Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-04-26
WOUNDED MEN BROUGHT
TO THIS CITY
Accident at Cowles---Thomas
Daugherty Well Known
Miner Will Probably
Lose His Eyesight.

mite explosion, Wh1cn occurred near
the boarding house of the Pecos
Copper Company near Cowles, 26 miles
northeast of this city at 1:3O o'clock
yesterday afternoon, while the garden
crew was blasting stumps, Frank
Wheeler was killed, Thomas Daugher-
ty was so badly injured about the face
that he may lose the sight of one Of
his eyes, and C. F. Rotterman was
injured about the face chest, shoul-
ders and arms.
The accident was a remal kable one
In that four other men standing as
near the explosion as those who were
injured escaped unhurt, two OF them
J. H. Buick and another having charge
of the work Of blasting. 1t is not
known just how large the charge OF
dynamite was which caused the ac-
cident, but it is thought to have been
about two pounds.
The gardeners had been at work
during the forenoon blasting stumps
under the direction Of Frank Wheeler
who came to the camp eight days ago
from a mining town in Nevada. Wheel
er was a resident Of Cleveland, Ohio,
but had been In the west for some
time. After dinner, C. F. Rotterman,
who is manager of the mining board
ing house. and Thomas Daugherty who
is an old and experienced miner work
ing On the night shift at the Hamilton
mine, with several other camp at
taches left the dining room, and went
into the garden to watch the garden
crew do the blasting.
Heavy Charge Used for Blast.
There was one large pine stump in
the garden patch with whicn the men
had been having some trouble, and 1t
had been decided to use sufficient
amount of the explosive to remove It,
Three separate charges were placed
about the stump, separate fuse at
tached to each. The fuses were light.
ed, and the men withdrew to the rear
of the bunk house not far distant. Two
reports were heard and the men
waited for the third. After having
waited some time one of he party
suggested that two charges had ex'
ploded al the same time and they
went back to where the dynamite had
been placed.
The explosion had partly removed
the roots of the stump and Ro ter.
man and Wheeler took hold OF the
top thinking to finish the work. The
rest Of the party were standing Lear
in a group, Daugherty peering over
Rotterman's shoulders, when the fatal
explosion occurred.
The concussion caused by the re
port threw the men backward, anc
those who were not too badly injured
Immediately saw that Wheeler hat
been the most seriously hurt, botf
legs having been terribly shattered
Daugherty's injuries were confined tt
his face which was rendered almos
into pulp. Rotterman escaped witt
less serious injuries, his eyes which
were filled with fine river sand ant
dust from the stump. being the wors
affected.
Dies Before Medical Help Arrives.
Wheeler was carried to the bunl
house, and given all the attention tn.
camp facilities afforded, but about al
hour later he died. An effort wal
made to secure a physician from som'
of the little towns near Cow1es,
man on horseback having been imme
diately dispatched for that purpose
but none could be secured.
Santa Fe was the nearest town, an
a telegraphic message was sent t
DR.. J. H. Sloan of this city, from
Glorieta. DR.. Sloan immedia ELY start
ed for the scene Of the accident, bu
when he reached Glorieta he fonn
that Daugherty and Rotteiman ha
been brought to that place and tn
latter had left for Santa sFe
He dressed the wounds Of Daughel
ty, alleviated the pain as much as pos
sible, and made preparations to hav
him removed to this city Rotterma
arrived In Santa Fe on Santa F
train No. Z, last night, and went t
the Claire Hotel, but soon after wa
removed to the Sanitarium. Daughel
ty arrive dhere at noon inday, In