Aspen, Colorado
Della S Mine Explosion
October 23, 1896
HURT IN MINE
Neal Boyle Badly Injured By a Premature
Explosion.
Neal Boyle, a miner on the Della S, lies at the
Citizens’ hospital suffering from injuries
sustained yesterday afternoon.
Between 3 and 4 o’clock
Mr. Boyle, who is working a lease
in the Della S., had prepared two holes for
firing. He applied the light to the fuses, one
of which refused to burn. In endeavoring to
ignite it he lingered too long. He realized his
danger and turned to hurry away to a place of
safety. He had taken but a step or two when the
shot exploded and he was caught by a shower of
flying rock.
With Mr. Boyle
at the time was his brother,
Daniel, who
recently returned from Cripple Creek. He was not
working but had gone to the mine to visit his
brother. When the light was first applied Danny
moved out of the drift expecting Neal to follow
him. When he did not come and the explosion
occurred Dan graped [sic] his way in the dark
back to the face of the drift. He found his
brother lying unconscious and apparently dead.
He summoned help and the injured man was brought
out through the Cowenhoven tunnel and moved to
the Citizens’ hospital.
While Mr. Boyle’s
injuries were found to be quite serious, a
report from the hospital last night said he was
resting easy and would get along all right. The
force of the shock took effect in the head and
upper part of the body and the man sustained
some bad bruises and cuts.
Mr. Boyle
resides at 514 West Main street with his father,
mother, sister and three brothers. The news of
his injury was a severe shock to his aged
parents, the report of the sad accident as it
first reached them being very much exaggerated.
The Aspen Weekly Times, Aspen, CO 24 Oct
1896
Transcribed by Audrey. Thank you,
Audrey!

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