The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-23
THEY STAYED TOO LONG
Wilson Tells the Story of the
Mine Accident.
A, REMARKABLE FEATURE
When the First Hole Went Off Thew
We're Blown Back Towards the
Breast-Miners Do Not
Understand 1t.

the clrcumstan surrounding the
accident in the Leonard mine last
Wednesday, in which Matt Huhtamaa
was killed and Ben w. Wilson was
seriously injured, were recited in detail
last evening to Coroner Julien and the
jury that was impaneled to investigate
the case. Wilson is still suffering con-
siderably from his hurts and being I'M
able to come to town to give his testi-
mony, Coroner Julien and the jury
drove out to the Boston & Montana
hospital east of Meaderville to hear his
statement
Wilson's story of the accident places
it in the long list of remaI kabe mis-
adventures that have come to miners
in Butte. The remarkable feature of
the explosion as Wilson remembers it
was. that he and his partner had start
ed to leave the breast when the ii st
hole went off, when some mysterious
force never hitherto reported in acct
dents of this kind drew them back, al
most to the face of the drift again.
Wilson, when reminded that such a re-
dictionary force was highly unusual in
giant powder, if not wholly unheard
of, reiterated his statement and said
ne was July conscious OF all tnat was
taking place and was absolutely posi-
tive on the point.
Propped up in pillows, Wilson gave
his version as follows:
"Huhtamaa and had put in u holes,
loaded and primed them. We had been
accustomed to putting in u holes and
firing them all at one time. l was
given to understand that owing to the
ground being wet, the other miners
made practice of only firing six holes
at time, and ! suggested that we do
likewise, but Huhtamaa insisted there
was no danger in firing them all, and
as he was much more experienced than
J. and / had previously found it advis-
able to follow his Judgment. l yielded
We started firing, he doing the split
ting, while I held the candle. TIE
ground was so wet the fuses had be-
come dampened and I should think
half of them refused to take and had
TO be cut over.
when we were about half through /
remarked we had better be getting out,
but Huhtamaa said there was lots of
time and went on. When we had nine
fuses spitted told him knew it was
dangerous to stay longer and he con-
scented to CO.
We had gotten about 10 or 10 feet
from the breast when the first hole
went off. | remember some thing strik-
member feeling myself being thrown
back toward the breast. | am positive
Of this. for ! landed beside post which
| passed as we started cut My part
ner was drawn a few feet further than
was. and | know he must be badly
hurt. as l heard him sroan. l had just
time to crawl behind the post at my
side when the next blast came.
The remaining shots went very rap
idly. so fast I could not count them.
Wishing to be sure all the holes had
gone, ] waited till I felt myself being
overcome by the gas, and then made
my way out"
Wilson stated that the sole cause of
Huhtamaa's death was the fact that
they stayed too long. and the jury re-
turned a verdict finding death to have
been due to the carelessness of the de-
ceased.
Wilson, the injured man. will be re-
membered as the captain of the Dead
wood football team which played here
last winter. He was a crack player and
at the solicitation of Manager Jim
Hooper he and Keller. another of the
Deadwood men. came here about three
weeks ago to play this season with
Butte. Wilson's injuries are flesh
wounds and will not incapacitate him
for fOtball.