Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1897 — When Blown Up. [ARTICLE]

When Blown Up.

A miner, who was blovfh up while blasting a rock, describes his sensations thus: “Y'ou see, it’s so sudden. It's over just about the time you begin 10 understand that something is happening. You know, I had the satchel in my hand, and put it down. Then I got afraid of it. All at once everything was light. I don’t think I saw the flash. Any way, nay face was not exactly toward the explosion. But then everything got light, lighter than day--kind of blinding. “There was an awful crash. It was just at the same time. I was terrified, and wanted to get away. It was just as if I was having the nightmare. Somehow, though, I knew just what the matter was. A man can think faster than lie lias any idea of. I knew that some of the others were.nearer tlie explosion, and I said to myself, ‘They're blown to bits, that's certain.’ You understand, this was all in a second—all at once, really. “Then it was exactly the same as if I had been lilt with a stick. I thought it was a big stick bigger tbail any man could swing, and that is must bo worked by machinery. It lilt me on the head and all over. I went sailing into tlie air a long, long way. My ears roared, and the wind blew into my face. “I knew when I struck the ground, for I rejnember saying to myself, ‘Well, I’m done for.’ “I don't know just when T lost my right senses, or when they came back, but when they did come back, it seemed queer that I was there still. I thought I had lioen thrown somewhere else. I could feel fire burning me. It was my clothes. They were smoking and almost blazing. “I was bruised all over, and could not bear very well. My voice sounded as though somebody else were talking. That's all I can tell you about it.”