The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-04
TWO MORE VICTIMS.
Total Deaths From Canton Slide
Reach Four.
DYNAMITE STAYS ANOTHER.
Inquest to BE Held on the Bodies
Coroner Horizons Opinion-Nar-
row Gauge Train Wrecked.

two of the victims OF the Canton landslide. and
Charles Rodgers, who was killed by an expo
sion of dynamite at Canton yesterday morning.
The three bodies were taken TO Bonney d stew
arts 10 await the action OF the coroner.
Rodgers was sitting by fire the south
bank of Green river thawing out dynamite
cartridge, which he held in his left hand, at
fire. Henry o'Neil, track walker, was stand
ing few feet distant, talking to him. Rodgers
held the cartridge too close to the fire and il ex-
ploded, blowing his left hand off, SCATTERING his
left leg below the knee, tearing the flesh from
all parts Of his body, and filing his chest witE
the fragments
o'Neil was horribly injured ALSO The force
of the explosion drove pieces OF clothing, wood
and tin into bis legs arms and chest. The right
leg was blown to tatters below the knee, neces-
stating amputation just above the knee. The
face was cut, and while the SWOLLEN condition
about the eyes will rot permit examination it is
believed the sight is destroyed. The left arm is
crushed and broken. Just above the heart a
bunch OF muscle is torn out, while the rest OF
the left side, to the sole OF the foot is tattooed
with cuts and bruises. He is unconscious, but
may live. He was taken to Tacoma.
The dynamite was intended to blast great
reef of the rock from the north bank OF the
river across the stream, TO be used in filling in
the roadbed
Coroner Horton said TO a Posr- INrELLIGE
reporter, on his return: "Mr Mcbride and made
-
shall not say anything about the affair
until we have consulted together and with
Prosecuting Attorney Miller, If be returns home
tomorrow, as we expect We shall discuss the
matter together tomorrow and when We have
reached a conclusion as to the facts and the
We shall pursue, We shall be ready to
make the whole matter public. The bodies of
Mclean and Erickson VIII be made the subject
OF an inquest. The death OF Rodgers requires no
inquest; Ii was clearly the result of careless
ness.
''But doctor, in Tacoma you are quoted as say
ing that there were more bodies under the slide"
81 have never said so, either to a reporter or
anybody else" was the reply. There may be
more bodies there and there may not have
said all am going to say about it tonight"
Mr.. Mcbride was unwilling to tell tine whole
story. He said
"Mr. Miller viii be back tomorrow, and ! viii
lay the facts before him. II he does not come
viii take some action myself, though do not
care to say now what will do
Mr.. Mcbride was asked If he thought there
were any aore bodies under the side. He an
swered:
"That is a question that would prefer not TO
answer at present. We did not go up there just
to turn around and come back. 1 visited the
scene of the slide twice and talked with many
OF the worgmen and with the company men. If
Mr.. Miller does not return tomorrow, will tell
you all about what found
Mr.. Mcbride said that forty-two men were at
work yesterday clearing away the earth that slid
down into the river, and force had been at
work all the night before The force OF the
slide had been SO great that one man was thrown
clear across the river ard the track was swept
Off o! the ties Away over in the water a crow
bar and spade can be seen in the water. where
they were thrown by the force OF the avalanche.
The following special dispatch to the Posi-
ISTELLIGENcRR was received from Tacoma hast
night:
The police report Coroner Horton as being
fearful that the Tacoma authorities would de-
maud that the bodies of the dead men be
brought there from the Northern Pacific TO bury
Surgeon Smith ordered an undertakeris van 10
be ready at The depot, and Horton al once noti-
fed smith that the bodies must GO 10 King
county, adding that Ming county had money
though he said the Northern Pacific would will
ingly bear the expense of interment. Horton
said he expected 10 find more bodies at Canton.
telegram was received yesterday afternoon
by Assistant superintendent Nsdeau, of tne
Northern Pacific railroad. from superintendent
Prowcl, of the Cascade division, dated at Cam
ton. stating that the water of Green river is
receding very fast, and had SO far brought TO
view the bodies of Mclean and Erickson.
