BECK, Clinton Henry

Weekly Arizona Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, July 26, 1899, page 3, column 6 (From July 18, 1899) A Fatal Explosion One Man Killed and Two Others Seriously Injured at the Buster Mine This Morning A Terrible accident occurred today at the Buster mine in which Clint H. Beck lost his life and two other men sustained injuries, one being quite serious. Only meager particulars could be learned of the accident as it was late in the afternoon when a man arrived for a coffin for the dead man. It was learned that Beck and a man names Taylor were engaged in drilling a hole for a blast and it is presumed struck an unexploded charge. A terrific explosion followed killing Beck instantly, mangling his body terribly. Taylor also sustained serious injuries, one arm being nearly blown off. A third man also sustained injuries but not of a serious nature. Medical aid was immediately summoned from Crowned King, while a messenger was dispatched to Prescott for a coffin. The dead man was a son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Spence of Palace station. Since the above was in type, M. Rolin, who came in for the coffin, was seen, and he states that two men named Campbell and Breen, working on the night shift, had drilled a hole and fired it, but that the cap only exploded, the charge of powder having remained in tact. Beck and Taylor not knowing the charge was there started to drill the hole deeper when the explosion occurred as stated, the accident happening about twenty minutes after they commenced work. ---------------------------------------- Weekly Arizona Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, July 26, 1899 The funeral of the late C. H. Beck who was killed in the Buster mine accident yesterday will take place at Palace station. Deceased leaves a young wife and three children, the eldest being only three years old. --------------------------------------- The Oasis, Arizola, Arizona Territory July 29, 1899, page 6, column 1 Prescott Courier: The explosion at the Buster Mine yesterday, in which C. H. Beck lost his life, was caused by Beck and Taylor starting to drill in a hole containing an unexploded charge of powder. The previous shift had set the charge off, but only the cap exploded. Beck was instantly killed, and Taylor had an arm almost blown off. A third man is reported to have sustained slight injuries. Beck was a son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Spence of the Palace saloon. A man who came in from the mine says a rock went through Beck's heart and his brains scattered up and down the shaft. --------------------------------------- Transcriber's note: Burial is at the Palace Station and there is no headstone marking his exact place of burial.