The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., November 9, 1907, page 12
"Out In The Country"

SEVEN MEN KILLED IN AN EXPLOSION

     On Friday evening last Coroner Sanders received word that a murder had been committed near Hewett's Landing below Lyle. The prosecuting attorney, Wm. T. Darch and Sheriff Warwick were notified and made preparations to start at once to the scene. However, before starting, they received further information that an explosion had taken place on the North Bank Road and killing seven of the laborers.
     Saturday morning the above mentioned officers left Goldendale for Hewett's Landing, arriving there about nine o'clock and proceeded at once with their investigation, from which they reached the conclusion that it was a proper case for a corner's jury. The following named persons were then called and sworn in as such jurors: Jas. Creeden, C. Hall, John Daffron, B.H. Reed, L. Christensen, and T.J. Whitcomb. A thorough investigation was then made by inspection of the bodies and place where the explosion occurred, and several witnesses examined concerning same, after which the jury returned the following verdict:
     "We the undersigned jurors empannelled to inquire into the death of the persons before us, find that the three bodies before us are those of Charles Resed, a native of Sweden; Henry Hunklelaw, a native of Sweden; and Munsing, a native of Hindustan, and four bodies blown into the Columbia River and not recovered were those of Bogasing, Dancosing, Sengesing and Randjasco, all of natives of Hindustan; that they came to their death by a premature explosion at Major Creek in Klickitat County, State of Washington, of the 1st day of November, 1907.
     We further find that said deaths are due to the carelessness of some person or persons to us unknown.
     Dated this 2nd day of November, 1907:
     From the evidence taken it was learned that several months ago the contractors had "coyote holes" made in the point of the rock at that place for purpose of breaking up the rock for purposes of removal. Considerable powder, both black and giant, were used for that purpose. All the mines were connected by wires and fired by battery. For some unexplainable reason part of the charges failed to go off. The rock was broken up to such an extent and so well, that it was thought that all charges had been fired. The broken rock were removed, and the loose rock barred down from the sides. The laborers were gathering up and removing this rock and smoothing the bed of the road next to the bluff, when evidently one of the men with a pick struck the unfired mine, when instantly seven men were hurled into eternity.
     Four of them were thrown into the Columbia River, and three landed on the bank badly mutilated. Some of the bodies were thrown a distance of two hundred yards. Pieces of bones, flesh and organs of the bodies were strewn over the rocks in all directions.
     Charles Resed, who was killed had that morning been promoted to the job of foreman over the Hindoos, and had just reached the point, after the noon hour, at the moment the explosion occurred. One side of his head and body was badly shattered.
     Henry Hunklelaw has been working with the contractors for three or four years. He had been sent down to this point that morning for the purpose of repairing some push cars. It was reported at the camp that he had a sister living at or near Spokane. Her name could not be ascertained.
     The limb of one Hindoo was found about sixty feet away from the place of the explosion, where the body of another was found about 100 feet away. This body and member was turned over to the Hindoos, who according to their religious custom proceeded to build a funeral pyre and pouring a can of oil over same cremated the body, after which they were going to throw the ashes into the Columbia.
     So far as can be learned none of the men killed had families.
     When the first explosion occurred the flash from that seemingly set off another mine, hidden on the side and twenty feet up the rock bluff. This mine was also unknown to the contractors or men at work.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer