Joseph M. Bunker (1825-1887)

BUNKER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/12/2015 at 20:14:44

From Nevada Representative December 7, 1887

Zearing.

....At about 2:30 o'clock Monday P. M. the people of Zearing were startled by a loud explosion which was caused by the bursting of the boiler in the engine room of the Abbott grain elevator. A large section of the boiler was hurled north to the north side of Main street where Mr. A. K. Guthrie and Mr. Joseph Bunker were hitching their team. The section of the boiler struck Mr. Bunker and crushed through sidewalk to the corner of the building, killing him instantly. It also killed the horse that Mr. Bunker was tying to the post. It was close call for Mr. Guthrie also, and he was fortunate to escape with some slight bruises. The air was full of brick, mortar, pieces of boards &e., some pieces of which fell two blocks away. Mr. Bunker has lived in this neighborhood about ten years and was a man who had many friends and I think no enemies. He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at this place. It was a sad accident but it was almost wonderful that no more person were injured as there were a great many people and teams on the street at the time of the explosion....