Amador ledger., 1903-06-12
COVER MINE ACCIDENT
Superintendent Purington Killed by
Bursting of Air Compressor.

Fremont Consolidated mine early Sat-
urday morning, resulting in theinstant
death OF G. E. Purington, the superin-
tendent, who has been in charge of the
works ever since the present company
was organized, and the injuring of
| Wales Palmer. the foreman. The acci-
| dent occurred at the air compressor,
close to the Cover shaft. The air COM
pressor was used to operate the power
drills underground. 1t was run by
electric power. 1t is massive piece of
machinery. Ever since it was installed
it has been a source of more or less
trouble from the heating of the boxes
or bearings.
On Saturday morning engineer Rule
noticed that the air compressor was
not working satisfactory. He sent a
boy to notify Mr.. Pnrington of the fact.
The superintendent, who was practi-
cal machinist, was on the scene in few
minutes thereafter. He started in to
try and fix the machine. He had not
been there more than five minutes
when the explosion occurred.
At the time of the explosion both
PuringtOn and Palmer were close to
the machinery. Palmer was engaged
in working at the machine, but some
what out of line of the force of the ex-
plosion. Purington was standing in
front, adjusting the machine. Sudden
ly the compressor burst, the cylinder
caught PuringtQn sqqarely in the
side of the galvanized iron building.
The force was such as to almost cut
him in two. Of course, he was killed
instantly, He probably had no time
to realize what had happened.
The conclusion was so great as to
throw Wales Palmer against the build
ing with sufficient force to fracture two
ribs and disable one arm. His was
almost miraculous escape from death
The news of this terrible disaster was
at once telephoned over the county,
and produced profound impression of
sqpr6W. tleceased was 54 years of age,
and leaves d wife and SEVERAL children.
The body was taken to Auburn for
burial on Monday.
For about 10 years the victim had
devoted his time and means toward
bringing the Cover and Fremont mines
to their present condition. In face of
discouragements that would have dis
mayed the ordinary man, he worked
on. He had the utmost confidence in
the mineral resources of this particular
section of the mother lode, and was
sufficiently influential with capitalists
to induce them to invest in these claims. |
With the mill in process of erection
it was believed that he was on the
verge of the realization of his fondest
hopes ia bringing the property to q
paying basis. Everything he had, he
had invested in the stock of the corpora
tion, thereby evincing his good faith. |
In the scheme which he prevailed upon
others to invest in, he staked his all |
himself. He died at his post, when the
attainment OF his am btion was appsr-
emily in sight '''
The air compressor that caused this |
lamentable fatality, had given con-
siderable trouble ever since it was |
started up about year ago. The de-
ceased was himself practical electric |
ian and machinist. Fhe machine itself
and its setting up was in great meas
ure under his direction. But it did |
not work smoothly. The boxes were
continually heating, causing appre-
hension on the part of those employed |
about the works. Some time ago |
mechanics from San Francisco were |
employed to practically rebuild it. Still |
it kept up its record for Kicking. J. |
Eudey was employed for while there, |
and quit on account of the premonitions
of disaster which the machinery gave |
forth,
THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
The precise cause of the explosion is
not very clear. The air compressor
was of the Ingersoll- Sergeant type. It |
was put up under the direction of Pur-
ingtoD himself. The escape valve for
increasing or diminishing the pressure
was placed q few inches above the air
chamber, within easy reach of the at
tendant. This arrangement was de- |
parture from the ordinary and stand
ard method. Whether it had anything
to do with the fatal denouement we are |
not prepared to say. James Rule. the |
engineer, noticed Slight leakage
"a dripping-around one or two of the |
bolts in the front part of the COM
pressor. 1t was doing it's work all
right. Purington's s son, q young man |
of about IS, was attending the com
pressor. The signs of distress were
sufficient to cause the engineer to send |
a boy of Wales Palmer, who happened |
to be near, to tell Purington. In few |
minutes both Superintendent Puring-
ton and Foreman Palmer appeared to-
gether. The former seeing the trouble
remarked, "We'll fix that" Rule
withdrew to the engine room, leaving
the two officials there. Purington |
reached for the valve over the cylin-
der. Whether he shut off the escape, |
thereby increasing the pressure, is not |
positively known. Immediately the
front and top part of the air cylinder
blew out. 1t was made of heavy cast |
iron, fully an inch thick. The impress
sion is that the manipulation of the
valve increased the pressure. and the
explosion resulted. Fragments of iron
were hurled into the engine room. The
conclusion from the sudden release of
pent-up air wrecked the side of the
building, breaking the studding, as
well as blowing off the iron sheets fas-
tened thereto.
A machinist from San Francisco is
up to repair the machine. Mr.. Good
all, of the firm of Goodall, Perkins &
Co.. is on the ground, and will remain |
in charge for time;
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