The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-08-12
BLOWN 70 ATOMS ON LAKE
WAS IT SUICIDE OR ACCIDENT


Monday evening on the lake ten
hundred yards from shore of Tubbs'
point. an unknown man was blown 10
atoms BY the explosion Of several
sticks Of giant powder in the roWboat
which be occupied. The body, as
well AZ the boat, was literally torn
to pieces, bits Of wreckage and fesh
being picked up on the shore, among
them the heart Of the individual In q
frightfully Iacerated condition,
showing the terrific force Of the ex-
pIoeion. Whether with suicidal
intent or accidentally, the facts re-
lating to the tragedy will never be
known. as no clue 10 the identify Of
the man can be obtained other than
the fact that be was stranger.
Monday afternoon be appeared at
the boathouse Of John G. Rosen A Co.
and hired one Of their steel hull
boats. After an absence Of an hour
be returned and later in the evening
be again appeared at the boat house
and made inquiries regarding a spot
for bathing. Mr.. Anderson, In charge
OF the boat house, directed him 70 q
sandy beach in the small bay around
the point, and noticed that the man
carried a pssteboard shoe box under
his arm which be placed Ia the bot
tom Of the boat. Anderson watched
the boat until it disappeared at the
point. He says that the man Wss
about Eve and one half feet tall,
light complexion and clean shaver,
light hair and wore a soft light
colored hat, dark gray suit Of
clothes and seemed to be of q jovial
disposition. Anderson noticed moth
ing wrong with his actions or talk at
the time and had no idea bnt what
be would soon return with the boat
The explosion took place about
7:45 in the evening, just as The sun
had set behind the western hills aud
the shades Of evening were casting
their shadows over the lake. The
report was beard by a number Of
persons 10 town. Two stories are
told regarding the tragedy, but
that Of Miss Eliza Kircbeval and
Mrs. Corbin, who we're at the Corhin
cottage on the point at the time,
seems most likely 10 be true Miss
Rircheval says that they were on the
verands OF the cottage and the report
Of the explosion was very loud, the
conclusion in the atmosphere being
distinctly felt. Looking out onto
the lake they saw a cloud of smoke
rising from the water few
bdndred yards from shore. This
statement is verified by the fact that
pieces Of flesh aud wood from the
wrecked beat uere found GA shore OF
the small lay.
J NJ Elder aud family and some
eastern visitors were crossing the lake
from Kid Island has when the ex-
pioston occurred. Some Of the par; =
saw the fash aut Mr.. Elder describes
il as being half mile east Of
Tubs point and some distance out
in the lake He ssw the flash dis
: tiuctly and says it was followed by a
cloud Of smoke and the report two or
three seconds later.
One of the Carscsllen brothers was
going up the lake at the time with
+. the steamer Telephone aud barge,
J aud be says that be saw the smoke
from the explosion and located II
near he entrance to Benefits bay.
This Is a much greater distance from
the point than the location fixed by
8 others and 1t is probable from all
evidence obtainable that the scene Il
r the tragedy is some distance south
r and east of Tubbs' point.
a The front end OF the boat, contain
5 ing an air tank, was picked up Tues
!. day near the month Of the river, to
e gether With bits of flesh, pieces Of
+ the oars aud a portion Of the victims
!, hat. DIR. Sahin, county coroner
d examined one piece Of torn fesl
u about Eve inches square aud pro
J. nouneed il lacerRted human heart
ia AAN AANAE IA AAtN AANA AEAANNAEA
d were bits of flesh and bore, on,
d piece Of the latter being clean anS
b Embedded firmly in the thick part Q
: the car. Pieces Of clothing and thl
e wrappers from three sticks Of gian
!. powder No. ., were also In the boat
q The hack end Of the boat was eithe
blown 10 pieces with its humal
Il cargo, or sank from its own weight
, the hull being made Of heavy shee
e steel. The jagged and twisted edge
II Of the piece Of the boat recovered
g together with other wreckage pickles
y up, shows the terrible force Of. th
Scoasinued On psgs ~