The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-10
EXPLOSION Of
GIANT POWDER
Caliente Shaken Up When 1850
Pounds Of the Deadly Stuff
... Was Touched Off.
Especial to The HeraId.D

CaHente. New, Feb. 9.-About o'clock
this morning this town was startled by
a terrific expression, TattlIiy the windows
and swaying the buildings. Some Of the
people ran from their houses for safety
and others who had became used to the
regular reports of blasting about town
believed that il was but an extraordinary
charge and nassed II 1ID at that There
are two tunnels at the Sibert mine used
as powder magazines one of which was
used by the Caliente Mercantile company,
containing 8. 400 pounds of giant powder,
and the other by the Sibert Mining COM
pany, which contained 500 pounds. The
two tunnels are some considerable dis
tance apart but the powder in both
places was exploded simultaneously. This
DC WIDER, it is supposed, was fired by de-
signing individuals who had a fancied
grievance and who took this way to vent
their spite.
No One injured.
The men working in the tunnel were
not injured, but they were badly scared.
Just south Of the tunnel where the Mer-
camille company powder was stored was
a small house formerly used by the men
before the property came into the pos
session Of the Sibert company. o. ..
Flugstad was asleep In this cabin and the
force Of the explosion tore the frame
structure from about him and blew it
far out on the flat, only singing Flug-
st&ds hair, otherwise leaving him COM
fortably in his bed. Had his bed been
caught the force of the explosion, he. too.
would have gone out on the flat along
with the top Of the building.
Supplies Destroyed.
Everything about the premises other
than where the men were working in the
tunnel was blown away or DESTROYED
This includes all of the new supplies re-
Gently shipped from Salt Lake and Los
Angeles for Sibert property. From all
indications the powder was exploded by
some one who had 1t in for the Sibert
company. Fifty feet of fuse, a candle
stick and a candle that were left in the
tunnel in which the men were working
were removed by some one and it Is be-
lieved that they were used III the bastard
ly deed. Sheriff Johnson is on the
ground and he is giving the matter his
personal attention.
viii Have to Explain.
There is a suspicion as to who did the
be made of the suspicious character un-
less his mysterious actions during the
last few days can be explained away.
The force of the explosion was down
force been toward the town, CaIiente
would have certainly suffered a serious
calamity.
An employee by the name of Wilson. of
flle Sfebert property, from the Seven
Devils country. Ida, says that lis part
FER, G. II. Roberts, blew up the Siebert
mine last nnghI Tor having been dis
charged. Wilson believes that Roberts
was covered up by the debris from the
explosion, and that his remains are bu-
ried somewhere about the mine. He want
ed Wilson to go along with him, and he
did go part way, but returned, and was
in Ernest Keats saloon when the expIo-
sion took place. 1t is believed Roberts
went south, and Sheriff johnson is here
on the ground directing the several depu-
ties who are after Roberts. No doubt ex-
lists but that he Will be apDrehended Will
son was placed under the watch of two
deputies, but he attempted TO get away
from the officers, and he was locked up
for safe keeping.