The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-31

Lying in the county ward of the Og-
den Medical and Surgical Institute is
William Bowlder, charred and bis
tered mass of flesh, with just life
enough left to moan at the awful tor
ture racking his body.
Bowlder was in the old powder mill
in ogden canyon yesterday morning
when an explosion occurred which
wrecked the building and blew him
about Is feet from its site,
SETTING FIRE TO HIS CLOTHING
happened about $50 yesterday morn
ing, but as Bowlder was the only man
present at the time, details of the ac-
cident are meager.
Alex Bowman and Whit Harris, en-
ployees at the Farr lime kiln, across
the river from the old powder works,
were awakened by the roar of the ex-
plosion and were dressing to go across
and see what was the matter.
Suddenly Bowlder appeared on the
bridge. He was a fearful sight, with
hair gone and his flesh charred black.
All his clothing was gone except his
shoes and the collar of his shirt, and
this
His hands," said Bowman, were
charred black and shriveled so as to
resemble burned gloves. 1 rushed out
and wrapped him in a blanket. Hav-
ing seen victims of powder before,
knew he had been blown up"
The man was made as comfortable
as possible, and DR.. Rich telephoned
for. After applying soothing lotions he
left and reported the matter to the
county authorities who had him re-
moved TO the hospital.
With the explosion the roof of the
structure was lifted off and deposited
boarding and other lumber were scat
tered about.
The machinery was wrecked and the
walls fell in, caught fire and were con-
sumed. Wherever bits of the lumber
fell yellowish powder was deposited,
the lumber evidently having been per-
meated with it. This powder is thought
to have been a mixture of sulphur
and charcoal dust which were used
in making powder. and when the mills
were operated some seven years ago
the rooms were filed with this dust.
The ingredients of powder were mixed
in this room Bowlder says he was
HAMMERIMG ON ANaRON CYLIN-
l. DER
and smoking when the explosion oc-
CURED. He claims to have gone up the
canyon fishing.
The mills have not been used for a
number of years, and are the prop
erty of the California Powder COM
pany. William G. Wilson had charge of
the property. AS the locality is remote
from residences the buildings were Of
ten used by campers. Much of the cop
per- iron and window glass have found
their way to the junk shop.
Bowlder is a married man with two
children, the youngest about a week
old. He lived in the neighborhood CT
the deaf and dumb school. His coat
was found about so feet from the build
ing and much tattered. One theory is
that he walked short distance and
then threw it off and another is that
the garment was stripped from him
and carried with the wreckage. The
mans trail was marked by blood from
the building to the lime kiln camp.
About ten minutes elapsed from the
time of the explosion until he appeared
before Bowman and Harris. The sound
of the explosion awoe1e the men at
Wilson's mill and one of them looked
at his watch, it being then just 5:25.
Bowlder is swathed in ointment at
the hospital and under the influence of
opiates. DR.. Rich says he may re-
cover.
The theory that the accident was
caused by dynamite taken up to kill
fish is hardly tenable. as the explosion
was too powerful.
Later-Bowlder died about 7:3O
o'clock this evening as a result of his
injuries. His parents live at Layton,
in Davis counay. They have been noti-
fed and will arrive at Ogden in the
morning.