The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1904-06-07
SCORE OF NoNuNloN MEN KILLED
OR FATALLY INJURED AT IN
DEPENDENCE, COLO.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION OF DYNAMITE
CHARGE PLACED UNCER PLAT.
FORM WHERE MINERS ARE
AWAITING TRAIN.

/
miners We're instantly killed and eight
or ten others fatally injured by an ex-
plosion that occurred after midnight at
| the Independence station of the Flor
ence and Cripple Creek railroad The
cause of the explosion has not been
| ascertained, but apparently it was the
result of plot against the nonunion
| miners on the night shift at the Shurt-
leff Findlay and Last Dollar mines,
who had just finished work and were
about TO return to their homes
These men had no warning whatever
of their impending fate.
The explosion occurred beneath the
platform on which they were standing,
hurting many of them high into the
air, destroying the adjoining depot and
rending d great hole in the earth. 1t
is believed a large quantity OF dyna-
mite had been placed under the plat
form and that ii was set off by means
of electricity or by the concussion
caused by the approaching train.
Later detectives found the machine
which set of the dynamite under the
platform. 1t consists OF revolver
and 300 feet of steel wire. The reyol-
yer was placed underneath the plat
form close TO the powder The other
end of the wire was fastened to chair
leg, which was used as a lever from
the cribDings of the Delmonico prop
erty The Ndole district is aroused
over the catastrophe and further trou-
BILE is feared.
Bodies Blown in Al! Directions.
The train had not arrived at the
independence depot but was within a
short distance OF it when the explosion
occurred About forty-five or fifty
miners from the Shurtleff, Findlay and
Last Dollar mines had gathered at the
depot platform and they were 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 were laid out together
and the remnants of others were Sc
cured as fast as possible. On account
of the terrible nature of their wounds
identification was difficult
The train consisted of two large
passenger coaches and was without
passengers, as this was the first trip
of the morning and independence was
the first station where passengers
were expected. 1t is supposed that at
least 200 pounds of dynamite must
have been used TO produce such an
explosion. The depot was entirely de-
stroyed The ground on which ii stood
shows a great cash, as if an earth
quake had torn up the country and
left this yawning cavity TO remind the
people of a great uphcaval. The i'm
pact of the explosion was felt in every
direction.
Most of the killed and injured were
nonunion miners employed in the
Findlay mine, which is controlled by
A. T.. Carleton, president OF the First
National bank. a man prominent in the
councils of the Cripple Creek Mine
Owners association.
The conspirators evidently did not
wish to kill or injure any Of the crew
in charge of the train which the Ill
fated miners intended to take for their
homes in Victor and Cripple Creek.
When within seventy-five feet Of the
depot at Independence the engine
whistle sounded as a signal for the
men at the depot to get ready 10
board and TO warn any laggards to
make haste if they wished TO catch
the train.
Train Whistle Signal of Death.
The whistle was the death signal,
for no sooner had the shrill blast
sounded than muffied roar was
heard and the mountain trembled as
II rocked by an earthquake. The train,
which was running very slowly, was
brought to sudden stop by the engi-
neer and members of the train crew
ran hastily forward TO investigate.
They were horror stricken at the sight
that greeted their eyes, a spectacle
hat was made all the more greWsome
by the sickly Pickering lights from the
lanterns and burning torches carried
bv the railroad men II took but n |
few seconds for the trainmen TO appre-
eiate the terrible situation and messen-
gers were hurried away for assist
ance.
The scene about the depot was sick
aning. Portions of human bodies
we're scattered over the right OF way
and in the twenty-foot hole made by
he explosion were found severed |
skulls. arms, legs and hands. Every |
object within a radius of fifty feet T,
rom the hole is covered with blood,
When news of the disaster reached |
Victor Mayor Franklin ordered out
Company +. Colorado national guard, |
and the soldiers are now on guard at
he scene.
The strike in the Cripple Creek dis |
rict has been in effect since Aug. 10,
Ia03, and all men now employed are
obliged TO renounce allegiance to the
Western Federation of Miners before
being put to work