Mohave County miner., 1903-03-07
Paul Mcguire Meets Horrible Death.

uouT VI LWO U ClOChs L dul hdBuHo was
instantly killed in the shaft of the
Bi-Metal mine, four miles south of
Kingman, by the explosion of a charge
of giant powder into which he had
drilled. 1t appears that he had been
working in the shaft with Joe Marines
during the forenoon and that just be-
fore the hour for quitting at noon they
had fired five holes. They counted the
blasts as they went off and were sure
that every hole had gone. After din.
ner they went back, mucked out the
dirt and began drilling again. The
two men we're side by side in the north
west end of the shaft and had gotten
their holes down about ten inches when
Marines heard rocks strike the bucket
hung in the shaft about ten feet above
him. Fine rock cut his hand and he
was thrown against the wall. He was
dazed and when he came to his senses
he called to Paul Mcguire, asking him
what had happened. Getting no an
swer he looked around and saw him
lying in the southwest corner of the
shaft Going over he found that he
was lifeless and on making an exami
nation he came to the conclusion he
was dead. Going up the ladder he
looked around for help, but finding
none he ran to the Mcguire home,
nearly mile away and the mother and
sister of the unfortunate young man
returned with him to the mine. They
were let down into the shaft in the
bucket and after ascertaining that
Paul was really dead they tied the
windlass rope around his body and it
was raised to the surface. DIR. Cowie
had been phoned for and arrived at
the scene of the accident shortly af-
terward, but found that nothing could
be done. At first it was thought that
a cave in the shaft had occurred, but
later an examination of the shaft dis.
closed the fact that some of the pow.
der in deep hole drilled and shot
earlier in the day had failed to explode
aud that Paul had drilled into this un
exploded powder, with the result that
when it went off he received the full
force of the blast His face was filled
with fine particles of rock, as was his
breast and legs. One rock went through
his chest and lodged somewhere in the
back. Mr.. Marines stated that they
had been using frozen powder and that
Mr.. Msguire had thswed out some of
that used in the holes in the morning
That Marines had not been injured Is
one of those miracles that occur so
often in mining accidents. He was
within eighteen inches of the blast
when it went off aud the only injury
he has to show is pitted right hand
and few little pits on the back of the
neck. His hammer was forced from
his hand and thrown across the shaft.
He stated that he heard no explosion
and was at loss to know what caused
the trouble until the examination dis.
closed the fact of the explosion.
Paul Mcguire, whose terrible death
last Tuesday caused such shock to
this community, was born in the state
of Nevada twenty-six years ago. He
came with his parents to this county
about nineteen years ago and settled
southwest Of Kingman. From boyhood
he was ever an Industrious, energetic
and honorable fellow. In the past few
years he acquired considerable mining
property and only two weeks ago re.
ceived the first payment on the sale of
one of the mines. He was general
favorite with the young people of King.
man and was universally beloved by
the people of the whole surrounding
country. To his mother and sisters,
whose mainstay he was for a number
of years, his death comes as a terrible
blow.
Arthur Mcguire, brother of de-
ceased, who is in charge of survey
corps on the Clark road, was wired to
by way of Marvel, and the body of
deceased was embalmed to await his
arrival. 1t is thought that he was not
reached promptly by the telegram and
that he may not come for several days,
therefore the funeral will be held to
morrow afternoon from the M. E.
church, at the hour of two o'clock.
II you want juicy steak, delicious