The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-09-24
eRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.
Am. Larson and VIM. Watson Killed by a
Wv" alast in the Ivanhoe Mine.

:. .hout 40 O'Clock last Friday after
Az cus Larson was instantly Killed, and
William Watson was 50 horriply mansleu
Ml'I WI no died a few hours later. by an
ua,osion uai at the face of the tunnel in the
eApWSns mine located on Palmer noun
isn above Palmer lake.
laii' as inst four months ago that Chas.
p.aots was instantly Killed ana Lloyd
plvvs pos very seriously injured in the same
Lion', LUZ in a very much similar manner, al
aa",h niuv there was "a slight difference In
aous Nv sause of the explosions. IL the first
me sns,ance the accident was caused by a
nrsmature explosion OF the powder charg-
y, hnlas In the last horrible catastrophe
e. nu,acbine men drilled into missed holes.
@ lae same terrible result followed.
lIe H.st Friday when Gus Larson. VIM.
n,.ss"n Charles Antonsone and two
mm""Iers masISs entered the tunnel to commence
maaair shift and carry on the work OF
!nsii ,ln;re a notice was posted on black
anllia,e, ana os is customary, notifying the shift
MatV ,Sst Two Of the last round OF holes
una. uaasaS AZ fire. The crew was fully aware of
,ha condition at the face OF the tunnel
ue tua haing experienced miners knew that
shu sssv had to exercise much caution in
sryne ass the new holes. 1t was not new
uandition. Missed holes are a frequent
oS~,rrence, and miners are always care
nj in guiding drills when charged hole is
W. snowr to exist. In this instance the crew
n% saS almost completed the number of holes
aau .ssy we're expected to drill. Antonsone
.e, hack in the tunnel from the machine
'oms 20 feet, preparing the fuse. The
muckers we're still further away. Whether
mas eaperness to complete the days
norr that led the machine men to be less
,0m,;ous sv,a or whether the contact could
0ot be avoided, will never be known, but
,Ss powder in one of the missed noles was
Tr .tnek by the powerful steel drill and the
ssniosion instantly followed The men at
,As drill were mangled most frightfully:
T TSo jeft side of Larson's face and head
.sre entirely blown away, both arms a..
sSs @ hung together by shreds of shattered
An and his lower body terribly mangleu;
Ssath was instantaneous. Watson had
Ssd' h"h ewes blown out, his nose cut off, his
sv broken, his whole face, in fact, batter
q IN a puip the skull exposed IN TWO or
three places, and many minor wounds on
hs arms and body. The unfortunate man
presented frightful appearance anu rom
he first 1t VISA evident that recover
vas hopeless yet owing to his powerful
nhysioue and constitution, he fingered un-
Ii 1890 Saturday night before death
came TO his relief. He died at the Oroville
sosnital where he had been conveyed
i,on, the mine Antonsone was knocked
down and stunned by the concussion, put
ohervse escaped injury. The two muck
es we're SO far away they suffeded no
hurt .os .
ation in Oroville, the first word received
being call for DR.. Elmer before the eX-
snt Of the explosion was really known by
those on the outside of the tunnel. The
doctor made record run to the mine IN
M car. but upon reaching the scene he
hund that Watson was beyond all earthly
larson. who was about 26 years of age,
formerly lived in Oroville. He worked in
the Divided mine for a time, and AFTER
wards conducted the Elk restaurant for
nme months. He had many acquaintences
nere, but no relatives in the west: Young
Watson was we'll known here. lie grew
up from childhood in Loomis. He would
have been rs years of age in January. lie
was an upright, Industrious, likeable
Young man and the glory of his life W.
ais beautiful devotion to his aged mother.
He was her sole support.
Iarsons remains were brought to Oro-
! vile and buried in the Odd Fellows ceme-
mine attending the funeral in body.
Services were held from the NJ. E. church:
Rev. Strife officiating. The remains OF
young Watson were buried in the ceme-
terry at Loomis Monday afternoon.
The managers of the Ivanhoe mine
deeply deplore the unfortunate accident.
In no mine in the country are greater
pecaut0ns taken for the safeg harding OF
the employees. The company has gone TO
heavy epxense Hitting up rooms ana pro-
Viding entertainment and amusement for
the men. The force and management are
more like one large family than the usual
marked and great distinction between em-
poyer and employee in mining operations;
Drastic rules are laid down and enforced
IN an effort to preserve life and limb, and
W to the present summer, after many
months Of steady work, no accident has
ever occurred at the Ivanhoe In this in
stance, no blame can be attached to any
one The missed holes were announced on
he blackboard used for conveying infor-
nation to the various shifts, and the
holes marked It was one of those acci-
cents inseparable from hazardous employ
aent although none the less shocking and
dplOrable when they do occur.