was nailed
up to the side of the drift and the un-
fortunate man stood close up, facing
1t. One arm was blown off and the
upper part of the body fearfully man
gled. ~Sargentson was some little dis
lance OIL, and lower down in the drift.
Ainscotf, as soon as he recovered
from the shock, went To the assist
ance OF his comrades, but Was suffo-
Gated by the smoke, and came near
losing his life. He crawed out, and
was able to give the alarm, when re-
lief came to his rescue.
In the Afternoon S%argentson and the
~lifeless body of McGrath were brought
to town. The former was taken to
Mr.. Browns clearinghouse and made
as comfortab BILE as medical skill and the
tender care of kind friends could do.
McGrath's body was taken to the I'M
dertaker's and an inquest held, which
brought out the following facts, leav-
ing the real cause of explosion as much
"A mystery as ever:
CoRoSER's INQUEST.
State Of Nevada, County of White Pine.
In the matter Of tho inauisition upon the
body OF Thomas ctirath. deceased.
Mm. Ainscof, being duly sworn, Opposes
and says: My occupation Is a minor; reside
IN Cherry Crock. AT half-past b O'Clock 1
was working in the Star mine, on the 10
level; | had just charged a hole with powder;
MeGarth was working in a stope ABOUT -
feet above me; MeGrath came to where l
was working 10 get powder; he asked me
what time ii was; 1 told him il was 70 minutes
TO 10 o'clock; he asked me to wait and he
would fire with me. lie then told me he was
tired of mining and intended to 20 10 the
Yellowstone, and then passed on. In two or
three minutes after no left l heard an explo-
sion. As quick as | could light my candle |
went TO where the explosion took place and
found Thomas McGrath PROSTATE on the
ground; / went to lift him up, but fonnd him
dead. | then went to Robert Sargentson, who
was badly hurt. | then called fJr help,
and the deceased, Thomas Meurath, was car
ried out Of the mine. | have been working
with the deceased for the last two or three
weeks, and am slightly acquainted with him.
This is all L know about the matter. De-
ceased told me that he was about 30 years of
age. Robert Sargentson was found about 10
feet from diseased. Ny opinion is that the
explosion was caused by deceased putting a
cap on a piece of fuse.
Maurice Fitzgerald. being sworn, deposes
and says i am acquainted with the de-
ceased, Thomas Mc6rath: have known him
about six months; he has told me that he was
born In South Troy, New York, and that he
was about 81 years Of age.
VERDICT Of THE JURY.
We, the undersigned jurors, summoned to
appear before j. IL. Lander, Justice of tho
Peace, and ex-ofiicio Coroner of the town OF
Cherry Creek, White Pine county, Nevada, at
his office, on the 10th day of July, 1881, to in
ouire into the cause of the death of Thomas
McGrath, having been duly sworn according
to law, and having made such inquisition,
aftor inspecting the body and hearing tho tes-
timony addnced, each and all do say that We
find the deceased was named Thomas Nc