The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-08
SIXTEEN ARE DEAD.
The Spokane Horror Slowly
Adds to the List.
MANY MEN STILL ARE MISSING.
Three Hundred Pounds OF Dynamite Kx-
pIoded by sheer Csrslsssness Cause
of ali the Sorrow.

SPOKANE FALLS, Sept THE men who
were engaged In the work of rescuing the
unfortunate victims Of last evenings awful
explosion were compelled TO quit at Ii
O'Clock last night because of their too near
presence to i've other blasts that might be
accidentally exploded. Up 10 that time
fourteen bodies had been taken out OF the
mass Of rocks and there were yet twenty
seven men not yet accounted for.
II IL believed now that the premature
blast was caused by some ones careless
ness. It Is custom to prepare blasts and
charge them at the hours of IL and 8. and
after the men have left work and gone TO
places of safety to shoot them. In this
case one blast had been prepared and Fore
man Mcpherson was preparing the second.
Either the rock was too hot from the drills,
or else tamping exploded it, and that ex-
plosion also set of the first blast.
A man who was drilling was blown to
atoms, as well as Mcpherson and some
others. Some who stood at the tamper es-
capped, although 10000 cubic feet of rock
were hurled hundreds Of feet in every di-
rection.
Another man who was near the deadly
blast. and who was supposed to be dead.
was seen shortly after the explosion in a
half-crazed condition. walking around with
his clothing torn TO shreds.
Blasts are 80 arranged that the rock is
thrown from the hill toward a cut. Not
anticipating . blast, about thirty men
were under the cliff when the explosion
came. Great masses of rock and earth
we're raised in the air and pitched over
into the cut. burying the men beneath its
awful weight. None of them had time to
run. but few escaped In a miraculous
manner.
A hundred men were at work in adjsin-
ing cuts and at once rushed to the scene
and began the work of rescue. From the
huge mass Of debris groans and shrieks is
sued, and the air was filed with appeals OF
the wounded and dying. In half an hour,
however, all was still except the noise
made by the workingmen with their picks.
The dreadful explosion of dynamite was
the aIl-engrossing topic of conversation in
the city today. Curiosity led hundreds to
visit the scene of the accident Eager
crowds watched the work of removing the
immense amount of rocks thrown down by
the explosion into the cut below, under
which most Of the bodies OF those killed
are found.
The scene Of the explosion presented q
fearful appearance. On top of the ledge of
rock where the unfortunate foreman,
James Mcpherson, was tamping the blast
by the explosion of which SO many were
hurled into eternity, deep hole was exca-
waited, and 1t Is estimated $50 cubic feet Of
rock and earth were hurled upon the un-
fortunate men directly beneath in the cut.
The explosion was . terrific one, il being
stated that 150 pounds OF dynamite were in
each of the two blasts discharged.
Although large force was kept at work
until all the rock dislodged by the prema-
ture blast was removed, no more bodies
were found.
The number Of dead found last night
was fourteen. In addition to these one
man died from the effects of his injuries at
the hospital today, and 1t also is reported
that two others, badly injured, have died at
their homes during the day.
Many Of those injured were so badly hurt
that recovery Is almost impossible.
The general foreman. Charles Bolt, states
that forty-two men were in the gang work.
Ing on the cut In that ledge. OF that mum.
Der fifteen are dead, eight In the hospital
and It has so far been impossible to deter
mine the Whereabouts Of the other
nineteen men. or these many sup
posed TO be hurt will probably be
present at roll call tomorrow. Until then
the number missing cannot be determined.
The funeral services will be held tomor-
row at 10 O'Clock at the morgue over the
remains of the fifteen already dead and q
public burial will be given.