Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-12-12
THE s'DIABOIICAL DEED
what Hamilton and HIS N~etEhbOrs
Gny Ahnuf IL.

On Saturday morning last the SENTTNEi
published an item under the head o
"a Diabolical Deed" relating TO an al
legged attempt to ssssssinate a minel
known as 'Doc" Hamilton, in thu
n~eighborhood of Secret Canyon, by put
ting giant powder into a drill-hole dur
ing the night, which exploded when Ham
ilton resumed work tho next morning
Mr.. Hamilton gave these particulars him
self to a number of persons about Secret
Canyon, and the question arose as to who
could be guilty OF such a diabolical deed
Hamilton is further said to have stated
that the ground he was working to put in
the required assessment was in dispute,
which was supposed to have given y clue
of the parties who were interested in the
presumed attempt to blow him out of ex.
istence.
John Potter, Superintendent of the Sill
yer Prize, one OF The series Of mines
claimed by the British Mill and Mining
Company, came to the SENTINEL Office
yesterday, and complained that the item
had a tendency to reflect upon him and his
men, IS he was working the Silver Prize
WIN tLAee ouheTs, anu HhhullGou hhu
dumped one end Of the claim and
SCRATCHED" about the surface as an indi-
cation that he was doing assessment
work. Mr.. Potter states further thai
Hamilton was in the habit OF going to
work about 9 o'clock in the morn
ing and firing off q blast, evidently
with the intention of attracting the
notice Of the miners of the Silver Prize.
On the morning in question one Of the
Silver Prize men heard the explosion,
but could not see it on account Of inter
vening objects. There was, however, no
outcry as of a man in pain, or any other
unusual disturbance. Nov" says Mr..
Potter, 'how could any man stand over a
drill-hole, hammering away, and escape
instant death from such an explosion as is
said to have taken place, and even break
ing a fopr-ffth-inch drill in twain. The
whole statement looks so absurd that it is
a wonder it finds any credence at all.
Hamilton is apparently trying to create
sympathy for some purpose, but the com
mnnity should be on their guard against
such stories as he has just attempted to
foist upon the public"
A prominent miner from Secret Canyon
also stated that it was impossible for the
reported explosion to have occurred with
out blowing Hamilton TO atoms.
SGNTINEL reporter, learning that Mr..
Hamilton, who is a man of about So years
of age, was at the Jackson House, called
upon him yesterday afternoon to get an
account of the explosion direct. Mr..
Hamilton made the following statement:
Il located on the ground some three years
ago, then known as the Page Il Corwin,
but subsequently the nam was changed
to the Endeavor. H. G. kirkpatrick and
myself were the locators, but Kirk, after
wards disposed of his interest to Tom
Laspeyre, who in turn transferred it to
Tom Wren, and he to M, D. Foley, l
should lave stated that John Potter was
also one of the locators, The owners
0 are Foley, myself and Potter,
but it appears that some differences
have sprung up between Potter and my.
self. l have offered to sell out to him
several times, but he has declined to make
overtures. I do not intimate that he had
anything to do with the explosion, which
occurred very nearly as stated. I left off
work as usual on Thursday afternoon and
returned the next morning to find every
thing apparently in order. l resumed
hammering OF what ] presumed to be the
old drill hole, which was some ten inches
below the main surface, and about ten
in depth. l had broken a drill two
or three days previous, and used one
about two feet in length. I had struck
about three blows when the explosion oc-
1t was 10 doubt a miracle that I
escaped. As YOU may see, the scattering
rock struck me on the right ear and the
calf of my left leg. THE reporter was
shown some scars on the ear and the leg,
but could not tell whether they we're made
by flying rock or some other accident, as
of the scabs were about ready to
drop off. ] went home and dressed my
wounds, and gave an account of the affair
to some persons in Secret Canyon. I had
left a cartridge and a quarter Of giant
powder in the brush near by where the
explosion occurred, and also some caps,
and these were gone when | looked for
them, but | do not know how much pow
der was in the hole"
This statement was ELECTED by frequent
questions on the part Of the reporter. In
to the final query, why his hand
held the drill was not injured, Mr.,
Hamilton stated that the explosion was 40
sudden and bewildering that he could not
for it.
The SENTINEL ia not a Court, and does
pretend to acknowledge either the
or falsity of the statements, and
reported both sides faithfully we
will allow our readers to make up their
minds with regard so the affair. And
With this we drop the subject.