JOHN LEWIS 'JACKO' HUMPHREYS. POULTNEY, RUTLAND COUNTY, VERMONT.
KILLED WHILE LIGHTING CAP FOR BLAST.
John L.Humphrey, 35 years old was instantly killed Monday morning at 10 o'clock at the Eureka slate quarry in North Poultney by the premature explosion of a blast which hurled his mangled body into the midst of his startled companions at the bottom of the cut.At the time of the accident, Mr. Humphrey was lighting a cap with which to explode the discharge of dynamite. The explosive, contrary to custom, had been placed in a crevice in the rock. Mr. Humphrey shouted the warning "fire" and his companions run out of the way of danger, after reaching a place of safety they looked for Mr. Humphreys and wondered at not seeing him. It is thought that the fuse was too short and he did not have time to get out of the way of danger, for almost instantly after the warning the explosion occurred.
So great was the force of the discharge that a meteoric shower of rocks descended among the workmen on the quarry floor.
Mr. Humphrey was one of the most expert steam drill operators at the Eureka quarry, which is owned by Albert Tuttle of Fair Haven.
Previous to his employment at the slate quarry, he had worked as a local miner in Pennsylvania. He was experienced in blasting.
Besides his wife he is survived by four children, his mother two sisters and three brothers.
The funeral will be held from the Welsh church Thursday afternoon at two o'clock.