The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-07-08
Sad A66id6nt /!
MAY LOSE HIS EYES FROM ExPLo-
SION OF a FIRE-cRAckER.

oiON Or ~ FIRE E-CRACkERs
What may cause Frank Nick
erson, a leading merchant OF
Challis, to lose his eye sight and
become totally blind, occurred
last Thursday night, the 3rd inst.
The accident was a peculiar
one in many respects. At the
close of the school entertainment
in this city on the night of July
Bird, which was about IL O'Clock,
Thos. Horton, 1--WE learn he owns
up to committing the dastardly
act), threw a lighted fire-cracker
into the store of Frank Nicker-
son from the front door which
was open. 1t was one of those
large 12-inch cannon fire-crack-
ers. 1t fell about II feet from
the front door. Besides Mr..
Nickerson, the proprietor, a
number of other persons were in
the store, among which were
Hon. Fl. r. Powell, VIM. Flen-
niken, the editor of the MESSEN-
GER, and others The fuse at
tached to the fire cracker was
short. Mr.. Nickerson realizing
the damage that might be done
by the explosion and apparently
thoughtless of his own safety,
sought to throw the cracker out
into the street. He was in a stoop-
ing attitude and about to pick it
up when the explosion took
place. The concussion was ter
rife, and it seemed to those in
the store as though the building
had been wrecked. Mr.. Nicker-
son was struck squarely in the
left eye with the big cannon FIRE
cracker, and was stunned by its
mighty force. He reeled and
was about to fall when assistance
reached him. Blood flowed free
| ly and he was complaining of
the great agony and pain he was
suffering. A boy was sent for
the doctor, and upon examina-
tion a deep cut was found above
the left eye and a deep cut
through the nose, while the eye
itself was closed.
Mr.. Nickerson and his wife de-
parted on the stage next evening
for Salt Lake to receive treat
ment from an eminent oculist.
just prior to their departure he
was totally blind in the injured
eye and could just distinguish
daylight with the other eye. 1t
is deplorable affair, and will be
almost a miracle if the injured
eye is saved, and it may result
in his total blindness, and at the
best he will be disfgured for
life. One had better by far be
dead than cropping through life
in total blindness. No money
consideration can recompense
such a misfortune. Mr.. Nicker-
son is highly respectable citi-
zen of Challis, in the prime of
life, and is a married man with
four young children.
Thos. Horton, who threw the
fire cracker into the store, we do
not believe did it with any mali
cious intent-but thoughtless of
the damage. He should have
known better, for he is a young
man of Is or 90 years. That he
was drunk at the time of com
mitting the act is no excuse be-
fore the law. 1t was criminal
offense and he is subject to
severe punishment.
We feel sorry for his parents,
especially his poor old mother
whose heart is breaking over the
sad accident caused by her reck-
less and wayward son.
Mr.. Nickerson refused to swear
out a warrant for his arrest, what
action the authorities will take
in the matter we are unable to
say. The boy is growing from
bad to worse-and he is not the
only one-but for the good of
society this drunken lawlessness
should be ended, even if the
! nuniShment ba Severa