The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-04-17
A FATAL SNOWSLIDE.
Two of Ketchum's Citizens and
a Little Boy Carried Away
Frank White, Fred FuHord and Four
Year-0Id Wesley Pardun
the Victims.
BALTIMORE MINE THE SCENE OF THE
DREADFUL CALAMITY.
Two of the Bodies Recovered---One Lies
Buried Under Tons of Snow,

Monday afternoon about 4 o'cloc
a snowslide occurred at the Bait
more mine, four miles east Of tow
which swept into eternity two {
Ketchum's citizens and little chill
without moments warning.
The victims were Frank H. Whit
and Fred Fulford, lessess of tn
Baltimore and Victoria group G
mines, and little Wesley Pardur
4year-old step-son of the latter.
News of the awful tragedy reache,
Ketchum about s o'clock in tn
evening. Eddie White, the 49, year
old son of Mr.. White, was the beare
of the sad tidings. having been sen
to town by Mrs. Fulford for assist
ance as soon as the accident hap
pened.
1t was hard trip for the littl,
boy, for he had to wade through
four feet of snow over high noun
tains for three miles, threatened
every moment with being carried
away with a slide to meet the awful
fate of his father.
At the Elkhorn mine, where he
stopped to inform P. J. Clarke and
Theodore Hage, he was given pair
of snowshoes on which he complet.
ed his trip to Ketchum.
With all possible haste, those
living at the Elkhorn mine and
vicinity started on snowshoes for
the see of the disaster, Theodore
Hage, MIR. and Mrs. p. J. Clarke
and their little daughter taking the
lead.
Upon receipt of the sad news,
every man in Ketchum who could
command pair of snowshoes re-
sponded to the summons for assist
ance. There were at least thirty
men on their way to the Baltimore
mine in less than half an hour after
Eddie White had told of the dread
'ul accident.
The Baltimore mountain is very
steep where the mine is located. and
he clearinghouse is built partly
N the side of the mountain to pro-
.ect it from being carried away by
the snowslides, that occur every
spring. So when the terrible pillows
IF snow rush down the mountain
'ide they pass over the roof of the
house in their mad rush TO the
,ulch below.
The rooms are built in a row, the
asst one serving as work shop and
into the main tunnel, which
nsures protection to the miners
Turing the perilous season of snow
lides. The ore dump is directly
n front of the house.
The morning of the fatal day the
Unfortunate men started out about
O'Clock to hunt grouse which win
er in the fir timber on the opposite
ide of the hill, taking Eddie White
nth them to pack the game. They
expected to return at noon, as both
len knew that it would be at the
isk OF their lives to attempt to
'avel on the snow after the crust got
oft. Had they done so, their hor-
Die fate would have been averted. |
instead they wandered miles away |
ON home in their eager pursuit of
anne until late in the afternoon,
the top Of the ridge above
le house about 4 o'clock.
Mrs. Fulford and her two little
liidren, the youngest a babe OF
vo years, and little Wesley were
1T alone at the house. AS her hus-
and had told her that they would
: back from their hunting trip at
o'clock, she prepared dinner.
I'D as the hours passed by without
,eir returning she became alarmed
nd with the youngest child 10 her
ms and little Wesley by her side,
le stood on the dump in front of
the house and watched eagerly
r her husband and the other men,
srs of the party, whom she feared
al met with some accident.
Soon they emerged over the top
the ridge, Eddie White in ad-
Ince and Fred Fulford following
ose behind with a bag of game
rown over his shoulder. The
lrty separated when they got in
yht of the house, Mr.. White going
way Of the Victoria tunnel,
hich is about 100 yds above the
,ltimore mine.
Eddie White reached the house
st and with Mrs. Fulford stood
the dump looking at his father
ID Fred as they were making the
lal steps of their journey home.
Mrs. Fulford called to her hus-
nd to know if be was snowblind,
d he replied that he was all right.
ley exchanged few more words
Zen she called to Fred to look at
r. White, who had sank down in
9 snow nearly to his waist. Fred
llford was then about 10 feet from
e house and Mr.. White about 100
It.
AS he turned to look at Mr..
hite struggling in the snow, Mrs.
.lford said she heard the roar OF
,nowslide coming down the main
Lab met "a ~ n rcopt lofor onnf hor