LANDER COUNTY HISTORY Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Project Archives (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the http://usgwarchives.net/ Contributed by David Pangburn 4/9/2015 USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project ========================================================================= Sons Of Ireland Supplement The following supplement was copied verbatim from a microfiche copy of the Austin, Nevada newspaper, the Reese River Reveille, archived at the Central Nevada Historical Society in Tonopah, Nevada: Austin, Nevada: Monday…………January 5, 1874 LOCAL INTELLIGENCE ______________ DISASTEROUS MINING ACCIDENT ___________ Explosion of Giant Powder—Two Men Killed—One Seriously Injured ______ About 10 o’clock Saturday night, there occurred in the Oregon shaft of the Manhattan Company, one of the most serious accidents which ever took place on Lander Hill. The shaft is in process of sinking, under contract, and a depth of 665 feet had been reached. It was the custom to keep the giant powder used in blasting stored on the 500 foot level, the powder being in charge of the contractors. At the accident there were 85 pounds of powder and a quantity of caps thus stored on this level, which, at the above stated hour, from some unknown cause, exploded with fearful force. There were working in the shaft at the time three men named respectively, Cornelius Ryan, Edward Garrigan and John Broderick. The two former were instantly killed; the latter, by what seems like a miracle, escaped with his life. He was working at the time under the bucket, which was hanging in the shaft some 15 feet from the bottom, and the falling mass of timbers and debris blocked on its top and affording him protection. Before the sound of the explosion had fairly died away the alarm was given, and willing hands at once rushed to the rescue. It was found impossible to hoist the bucket; and the cage in the other compartment of the shaft refused to work, owing to the explosion having bulged the timbers. Finding it impractical to descend the shaft, Charles O’Brien, one of the contractors, followed by Dan Murphy and Dacey, entered the 500 foot level from the North Star Shaft and reached the scene of the explosion. The groans of Broderick, could be plainly heard, and immediate measures for his extrication were taken. The work was one attended with great danger, as timbers and planks were constantly falling down the shaft. But unmindful and unheeding of danger, the comrades of the buried men worked with a will and at half-past 12 o’clock succeeded in reaching Broderick, unconscious and bleeding, but alive. The wounded man was at once conveyed to the surface and everything possible done to relieve his sufferings. His wounds consist of some severe scalp wounds, a cut foot and bruised shoulder; and, though they are severe and painful, they are not considered dangerous. Immediately succeeding the above named party, Father Moloney, the Catholic priest, entered the level, in order to be able to administer the consolations of their religion to the unfortunate victims of the disaster, should they be recovered in a condition to receive them. But the poor men were beyond the reach of the aid of priest or surgeon. Nevertheless we can but admire the Reverend Father for his prompt obedience to the calls of duty, by which he knew he was incurring great personal danger. After the rescue of Broderick strenuous efforts were put forth for the extrication of the other two. The men engaged worked with the utmost energy, being themselves exposed to constant danger. At 1:30 A.M., the body of Ryan was exhumed. When found he was doubled in like a ball and life was totally extinct. At 10 o’clock A.M., yesterday, the body of Garrigan was reached. It was under water and did not show many bruises. In the 500 foot level, two men were at work, at a distance of 600 feet from the shaft. They felt the shock plainly but they were uninjured. The explosion divided its force about equally up and down the shaft. The timbers for a distance of 60 feet were entirely knocked out, and the centerpieces are knocked out for a distance of 100 feet. This is supposed to have been caused by the powerful volume of air which rushed to the surface with terrific force. The timbers in the level were destroyed for a distance of 30 feet; the pump was broken and a 6-inch pump column twisted short off, and a donkey-engine was blown back against the level a distance of 10 feet. At present it is impossible to estimate the amount of damage that has ensued from this disastrous accident, or the time which will be required it to repair it. The ground is of a hard character and the damage is principally to the timbering. Of course nothing positive is known as to the cause of the explosion. The most reasonable theory is that some paper became ignited from a candle which it is customary to keep in the 500-foot level, which ignited some primers, thus discharging the caps, the concussion from which exploded the powder. Howbeit, two industrious, worthy young men were hurled without a moment’s warning into the presence of their Maker; and, although we know the proverbial carelessness of miners, we deem it a fitting occasion to suggest that, in future, they make it a rule to keep Giant powder and caps so far separated as to preclude the recurrence of an accident such as this. __________________ THE FUNERAL. — The funeral of Garrigan and Ryan, the victims of the explosion in the Oregon shaft, took place to-day and was numerously attended. The bodies were conveyed to the Catholic Church, where a solemn requiem mass was performed, after which the procession was formed and the bodies conveyed to the cemetery. Preceding the hearse were the members of the Irish-American Benevolent Society, with their banner and badges draped in mourning; following it came a procession of about 200 miners, walking in couples; and behind them followed a long string of carriages and saddle horses. The deceased were both young men, and are represented by those who knew them in life, as having led honest and industrious lives. On January 6, 1874 the following article was printed in the Reese River Reveille newspaper: THEIR HOMES ______ We have been requested by friends of Edward Garrigan and Cornelius Ryan, who lost their lives by the mining accident of Saturday night, to publish the names of the places from which they came to Nevada: The home of Garrigan was New York City, where his relatives now reside; the home of Ryan was Minerville, Essex county, New York, where his parents still reside; and he leaves a sister who lives in Keene, Essex county, New York. The body of Ryan was waked at the house of P.H. Miles and N. Dwyer; and every attention which kind hearts could bestow was shown by friends of the deceased and the members of the Irish-American Benevolent Society of which they were members. New York papers are requested to copy notices of death. ______________ Note- Special thanks to Eva La Rue, Museum Curator and Historical Society Treasurer at the Central Nevada Museum and Historical Society for providing printouts from the archives and to Jan Morrison, my original contact in Austin, who directed me to the Central Nevada Museum and Historical Society. Special thanks also to Sister Maxine Lavell, OSF at the Catholic Diocese of Reno for sharing archived Sacramental records from St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Austin that listed the cause of the deaths of the two Irishmen. David A. Pangburn April 9, 2015