7 Killed in Catalina Explosion
Nevada State Journal, Reno
November 13, 1934
Avalon, Catalina Island, Cal., Nov. 12. -- (UP) -- Seven workmen were burned to death and one other injured seriously today in an explosion of 900 cans of blasting powder at a seashore rock quarry here.
The dead:
Marion Paul, 23
Kenneth Ernest Smith, 23
Angel Hernandez, 37
Herman Bermudas, 37
Peter Hansen, 38
Manuel Flores, 20
Russell Lauders, all of Avalon
John Halverson, suffered third degree burns
Paul was killed almost instantly when a spark, caused by a pick-axe striking a powder can, touched off the powder as the workmen were transferring it from cans to sacks for blasting purposes.
Smith died in a hospital an hour later, and then one by one the others succumbed to the burns, despite the efforts of a corps of doctors and nurses rushed by plane from Wilmington, across the channel on the mainland.
The men were employed on the Rohl-Connolly quarry.
