Mohave County miner., 1886-08-15
letter frsa sssekts. risii.
srocurss NIL, A.s io.h, 1885.
Editor MnKs:

II II q
| Un.friday last about naon ths
inhsbitants Of this c,mp Ssrs startled by
a ioad report from the vicinity OF The
Prince George mine. In a few seconds
twenty or thirty inoE wsrs At the mine snd
| quickly ascestainsd that the Fea2r. aro-s
from the explosion of quan ntity OF giant
powder in the mine. On entering the mine
. miner named Fleming was found near the
mouth Of the tunnel, blinded and badly
bruised. Willing hands quickly carried
him to the oompany's Office while others
entered the tunnel 10 ascertain the extent
Of the damage. They found Ininer namsd
O'Brien badly shaken up and bruised, and
another ons, named Wilson, stunned.
The Prince George mine is located about
three hundred Yards from she toy If Stock
ton Hill, and about twenty A,nsrs are ON.
ployed gu il as present. A shaft is sunk to
ths dsptb of 81 feet aud tanasl ia run IN
about 100 feet 10 connect with il, and a
winzs sboot GO feet deep has bcsn sunk at
the end OF the tnnnsl. At the time Of the
explosion mos. Of the miners we're out for
lunch, and bat for this many Of them must
have been killed.
After Fleming had Sufficiently recovered
to make a statement. he said; was at
work ia tle winzs with o'Brion. We had
just pat d,wn six holes, whom went 1, the
magazine to make priInsr1 and fix eartrid-
gss Of Vuiein powder to fire the holes. !
had made Eve primers and startsd on the
sixth whsu saw spark of fire in SONS
sswdnst that was scattered on the floor Of
tho magazine, (the magazine Is . short
drift run on from the main tunnel ana
ussd for storing pswder, candles, fuse. etc.
l pot ny hand on the FIRE, but II at once
started into blaze and commenced to run
over the floor. threw down my primers
and ran for the mouth Of the tunnel, dis
tance Of about 30 feet. aad a. l looked back
for moment this explosion came, and the |
nexs knew was that Was in the hands Of
friends, blind and badly hurt. ..E
Your correspondent next interviewed MT. |
Wilson who made the follow ing statement: |
was at the windlass over the winze wait. |
ing to lower Fleming TO shoot of the holes'
below. Whom beard his footsteps turn
towards the maga zine when | saw fash |
of fire, and the next instant heard Fleming,
crying "firsr' in an excited manner.
called to O'Brisn to look ont and threw my
50 II headlopg behind pillar Of ore aid lay
close TO the floor. Within three seconds
after the slsrm the explosion came. ! wss
8 tunned ard badly bruised and my clothes
torn Of me. I rose 10 my feet. but the g's
and fumes of the powder overpowered me-,
a nd fell to the floor and lay there until
|. be boys carried me ou:. Mr.. Wilson said
further: '.f you don't believe was badly
handled, although my life was spared, yen !
try lying down within forty feet of the az
plosion Of so pounds Of No. ] Vulcan and
see how you feel
O'Blien, who was in the bottom OF tbe
wirze, braeed himself as well AZ be could, |
but WAS knocked down py the concussi,n
and stunned, but he soon recovered enough |
to climb put Of the wiazs. !
About 80 pounds Of No. Fuloan powd,st |
exploded in all, destroying several hundred
feet Of fuse and several boKss Of candles. |
Tie ore around the magazine Was badly |
shaken up, tjmbers we're thrown down, ths
displaced and the shed over the
main shaft blown OF and broken up; but she
damage will probably not exceed 500.
Fleming was badly burned and bruised and
his eyes IN, both closed, but at this writ
ing he is improving and is now considered
ont Of danger. DIR. Livingstone, Of King /
man. is doing all he Gan for the wounded,
and tie work in the mine goes right along
as though nothing had happened.
MIsEH.