The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-09
BLOWN HIGH IN AIR
VIM. A. Graves Meets a Shock
ing Death.
Hurled Sixty-Five Feet by a
Dynamite Blast.
WENT BACK TO INVESTIGATE
Did Not Go Off When He
Expected.
Victim Was Foreman for To-
peka Stone Quarry.
WENT BACK TO INVESTIGATE

Receiving the full force of a dyna-
mite explosion, William Albert Graves
foreman of the Topeka stone quarry
east of the Topeka Industrial institute
was hurled 65 feet to his death at l
O'Clock this morning, his flight
through the air being broken by a
tree
When Coroner H. w. Bomgardner
arrived on the scene of the accident
at noon. he found the body was man
gled in horrible manner, which in
dicated the intense force of the blast.
It appeared that Graves had placed
a charge of dynamite in a hole that
had been drilled by Ed Price, an as
sistant. He lighted the fuse and ran
up small hill to a place of safety
Allowing sufficient time, he thought,
for the charge to go off, he went back
to investigate the cause of the failure
of the charge to do the work intended
While standing almost over the spot
where the explosive had been placed
the unexpected occurred and Graves
was hurled alOft IN the midst OF the
shower of stones and dirt and drop
ped a mangled corpse, far from the
scene of the explosion.
Story of Survivor.
My heart has been in my mouth
ever since the accident occurred, SAID
Ed Price. who drilled the hole, and
who came within a hairs breadth OF
losing his life in the same fashion as
did the less fortunate Graves;
Graves put the shot in the hole and
ran up on the hill. 1t didn't go off
and he ran back and stood almost over
it. [ went back, too, and was within
three or four feet of the charge Wneh
the thing happened, but Graves was
just east of the shot and ne got the
full force of it, while 1 was only hit py
Il was blinded for an instant and
could see nothing until the smoke hau
cleared away. Then the terrible feel
ing of what had happened came over
me. Tt frightens me to think of now
near came to death myself. Price
lives at 1918 East Tenth avenue.
Graves is survived by his wife and
seven children. They range in age
from , to 10 years, the Oldest boy,
Harry, living in Beloit. Kan, having
been married. The mother of the dead
man also lives in Beloit. They were
notified this afternoon of the accl-
Leaves Large Family.
Graves and his family lived in a lit
tie house adjacent to the spot where |
the accident occurred. He received SIS |
a week last summer, but this winter |
has been receiving but s12. on ac-
count of the size of the family it has |
in the past been a difficult matter to
make both ends meet The family, |
consequently is left almost penniless.
Humane Officer Kilmaurs King |
went out with the coroner, and it is |
probable that some assistance will be |
given the unfortunate family when the |
facts are generally known.
Mrs. Graves was almost prostrated |
when she heard of what had happen
ed. She watched over the body for !
some time before the arrival of the |
coroner to keep the dogs away. The !
body was in too much mangled con |
dition to permit detailed description |
of injuries Death must have resulted |
Immediately.
One of the coroner's wagons arrived |
on the scene at 1870 o'clock and the /
body was brought to Topeka