The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-08-14
NO ONE WAS KILLED
But Giant Powder Was Exploded
With Intent 10 Murder.
THE WHOLE TOWN TREMBLED
Vicious Attempt to Blow Up Mine
Foreman and House In Which
Wore Several Women and
Children In Basin.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Basin, Mont, Aug. i3,-This morning
at |: As the town was aroused by a loud
explosion that shook every house 10 its
founda;io In an attempt TO blow up
Martin Buckley, the foreman of the
Hope mine. The house is a small frame
structure, 100 feet south Of the North
ern Pacific depot. and 1t is occupied by
Martin Buckley. his wife and three
children. John Buckley, the shift boss
OF the Hope mine, his wife and two
children, and, at the time OF the ex-
plosion, Miss Maggie Lynch, a sister-in-
law, all OF whom were lying soundly
asleep In their beds. The fiend, whoev-
er he was. placed about 10 sticks of
powder on the east side and close to
the building. Martin Buckley lives in
the basement. which is built on the
slope Of the hill. and 1t is thought that
the powder was placed right where
Martin Buckley was sleeping. When
the powder won't of 1t tore out por-
ton OF the center OF the building. and
had It been placed closer to where
Buckley was then sleeping, only 10 or
Is feet from where II went of. II would
have killed him. his wife and the little
children that were in the same room;
or had the ground been frozen or the
foundation been of solid material. the
explosion would have killed every one
of those living In the house at the
time.
The explosion was distinctly heard
by nearly every one in Basin, anS
caused many 10 leave their beds 10 In
quire the cause. a great many thought
that one OF the powder magazines be-
longing to one Of the big mines had
exploded, or that a boiler had burst.
The concussion broke many windows
in the town and shook the plastering
In many buildings and damaged a num-
Der OF the largest OF them. The one
sustaining the greatest injury was the
Basin hotel run by Mrs. John Lynch.
The Hope company has taken steps TO
apprehend the fiend who perpetrated
the deed. The company will offer re-
ward, the amount OF which the stock
holders are at this writing deciding,
Manager Fletcher Of the company be-
ing In telephone communication witt,
them.
An the law-abiding people Of this
community are wild at the deed. and
there is not a particle Of doubt that II
there was the least circumstantial evil
dence against any one, It would fare
hard with him. as, from the discus
sions that are INDUCED in on street
corners by the people OF Basin. he
would swing up to the first tree inside
of 10 minutes. Officers Wall and Barry
are attempting to ferret out every
thing in connection with the rascality
and 1t is probable the company will
have a force of men able to bring them
to Justice. Thus far there has been nc
clue as to who did the deed. a crowd
commenced to assemble early in the
morning, which obliterated every foot
print, and all that remains Is an old
tin foot-tub in which the powder was
brought in, and thrown away at the
scene OF the destruction.
There is a deep-seated feeling amons
the whole population over the explo'
sion. II was only miracle that the
little children Of the family, consisting
OF 10 persons, we're not all blown "a
DltCtS. ~ lElllE ilipit w HtRfNa'
ly placed would have spread destruc'
ton In every household in this town to.
day.
About 1890 a. m. Just as the might
shift was going on, after lunch, In
the Hope mine. the one in which Mar.
tin Buckley is the foreman. Sport" q
bulldog belonging TO Zeph Lagasse fel
down the shafi or was thrown down
and his life was smashed out OF him.
4 Later-The Hope company has Issued
the following: "A reward Of Ave hun
dred dollars will be paid by the under
signed for Information that shall lead
to the arres. and conviction Of the per
son or persons who caused the powdei
TO be exploded under the dwelling ol
Martin Buckley In Basin, Mont. on th'
night of August Il. 1895.
Basin Mining & Concentrating com
pany."