Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-12-27
A Serious Mine Accident.

{. II. Parkins and w. w. Purdy were
badly injured by a giant powder explo-
sion last Saturday night at the Orion
mine in the Pierce City district.
These men are partners in this prop
erty with II. II. Boles and others of this
city, and they were engaged in develop
ment work as miners. They we're work
ing on the night shift in the face of the
2oofoot tunnel when they were injured
The work was being prosecuted with a
great deal of interest, as the ledge had
been struck by the drills and it was ex-
pected that the result of that round of
shots would reveal the hidden values of
a prospective bonanzas When one of the
blasts did not go off the eager miners
waited, as they supposed, a sufficient
time; but they ventured into danger
ground too soon. When Parkins reached
the face the fuse was still smoking. He
took hold to pull it out of the hole. The
explosion occurred while he was i'll the
act.
The force of the blast knocked both
Parkins and Purdy senseless for time.
How long they remained so they do not
know. Purdy, however, recovered first
and began to grope his way out. He was
terribly lacerated and believed he was
permanently blinded and perhaps fatally
injured by the cuts in his hand and face
and the bruises OH his body. While in
this mental and physical torture Parkins
heard the groans and cry of his compan-
,, ion. Until he heard his voice he sup
posed Purdy was dead. The call for help
made Purdy think more of his companion
than of himself. He turned back to the
face of the dark tunnel amid the poison
fumes of the giant and groped around
| till he found the PROSTATE man. He
raised him to his feet and then staggered
to the open air. Then Parkins tainted.
Purdy was strong enough to hallca, and
he screamed as only despairing man
can scream. The sound reached Dr. Bole
and Others, who were sleeping in the
cabin 200 feet distant. The doctor says
that cry still rings in his ears, and the
sight of those menl The torn flesh aud
clothing reeked III blood. The men were
ghastly in the pale light that revealed
their forms, and told the frightful story
of frightful accident
DIR. Bole took the men in charge and
applied such palliatives as his limited
dispensary would supply. He did moi
attempt to perform any surgical opera.
| ion to remove the bits of stone from the
| eyes and other wounds, but he hurried
them to the train at Oro6no, 40 miles
| away. Every available means of convey
| ance was at the service of the sufferers
| By saddle horses, sleighs and buggies tn,
train was reached Monday noon, and tn,
men were hurried on toward Spokane
where they could have ihe care of spe
cialists. They stayed over Monday nigh
in this city, but went on Monday morn
ing TO the hospital at Spokane.
DIR. Boles says Purdy's eyes are no
seriously injured. He hopes, too, tina
Parkius' will recover his sight. Thei
faces are badly lacerated. 1t was mira
Gle that neither of the men was Instant,
killed. 1t is hoped that both will perma
nently recover.
Both Parkins and Purdy are nephew
of Mrs. II. II. Bole of this city. The
came out from Ohio last summer an
took interests i'll Pierce City mines fror
the first, and were very active and enthr
siastic in the prosecution of their chose
| eu4erpriSe