The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-18
WALKED into A BLAST
The Wonder Is Byrne Wasn't
Blown to Pieces.
NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED
He May Lose His Eyesight, but b Doc
tors Think They Can Save It-Duffy,
His Partner. Was Going Along,
but II Never Touched Him.

Michael Byrne. a miner at the Bell
mine, had a frightfully close call yes
terday. That he is not seriously injured
was due to the good luck that Is some
times mixed with the misfortune of
mine accidents. He walked straight into
a blast and. though his injuries are ex-
ceedingly painful, IL is not thought he
will suffer any permanent affiiction.
Byrne and his partner. Dan Duffy.
were working In a raise tive the 700
and 500 levels. They had been accus-
toned since they had been working in
this particular locality. which had been
for several days, to carry their lunch
with them. but yesterday morning.
knowing they would have to go to the
700 at noon for drills, they left their
lunch pals at the 700.
At the usual hour OF eating their
lunch Byrne and Duffy started to go
up through the foors TO the 700. Two
men had been at work on the fourth
floor, below the 700, which was n of
the floors through which Byrne and
his primer had to pass. They, too. went
to lunch at noon and before going set
off a blast and went above without no.
tifying those below. Byrne and Duffy,
knowing nothing OF the blast being fired,
made their way on up through the
floors, never thinking of danger. and
walked right into the death trap just as
the blast went off. Duffy was some lit
tie distance ahead Of his partner, as luck
would have 1t for him. and escaped
without injury of any account. but
Byrne, coming behind, was directly in
front of the blast and got the charge
almost straight in the face.
The force of the blast threw him to
the floor and he escaped being hit by
the flying rock except by some of the
smaller particles. Duffy gave the alarm
and, accompanied by some OF the other
men, went to Byrne's assistance. He
was carried up to the 700 and sent on
top. and the ambulance from st. James
hospital was summoned.
At the hospital it proved, on examina-
ton. that Byrne had not been as badly
hurt as was at first supposed. His eyes
suffered the worst injury. They were
filled with powder and sand, n al
though 1t was impossible to tell with
certainty whether he would lose his eye
sight or not, the attending surgeon ex-
pressed the hope that he would be able
to save the eyes. The flying particles
1nflcteO numerous cuts ABOUT the ldCe,
shoulders and arms, but none of them
are of a serious nature.
While on the operating table Byrne
was able to talk. He said he could
only remember hearing one report and
thinks only one hole went off, which
seems very probable. for had a full set
gone off IL is difficult to see how he
could have escaped death, and even If
this is the case, ii is a miracle he was
not blown to pieces. considering his
close proximity to the blast. Byrne is
a single man, about 80 years old, and
lives at the Mullin boarding house at
Centerville.
Duffy, the injured mans partner,
seems to bear a charmed life. He was
in the Hale house fire and jumped from
a window for his life. escaping with
slight injuries. Again, he was COM
PEELED 10 jump from a window in the
Mullin house fire at Ce~nterville, which
followed a week or so later, receiving
very slight injury and. for the third
time, he yesterday came out of a close
call almost unscathed.