Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-08-21
DETAILS OF THE
AUSTIN EXPLOSION


this morning contains the following
account Of the fatal explosion at that
place last Wednesday:
4 fatal boiler explosion occurred at
S:27 a. III. Wednesday morning AT the
Dalton mine. about two miles south OF
Austin. in which Louis c. Dyer was
instantly killed, Fred Burchfield ser
iously injured, dying IL hours later,
and Wallace McIntire was more or less
injured and pcppercd with flying oils
and debris. and by a miracle escaped
with his life, but still one side of his
face is in a bad condition. and at first
1t was thought one eye was injured.
but luckily, such was not the case.
The report of the explosion was
heard in town and telephone mess.
age from the X.Ray mine, short dis
tancc from IN" scene OF disaster, told
that something serious had taken
place. In few minutes a number of
autos. loaded with people, were on
their way to the mine to render all as.
sistanCe possible. 4 sorry spectacle
greeted them. The frame building, re-
Gently constructed, was in ruins, and
scattered in all directions. and in sew
cral places on lrc II was thought al
first that Dyer was in the wrcCkaCc
and the fire was soon cXtinguished.
but the unfortunate man was found
over the dump some Is feet away.
dead. he having been blown through
jlc building
Mr.. BurChhcld and Mr.. McIntirc
were moving around when the helpers
. arrived. and shortly after Mr.. Burch.
| field arranged box and sat down.
rolled a cigarette and cOnvcrsed about
tn" disaster. 1t was soon observed.
however. that he was badly hurt so he
and Mclntirc were placed in car
and brought To town. BurChiield was
taken to the home of his sister, Mrs.
evening and MCIntirc to his own home
Coroner Malloy was on the grounds
| and summoned Coroner's jury. The
| remains of the unfortunate Dyer were
| examined. also the surroundings, and
the jury then adjourned. The body
/ was put In car and brought to town
Wallace MCIntirc. who had such q
narrow escape, says that he. BurCh
field and Dyer. the latter the engineer
were working close together under the
same roof Wallace was working on
the pump alongside the boiler. lie oh
served leak in the boiler and called
| his companions attention TO II. BuTch.
field said: I'VE had better run" Each
started for II different door. there be
ing three in the building. but before
reaching the outside the explosion took
place and he was thrown through tn,
door and down bank ID feet. Wreck
age was nying all about him and h'
got up and started down the hill whcI
he fell and received more bruises. III
returned to the mine and started I,
fight the nrc. thinking Dyer was in th'
ruins. but in the meantime JaCl
SChmith arrived and found him owe
the dump. dead. Durchflcld was stand
ing up, but helpless and in n dazct
condition. The explosion happened II
minute, and the direct cause dt
not know.
Mike Miles and T.. J. Medallion wer,
working in the bottom of the shaft
and fortunately but little debris fCl
down. Mylcs was on the bucket tel
feet from the bottom when the cxplo
sion occurred and the hoist being sho
to pieces. the bucket went TO tn,
, bottom but neither was injured an,
| receiving the accident signal from Nc
1ntirc. climbed the ladder to the tun
/ mel level and out to the surface.
p Wednesday evening the coroner
jury again met and DR.. Clark testifle,