The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-11-23
Death of VIM. H. Rogers.

NSdbA4 Vi w ale 44s RNOkCAos
The saddest accident that the RANGE
in its brief career has been called upon
to chronicle as occurring in this section
OF country, vas that which happened
az the Colossal mine last Saturday even
ing wherein William H. Rogers was
killed. The unfortunate event was the
result Of a premature discharge of a
blast caused by a defective fuse. and
nobody was to blame, but it sent to his
final rest n Of the best boys in every
respect that eve resided in this or any
other country. Rogers had been work
ing with Garfield and Hastings on the
Colossal mine for some time. The
work consisted Of stopping out ore from
the roof of the tunnel and the men
consequently stood on platforms when
putting in shots. On the Saturday
evening there were nine loads to fire
and Rogers and Hastings were splitting
them while Garfield stood down in the
tnnnel watching them. All but INT or
two of the fuses were lit when Can
field noticed that one Of them did not
act right and he told the others to
jump at once, and himself set the ex.
ample. Hastings jumped and lodged
underneath the stulls, but Rogers hes
itated and although it was but for a
single moment, that moment was too
much and when his feet struck the floor
of the tunnel almost in the tracks
just vacated by Garfield. the flying rock
was about him. One piece of a couple
Of pounds weight crushed into the back
Of his skull, and %imbedding itself in
his brain remained fast there. BY the
powder fash Garfield saw the injured
man fall, and although the lights were
extinguished bv the premature dis
charge, the remaining spittings fuse re-
veale his position and needless of the
other blasts about to break forth Char
ley returned and dragged poor Rogers
out of Danger. This was a brave act
for the shot so threatening went off
while he was thus engaged and it IS II
miracle that he escaped serious injury.
Life not being extinct the injured man
was removed to the house and a mes.
senger dispatched for a physician but
he was past earthly help and he only
breathed twice after DR.. Blinn reached
him. There was no consciousness Of
course after the stone broke his skull
and the life that he exhibited during
the two hours or more thereafter ere
he ceased to breathe, was but the clos.
ing vibration of life's pendulum with
the prOpelling force removed. Jack
Farrell volunteered to ride to Engle tC
telegraph the sad event to the relatives
and learn their wishes regarding the
disposition Of the body. He left the
Colossal at about midnight of Saturday
and Monday morning he was back with
the instruction to send the remains tC
San Francisco. Jack made the round
trip in thirty hours going two nights
without sleep. In the meantime the
body was removed to Chloride, and al
one o'clock Tuesday morning it startec
on its journey, johnny Slit and Ward
Grissom taking it to EDgle.
Billy Rogers wa one of the early oc.
cupants Of this country, he having
come to Chloride from Georgetown
nearly three years ago. HE had an IN.
terest in the Lucky Boy and severa
other mining claims of average merit
He was in the 22nd year of his age
only a boy, but he had no superior as q
miner. A quiet. unassumlng younl
man, having none of the vices so com
mon to rovers, with a habit of attend
ing to no ones business but his own
generous and always courteous he wor
the friendship and esteem of everyone
with whom he came in contact, and TIN
mourning at his untimely decease wa
, sincere, and the sympathy extended Il
his sorrowing people in California i
heartfelt and profound, To those low
ing ones the intelligence must hav'
} been crushing, and the burden of grie
! will not soOn be lifted.