J. E. Wolford – Lone Mountain blasting accident victim
Wolford was a respected citizen of Grant County living at Lone Mountain [3][4]. In September 1891 he was blasting logs near his ranch using black powder when it exploded prematurely [3]. Every stitch of clothing except his shoes was blown off, skin was stripped from his body and legs, and his hands were badly torn—all but one fingernail gone [3][2]. Despite his severe injuries, Wolford made his way to Thomas Holson’s ranch, from where he was conveyed to his own home [3][2]. Stephens was sent for and relieved his intense suffering [1]. Wolford could not explain how the accident occurred except to say it was caused through carelessness [3][1]; doctors expected him to recover, though it would take many weeks [1].
Sources
- J… (1891)intimate friends. Dr. Stephens was sent for, and soon relieved the in- tense suffering of the patient, who is now re- covering slowly. Mr. Wolford has not been able to give an account of how the accident occur…
- Silver City Enterprise — 1891 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1891-09-18 (1891)done to Mr. Wolford’s two hands, the palms of which were badly torn, and all the nails but one were gone from the fingers, as if torn out by pincers. The skin was also stripped from both legs from the …
- J… (1891)J. E. Wolford, of Lone Mountain, one of the most respected citizens of Grant county, met with a serious accident while blasting logs near his ranch Monday last. He was using black powder, which exploded prematu…
- Silver City Enterprise — 1891 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1891-09-18 (1891)stepped into a prairie dog hole, throwing him to the ground. It was some time before he recovered consciousness. Col. Horace Hooker, the broncho buster, is in his native element when there are cows to punch…