MATHIES, Evan: Died 1903

MATHIES, MCFADDEN

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/26/2016 at 10:06:51

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. Wed. 11 Oct. 1903

EXPLOSION IN MINE
Particulars of Death of Evan Mathies.

CRUSHED BY FALLING ROCK
Biographical Sketch of Deceased - Sad Ending of Life of Estimable and Lovable Young Man.

Since our last issue Mr. James Mathies has received papers from Custer, S.D., containing accounts of the accidental death of his son and also letters of sympathy and condolences from his associates. One account is as follows:

"When the day shift came to work on the Saginaw property, 8 miles west of Custer, yesterday morning they discovered the mangled remains of Evan Mathies and Dexter G. McFadden, two of their fellow-workman, almost hidden under a pile of debris. Just how they came to their death may never be known, but it is believed to have been the result of picking into a missed shot or a premature explosion.

"Mathies and McFadden, both of whom have been known in the Hills a long time, were engaged in working in the tunnel of the mine which was being driven a short distance above the bottom of the shaft. They were the only men constituting the night force. Presumedly they picked into a missed shot although no record of one being left can be obtained from the day men who always notify the night force of any shots that have missed fire. The explosion must have instantly killed the men as both were crushed by the rock that was thrown out by the force of the powder.

"Mathies has been in the Hills many years. He was for three years connected with the Tinton company during the period of the excitement in Bear gulch, when he was foreman of that company. His father, James Mathies, resides at Douds Station, Iowa, and a brother, Clyde, is a prominent dentist at La Salle, Ill. He had traveled over old Mexico and was considerable of a prospector.

Inspector Nick Treweck left yesterday for the scene of the accident and will hold an investigation.

No date for the funerals has yet been set.

Another account from the Lead Daily Call is as follows:

"Evan Mathies and his fellow workman, D.G. McFadden, were found dead in the Saginaw mine near Custer, this morning, where they had lain all night. All indications pointed to the deaths being caused by being caught by the explosion of a missed hole. The two men were engaged in blasting in a portion of the workings of the Saginaw yesterday, and it is supposed that they were caught by a premature explosion or a missed hole.

McFadden had relatives in the Southern Hills, and he was well known in Deadwood, where he has resided. He was a man of middle age.

Back in southeastern Iowa, at Douds Station, live the family of Mathies, well-to-do-people. One son is a prominent dentist. The son Evan was the member of the family who left home to win fortune in the mines. He had been all over the west and Old Mexico and had been for four months last year prospecting in company with L.E. Tomblin, present foreman of the Lead Daily Call office, in Park county, Mont. During the year of greatest activity of the Tinton company in Bear gulch, he was the mine foreman of that company. In all the years, every Christmas season, there were always many Christmas packages from home for the son in the west. This morning the family received telegrams with the crushing news of his untimely death."

Biographical.

Evan Mathies was born February 13, 1866, and lived on a farm with his parents until the age of about 23 years, receiving a common school education at what is known as the Mathies school house.

Sometime late in the 80's he went west to Montana, making four trips to that country, to Butte City, and once as far as the Flat Head Reservation, always coming home about once a year; but in the last trip there he was nearly overcome by gas in a deep mine. On partial recovery he went to California and remained there recuperating his health in the Sierras.

He then came east to Arizona, and remaining there for awhile, he penetrated old Mexico as far west as the heart of the silver mines where he was foreman until the breaking out of the Spanish-American war, when it became dangerous to stay there on account of the Spanish element existing there. He returned to Arizona. After awhile he went from there to Cripple Creek, Col., engaging again as ever in deep mining there for about three years, where he nearly lost his life by drowning. From there he went to Idaho, staying only a short time and then returning home from there. After remaining here awhile he returned again to Colorado and from there on to the Black Hills in South Dakota, where after a two years stay he was killed by an explosion in Saginaw mine, Sept. 30, 1905.

In all the many years that he was away, coming home as often as he could and never forgetting the bright treasures sent home at the Christmas tide. He was affectionate and kind hearted with an open hand whenever help was needed, with a strong friendship and many friends where ever he went.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 211, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

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