The record-union., 1892-07-19
DEATH IN THE FIELD.
Fatal Explosion of a Threshing Ma
chine Engine.
Joseph Sanders and John Merrion
Killed-Tom Butler Loses
Leg-Others Hurt.

Thomas Gomez's grain field on the
Rancho del Paso, about two miles east OF
the old Marysville road, was yesterday
the scene of one Of the most terrible acci-
dents that has occurred i'll this county
for many years, by which two men lost
their lives and several others were badly
injured, resulting from the explosion of
an engine used for running a threshing
machine.
The threshing outfit was being operated
by Joseph Silva assisted by the usual
number of men. In starting up the
thresher it was necessary for several of
the hands to take hold of the big belt rum
ming from the engine to the machine, and
while engaged in so doing yesterday
afternoon the boiler of the engine ex-
ploded with terrible force.
Joseph Sanders, who worked the der
rick-fork, was one of those who received
the full force OF the explosion, and was
instantly killed, nearly every bone in his
body being crushed.
John Merrion, feeder of the threshing-
machine, had portion OF his head torn
away, and lived but few minutes
Both bodies We're terribly scalded and
blackened.
Archie Wilkes, the engineer, had his
left arm badly torn, and his feet severely
scalded by the boiling water which flew
In all directions.
Manuel silva, the fireman, was also
scalded about the feet and legs
Tom Butler, the separatOr-tender, sus-
tanned terrible injury his right leg be-
ing broken and mangled.
When the explosion occurred Silva. the
fireman, was engaged in cleaning the
flues of the boiler. The men say they
cannot account for the explosion, as there
was but ll0 pounds Of steam on, which
they seemed TO regard as light pressure.
Just as the boiler burst there were
eight men but short distance away,
coming TO the thresher with grain from
| the header Had the explosion occurred
minute later, when all the men and
teams would have been gathered about
the engine, the result would have been
even more terrible.
The scene in the vicinity of the explo-
sion just after it occurred is said to have
been most painful one. The men lay
about killed or disabled until others came
to the assistance Of the injured and con-
Veyed them to this city. whence thev
We're taken out to the County Hospital for
treatment.
The engine was thrown clear on top Of
the threshlng machine, badly wrecking
the latter.
rs SpOh eS JOoSlbl6 Il tclGf fJnOue mes
sage was sent in from Superintendent
John Macley's house, and Coroner
Clark and his deputies fastened to the
scene and brought to the city the bodies
Of the two men who were killed.
Sanders, one Of the dead, was a son-in-
law Of Silva, a welI-known resident of
Freeport, while Merrion was a single
man.
Mr.. Mackey and the attaches of the
Rancho del Paso did all in their power
for the injured men, and Mr. Mackey ac-
companied them to the city.
At a late hour last night word was re-
ceived from the County Hospital that the
surgeons had just amputated Thomas
Buffers leg above the knee. His son
and other relatives We're in attendance on
him. Butler is well known in this
county, having lived for long time in
the vicinity of Antelope.
Wilkes, another of the injured men, is
the man who was with Charles Freeman
the night the latter killed Mark Feeney,
and on whose testimony Freeman was
| Uipta6