The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-08-13
FIRE AND EXPLOSION
FOUR FATALITIES
ONE HUNDRED INJURED AND
PROPERTY LOSS ESTIMATED
AT $25,OOO.

BOULDER, Colo, Aug. 12.-Fire,
originating from an unknown cause,
in the western end of the Colorado &
Southern freight depot at l o'clock
Saturday morning, destroyed the de-
pot with vast quantity of freight in
half an hour, and, spreading a dis
tance of 100 feet, enveloped pow
der house containing 900 pounds of
dynamite, which exploded with tre-
mendous shock. throwing firemen
and hundreds OF spectators to the
ground, fatally injuring two men, a
third man and a woman dying from
shock shortly afterward. and break
ing the plate glass in every business
house in town, as well as in hun
dreds of residences. The loss is es-
timated at $4,000. The fire was re-
ported under control at $3.50.
The Boulder police report that 90
persons were injured by the explo-
sion, and that twenty-five are being
cared for in hospitals.
The Dead.
Isaac o. Wilson, aged 20, con-
tractor; both legs blown off below
the knee.
Leslie Roy Lafevre, aged 2S; left
leg blown off below knee, cash in
right leg, internal injuries; sewing
machine agent.
Fl. A. Ramsey, painter, married,
with wife and two children a con-
sumptive in the last stages; death re-
suited more from shock than bruises.
Mrs. d. T. Finch, sick, died from
shock.
The firemen, handicapped by low
pressure, fought bravely, in utter
ignorance that half ton of explo-
sives were stored within 100 feet of
the burning building. No warning
was given, and when the sheet iron
shack split open with roar the men
manning the hose and every person
within radius of 100 yards, were
hurled to the ground.
Roy LaFavre and Ike o. Wilson,
who were nearest the storehouse,
were frightfully mangled LaFavre's s
leg was blown off above the knee.
Wilson, cripple with an artificial
leg, had his right leg blown away,
and the wooden limb shattered and
fragments of it driven into his body.
Across the street from the freight
depot a big two-story brick ware
house had great cracks driven in it's
walls and it's roof blown off.
Several shacks along the tracks,
occupied by squatters, were reduced
to splinters.
In the business section of the city
great sheets of heavy glass fell in
splinters on the sidewalk, following
the explosion. Not pane of glass
is left in the center of the city.
Guards of armed men were thrown
about the banks and mercantile es-
tablishments to prevent looting.
Scarcely had the smoke from the
explosion drifted away than band
of volunteers rushed into the powder
house, and, fighting their way
through the choking mist and flame,
located several kegs of giant powder
which had failed to explode and
which they carried out to safe
place.
On a side track at the platform of
the burning depot stood a car con-
tanning eight tons of dynamite. Des-
pite the fact that cinders were fall
ing on it's roof. and that little flickers
of flame were apparent on its walls,
a switching crew backed down and
coupled to the smouldering car, and
while the brakemen beat out the
sparks the engine hauled the car two
miles into the country, where it was
left on a side track.
The Boulder clubs weekly recep-
tion had just ended and many men
c.fo
sidewalk waiting for their carriages
when the explosion occurred. About
SO women were blown off their feet
A brick house, occupied by J. j.
McCabe, half block from the
freight house, was wrecked.
All the windows in the University
building were blown out and the
plaster fell from the walls and cell
ings of the main building.
Thirty cars were completely des'
troyed, with their contents, consist
ing of valuable merchandise.
Theft fact that dangerous explosives
were stored near the depot, ald thai
few persons were aware of the fact
will be made the subject of rigid
inquiry by the city authorities. Rail
way officials explain that the storage
was only temporary, pending ship
ment to the mines.
eve have proof that the fire in the
depot of the Colorado & Southern a.
Boulder last night was of incendiary
origin" said Vice President A. D
Parker of the Colorado & Southern
railroad tonight. ''The miscreant!
may not have looked for the awfu
results that followed through the ex
plosion of the dynamite, but upor
their heads the blame of the catastro
phe must rest | will not say whom