Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-07
THE DYNAMITE EXPLOSION
Resulted in Death of Twelve and Injury
of Many More.

OF Many More.
Cripple Creek, Col, June 6.-Twclve
miners We're killed and eight or 10 9TH
ers badly injured by the explosion of
an Internal machine, early today, at the
Independence station of the Florence
and Cripple Creek railroad. Apparent
~ it was the result of IL plot against
the non-uniOn miners of the night shift
ut the Shurtleff, Findley and Lost Dol
lar mines. who had just finished work
and were about to return to their
homes.
A large number of men were crowded
about the depot ready to take the train
which was drawing into the station
when, without warning, came the ter
rible explosion beneath the platform
upon which they stood. Scores of men
We're thrown into the air, the depot was
destroyed and n great hole was torn in
the ground. A moment later the ground
was covered with mangled and bleed
ing men.
At first the cause of the explosion was
not known, but later it was found tina t
clever contrivance under the plat
form caused it and that Il large guam
lily III uyHdiIiIltt flsl't Dt'tll St'ltIt'i uiI-
| der the platform and exploded by means
Of the apparatus just as the miners
We're about to board the train. The
whole district is excited and trouble is
expected.
Independence is about six miles from
/ this city by rail. A special train car
rying physicians was dispatched to the
scene of the explosion and the injured
| We're taken to the Victor hospital. Sher-
| iff Robertson with deputies and police
officers of both Cripple Creek and Vic
tor, went to Independence on the spec
ial train and Immediately began care
| full search for clues to the perpetrators
of the outrage.
Although the strike of union miners
in the Cripple Creek district which be-
gan. Aug. 10. 1908. and has led to the
declaration Of martial law by Gov. Pea
body. is still in effect. good order hav-
| ing been maintained for the last six
months, military rule has been suspend
ed and all troops withdrawn. The mine
owners, with the exception of the Port
| land company, claims to have as many
men working as they need and they re-
| quested all miners to renounce allie
glance to the Western Federation of
Miners before giving them employment.
| A committee appointed by the federal
ton now in session at Denver to inves-
tigate the situation in the district. Wis
ted the camp. last week. Charles H
Meyer, president of the Federation. is
in Jail at Telluride. which is under mar
tial law. being held as n military pris-
oner by Gov. Peabody. who charges
him with melting riot and rebellion.
The train had not arrived at the In
| dependence depot. but was within 4
short distance of it when the explosion
occurred. About "a or so miners from
Shurtloff. Findlay and Lost Dollar
mines had gathered at the depot plat
| form and they We're blown into the air
in every direction. One mans body
cut in two was found 100 yards from the
| scene of the explosion. Seven bodies
We're laid out together and the rem
nants of others wecr secured as fast as
possible. On account of the terrible
nature of their wounds, Identification
was difficult.
Charles A. Rector of the Shurtleff
mine. describing the explosion, said:
There were about 80 or 60 of us wait
the track a few hundred feet distant. A
number of miners who had nat Yet
reached the depot were running toward
it with their dinner buckets in hand
The train approached the depot at 4
moderate rate and the crowd on the
platform began to move around to Sc
cure point of vantage in getting aboard
as soon as the train stopped. At this
moment n great explosion occurred
right under our feet.
THE impact shook the buildings in thu
town and everything became ahsolutcl,
dark A few moments later the groans %
the injured were heard and people cam
running from residences and stores to th'
scene. The depot platform and the sur
GROUNDING objects We're rent into splinters
1.-THE work of rescue was begun at once
Six badly wounded miners were pickle,
Iup ut different points near the scene ans
were carried to the train and sent to Vic
tor The dead were found after muci
difficulty"
The train consisted of two large PAS
snnger coaches and was without passen
gers. as this was the first trip in tn,
morning and Independence was the frs
station where passengers were expected
The engineer and fireman escaped unn
jured 1t is estimated that at least 10
pounds of dynamite must have been use'
ito produce such an explosion.
Later was found the machine which Sc
off the dynamite under the platform l
consists Of a revolver and 800 feet of stee
wire. The revolver was placed under