Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-01-07
TWO MEN KILLED MONDAY SOON
AFTER DINNER
50 POUNDS GIANT POWDER
The City of Grants Pass and Half of
the County Feel the
Shock.

A terrible accident. occurred last
Monday, at 40 in the afternoon, on
the Garner place, quarter of mile
south of the bridge. Mr.. Garner for
some time has been clearing his 36-
acre tract, purchased from f. II.
Schmidt, and for this purpose he has
had a number of experienced men
pulling brush and blowing out
stumps. After dinner last Monday
Charles Hubnell and Frank James
left the house and went out to their
work, taking with them a 50-pound
box of giant powder and a sack OF
what is known as Judson powder,
together with some dynamite caps.
These were deposited near a fire
which had been kept burning for
some time What happened is all a
mystery, for at the time mentioned
there was a terrific explosion which
shook every house in Garnts Pass,
earring dishes in china closets, in
some places knocking them from the
shelves, and in some houses window
glass was broken; this occurred at
the East school. Men rushed to the
scene of the accident and found Hub
ctt al nd he thn
proach of the rescuers he called to
them: "For Gods sake, boys, help
us out of here" This was the last
sign of consciousness he exhibited
and in a very few minutes was dead.
He was fovnd to be IN the fire with
nearly all his clothing blown. or
burnt off, his body horribly mangled
almost beyond the semblance of a
man. The body of James was dis
covered twenty-five or thirty feet
from the fire, where 1t had been
blown from by the force of the ex-
plosion His body was literally torn
to pieces and parts of 1t distributed
over the ground for some distance,
nearly every particle of clothing had
been blown off and he was beyond
recognition.
Immediately after the explosion
people from every direction ran to
the Garner place. Mr.. Garner was
notified by telephone Of what had
happened and doctor was called
the coroner sent for and soon the
undertaker's wagon drove across the
bridge, and on reaching the fatal
spot the shattered remains were
gathered. The Coroner's investlga-
tion revealed nothing. The men
we're seen to go to the clearing and
deposit their burden. Passersby
told how a moment before they were
seen at the fire, but the cause of the
accident no one could reveal; every.
Vhc was WI w duNdnNt uis bNn
theory. Some thought that a spark
from the fire had ignited the Jud.
son powder and that had caused the
giant powder to explode, as there
were two perceptible shocks. Others
believed dynamite cap had BY
some means prematurely exploded
Others advanced the theory that the
men were thrawing out the dynamite
and that this produced the explosion
and so the guess work went on and
the coroner was baffled. Soon after
the accident Hudnell's sister, who
lives at Fort Gaines, Ga, was noti.
fled OF her brothers tragic death
and message came back requesting
that the remains be buried here
James was In the habit OF speaking
OF his relatives and Il was generally
thought they lived at Baker City
Ore. but telegraph message sent
20 that place brought no answer
The funeral took place from the un.
dertaker's on Wednesday morning
Rev. Frederick Bartlett conducted
the ceremony, which was attended by
quite a number OF the unfortunate
mems friends. The interment was
at Granite Hill cemetery. No one
felt this accident more keenly than
did Mr.. Garner. who, though IN nc
way responsible. was severely shock.
ed by the catastrophe. He would
not permit the county 10 bear tho