The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-17
FACTS OF THE DEATH
The "MadiSOnian'S" Account of the
RamShOrn Awful Disaster.
EXPLOSION OF DYNAMITE
Matt Mcguire and Jacob Henke
Instantly Killed-Mr. kIitzkPs
Long Walk to Notify the
Coroner and Friends.
On OF DYNAMITE

The last number Of the Virginia City
Madisonian gives the following full ac-
count of the awful explosion on the
Ramshorn, by which two former Butte
men were killed:
Matt Mcguire and Jacob Henke were
instantly killed by an explosion of giant
powder last Friday afternoon. The
Madisonian mine on the Ramshorn,
two miles above the Glendale compa-
ny's property, was the scene of the aw-
full catastrophe. The men were literally
blown to atoms.
The explosion occurred in the shaft
house of the mine where the men were
supposed to have been thawing out
giant powder. The property was being
worked by the two unfortunates and
John Kiitzki. Kitzki was in the bot
tom of the shaft preparing the drill
holes for the blasts. Mcguire and
Henke had gone to the surface to thaw
out the powder. After an interval of 10
or 10 minutes Klitzh heard a terrific
report. and a few seconds later a heavy
timber came crashing down the shaft,
missing him narrowly. The shaft is an
incline, divided into two departments,
one for the ore bucket and one as a lad
der-way. Klitzki lost no time in start
ing for the surface. The mouth of the
shaft was enveloped in smoke. About
80 feet from the surface he found the
mangled body of Mcguire, which had
been blown into the shaft and lodged
on a projecting timber. The rounds on
the Underway were dripping with
the blood OF the dead man. On arriv-
ing at the top he found the shaft house
in ruins, and in the midst of the de-
bris lay the remains of Henke, mutiliat-
ed beyond recognition. Through the
empty eye sockets oozed the brains of
the unfortunate man. His right arm
was blown off above and his left below
the elbow. Fragments of charred and
blackened flesh were strewn in all di-
rections.
klitZki is a nervy man, but the sick
ening sight was too much for him. He
left at once for Sheridan, on foot. 1t
was nearly dark by this time. and he
could make but little Roadway through
rived at Bowker's cabin, where he pass
ed the remainder of the night.
Bright and early the next morning
Klitzki resumed his journey. Arriving
at Sheridan. he notified Charles Walter,
who telephoned for Coroner McNulty,
the news reaching Virginia about 2
O'Clock Saturday. The coroner left at
once for the scene of the catastrophe,
going via Sheridan. where he was join
ed by a number of the dead mems
friends. The last four miles, on ac-
count of the deep snow, had to be ira
versed on foot. Considerable difficulty
was experienced in getting Maguire's
body to the surface.
The coroner impaneled as a jury w.
]. McDougall, d. p. Lake, w. S. Moore,
James Brakey, Edwin N. Reed and
Richard Foreman. After viewing the
remains, the jury adjourned to the
Pedo shaft house, where the inquest
was held.
Klitzki was the only witness exam
ly as related above. The jury returned a
verdict to the effect that the deceased
came to their deaths through the acct
dental discharge of dynamite.
Toboggans Were improvised and the
bodies conveyed to the place where the
wagons had been left. and from thence
TO Sheridan.
The Madisonian mine was owned by
Mcguire. Klitzki and Matt Dugan of
Butte. IL is a promising property and
in a nice state of development. Mcguire
hoped soon to realize a competency on
his property. He was about so years of
age and very popular in and around
Sheridan. He worked for a time at
Leiterville and had prospected all over
the country. lie was a good-natured old
fellow and always had a pleasant word
for his brother miners.
Henke was not so we'll known. He
arrived from Silver Star only n few
days before the accident-in fact, had
only worked three or four shifts at the
Madisonian. He was about 80. Both
were single.
one who visited the Madisonian mine
a short time after the explosion states
that so or 40 sticks of giant powder
were scattered all over the ground near
the shaft house, presumably by the ex-
plosion. This being the case il is a won
der that any vestige of the shaft house
remains.
A horse, tied I'm a stable, only a short
uninjured, but was trembling with
fright when the men arrived at the
mine Saturday.