The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-04-25
AN AWFUL CALAMITY.
EXPLOSION OF GIANT POWDER CAUSES THE LOSS OF EIGHT
LIVES. WHILE MANY MORE ARE INJURED.

engine OF destruction. Beyond the
mass of timber and rocks was found
the dead body of Frank Doran.
Mike Ward and Mike Tobin were
still farther on, each receiving heavy
injuries. 7. w. Maloney, Claus
Schuman, and Will Bergman were
about 100 feet beyond the magazine
each escaping with a few scratches.
Where these men stood was a
manway and a ladder down which
the men went to slopes and levels
below. Frank Norton and Jas. Con-
atty were on this ladder each being
hurt by the falling of rocks.
Immediately after the explosion,
VIM. Egan was dispatched for DR..
Sandow, who came with all possible
haste arriving on the scene soon
after the first man had been brought
out. All possible means we're emp
Logged for immediate relief, and teams
were sent to bring the injured to the
hospital. D.. H. Ross was alive at
the hospital, but soon after expired.
Within "a hours of the awful acct
lent seven men were laid out in the
undertaking room of B. B. and w.
L. Cook awaiting the last sad rites.
A dispatch was sent to Great Falls
for two more physicians, Drs. Fergus
on and Davis coming by special
train which arrived at eight o'clock
next morning. B. B. Cook, the
undertaken came by the same train.
saturday night came another special
bearing Rev. Father Dolls and w.
L. Cook. The former held service
over the dead and administered to
the spiritual welfare of the living, all
IF whom, we believe, were Catholics.
Sunday afternoon an inquest was
held I've the bodies of those dead,
Judge Gray acting coroner. J. L.
Neihart, foreman, H. B. Mitchell,
Daniel Redden, Isaac Mayer, Geo.
5. Bailey and Geo. Marelius, compos-
ed the jury. The inquest was con
Quoted in the presence of Mine In
spector Shoemaker, the verde ct
resulting in the complete exoneration
of the company from all blame.
There was nothing in the evidence
to show that anyone was particularly
&c blame for the accident. The
company it appears uses every pre-
caution against accidents from this
source. Only m man ever at tends
to the magazine, and he does
nothing else. No other miners are
allowed to go near it. The magaz-
inc appears to be as safe in construct
ion as any that could possibly be
used with the present facilities.
w. J. Clark, general manager of the
mine, in company with the state
mining inspector had arrived on a
special train Sunday. The former
started a subscription list for the be.
neft of the dependents of those dead,
heading the list himself with $1,000.
He also placed the wives of Geo,
Doran and Frank Doran upon the
mine pay roll at 800 a month. The
other unfortunates as far as known
were single.
Frank Doran was an Odd Fellow.
Cairns was a K. P. with membership
at Belt. Gallagher was a Workman.
and as such was buried under the
honors and rites of the order. A
very impressive funeral was held in
Crawford's hall Tuesday afternoon,
Master Workman, K. A. Shaw, of the
Ancient Order United Workmen Of
floating. Belt Mountain Lodge at
tended in a body and the Methodist
choir rendered appropriate music
Past Master Workman Fl. w. Soule
offered prayer.
Jas. 7. Gallagher came to Neihart
from Gibbonsville, Ida, and had
been here but a short time. He had
Joined the A. O. u. w. in Idaho only
last February.
John Cairns was also a new man in
camp, having formerly resided in
Canyon city, Colo.
Dan O'Leary was first from Green
view, ILL.,, but has been in the west
a long time. He came lately from
Belt, and is little known in camp.
Hugh Mckenzie has parents living
at Breadalbane, P. E. l., where he
e.~-L1. I'LL II. ~ A