Both these men were reported missing in the
first accounts OF the accidents. They were
found in the edge OF the river at the west end
OF the slide. The message asked Mr.. Nadeau
10 notify the coroner, and stated that the bodies
would be taken the best care of. Mr.. Naieau
found that the coroner had left yesterday morn
ing for the scene of the accident He then
notified r. K. Mclean, the brother OF d. Nc
Lean. at the simonelh house, on Third, near
Columbia street. who arranged with Bonney &
Stewart to bring the body to the city.
John II. Mitchell attorney for the Northern
Pacific railroad, was in the city yesterday and
stated that he had on the previous evening re-
ceived the following dispatch from d. II. Carey
a hn.,
ern Pacific Company TO Canton to investigate
and report the exact facts OF the matter:
The newspaper reports saying that the COM
pany built its track on the bodies of dead men
and thew rocks on them Is absolutely falsa All
the men say that Immediately after the slide
took place the men were placed ut the water ;
edge, on the debris, who searched the same so
thoroughly to and over the riprapping and
from the latte- 10 the bank, from which the
slide came, aud TO the extent that all were salts
fed. No bodies were found under the same.
The track wss then built on ana the rest of she
slide searched, II the bodies OF any OF the men
under the slide 1t is tnat portion of 1t which
filed part OF the rlvsr bottom.
Nor dirt or rock has been placed on Q portion
OF the slide II the bodies of any oi the men are
under the slide il is that portion OF 10 which
filed part OF the river bottom No dirt or rock
has been placed or any portion OF the = ide not
searched. The river 10 too high and rapid 10
search all OF the slide now. Ii is impossible to
do any work under the waters surface. Ii any
men were lost Il is mos. likely they were carried
away by the current
The slide was about eighty feet wide state
nents differ - TO the possible number of men
working underneath when the bank commenced
10 move. some say ten, others fifteen, twenty.
twenty five. thirty aud thirty five. All caught
the alarm ana started for the sides Eye-Nit-
neSseS say they think that about ten were ear
ried before Il, six Of whom were rescued and
two found dead Eyc-~Itaesses 81 either side
of the slide could not see what number escs pei
the other side when tae slide vas
coming, hence the confusion in their opinion
as 70 the number. They have nothing Ike q
definite idea a. 70 the number having escaped
on the side they were standing on, nor have
those who escaped. The number of men that
were 81 WORK was StXty-two, many Of whom es-
capped sRd immediately let Tor places unknown:
hence 40 record - iett 10 determine Others lost
In the slide. ii any. The rlYer has since sub
sided about four tcet. Very large stumps which
moved with the advancing part o. The slide re-
mgined on top ot the debris IN the river aud
have mostly been submerged by water. Ihs
mtu ana engines have now succeeded in renzov-
ing this, and are now removing the & chris @ha,
was underlying the same. The c0mnauy Is
causing the river 20 De thoroughly searched.
and are proceeding with the excavation as
rapidly the water IN the river Will allow
The slide was net caused hy working the hank
but by the unusual heavy fAsas the iay aud
night before. Aaay statements in t0dsys pa
lVrs are exasgcFAtioRs and without IoUntstso
INTENDED - sappor, previous positions taken by
papers, rather thsu disclose iactS.
Ny Mitchell said OF the accident in al later
view with PosT-lNTELLIGENcES reporter:
Its not sprpF ising that some OF the men ars
III sslng aud unaccouuted Tor, Il thu character
OF the accident and the trssC5erous nature Of
the eGrgeat 81 Green river are taken into con,
kidoFauou. The river - II mountain torrent, 81
rapid thai II would De lmposs lble for diver q
work Ia II, and Is IS probable that the bodies 90
any men " ho were carried gDto the water by thS
slide would he uashed down the stream.
This msy oe made plain hy recalling the fScts
surrounding The death OF Engineer Syphsrs