[Nfb-history] The blind miner from Butte

[Peggy Chong]

I have found an obituary of Henry Rodda I would like to share.  Rodda was a
blind miner of Butte Montana from the 1890's .  I found much on this man in
the old newspapers.  IT is too bad that we do not remember him or another
blind miner from that time and place.  

 

Henry worked for 24 years as a blind miner.

 

Peggy Chong

 

The Anaconda Standard, 19 September 1914
(Montana)

THREE ARE DEAD IN MINE CAVEIN
PROMINENT BUTTE MINERS MEET TRAGIC FATE IN SHAFT AT MAIDEN ROCK
HARRY RODDA IS ONE
William Bailey, pioneer of the district, another, and James Martin the
third-Young boys dig the victims out of the mass which falls upon them-Dog
gives warning, but its actions not interpreted at first-All had intended to
return to city on the day of the accident.
 
William Bailey, foreman of the Original mine up to four years ago, and in
charge of a part of the Clark mining properties in Butte for many years;
Henry Rodda, the well-known blind miner, and James Martin, a local miner,
who made his home in Meaderville, met a frightful death Thursday at Mr.
Rodda's mining claims near Maiden Rock in the extreme southern part of
Silver Bow county on the Big Hole river.
The three were working at the bottom of a shaft about 20 feet below a tunnel
level that ran in at the side of the hill where the prospect was located. A
cavein from the tunnel into the shaft, or winze, probably caused by the
recent rains, started and caught the men at the bottom. Tons of rock and
earth fell upon the three men and smothered them to death without the
slightest chance for them to escape.
No living person saw the accident. A little black and white dog, "Bernee,"
belonging to Harry Rodda, and his constant and devoted follower, was with
the three men when the accident occurred. With an intelligence that seemed
remarkable, the little dog ran back to the tent where the men had been
camping. It was nearly a mile and a half from the mine and was next to the
tent where a number of Butte boys were in camp.

Dog's Vague Message

The dog took a position in front of the entrance to the tent and began to
howl. He kept this up, and when the boys noticed him he acted in a frantic
manner, rushing off in the direction of the mine and then running back when
the boys did not follow him.
The boys remarked about the strange actions of the dog at the time and
thought there might be something wrong, but the idea of a cavein did not
occur to them then.
Messrs. Bailey, Rodda and Martin had left for the mine at 8:30 o'clock in
the morning and it was about 11:30 when the dog returned with the warning
which the little animal sought to convey.
William Webb, George Rowe, Arthur Treverthan, Bert Haycock, William Uren and
E. Perryman, young men from Butte, were in the adjoining camp. Webb was
doing the cooking for the crowd. In the afternoon most of the boys went off
hunting into the hills. Webb, who had also been cooking for Bailey, Rodda
and Martin, started to prepare dinner at 4 o'clock. At 4:30 dinner was
ready, but the three miners did not come. The others ate their meal. They
talked and wondered why the miners were not back. They recalled again the
strange manner in which the dog had been acting.

Dog's Actions Interpreted

Finally Webb and Uren decided to go to the mine and see, and they arranged
with the others that if there was anything wrong, they would fire a shot to
call them.
When the two reached the mine, they saw at once what had taken place and
fired the gun to call for help. The other boys hurried to the mine and the
six started in to dig down to the imprisoned men. They hoped to find them
still alive.
Never in their lives did they work as hard as during the hours that
followed. Darkness had come on, but they lighted a fire and kept right at
it. In describing it Webb said:
"The mine is on the side of a steep hill and we had to go straight into a
place where the drift was choked by a former landslide. At that point a
shaft had been sunk about 20 feet. There was a windlass at the head of the
shaft and we worked with this and a big bucket removing the earth as fast as
we could. We took out about six tons of earth and rock and I should judge
when we came to the body of William Bailey it was about 11:30 o'clock at
night.
"We kept on working down, and about 1 o'clock in the morning found the
bodies of both Martin and Rodda. They were together when the fall of rock
caught them."
As soon as the last bodies were found two of the boys hurried to a store
conducted by Mr. Bennetts, near Maiden Rock, and telephoned to Divide. From
there a message was sent to Coroner Drew. It reached him about 3 o'clock
yesterday morning. He called up Sherman & Reed and sent the undertaker to
take charge of the bodies and bring them to Butte.

Prominent Among Miners

William H. Bailey, aged 62 years, was prominent in Butte among mining men.
He was a resident of the city for 30 years and was recalled yesterday by
early residents of Walkerville, where he first worked when he came to the
big camp. From Walkerville he went to the West Stewart, rising to the
position of foreman. He was next connected with the Original, first as shaft
boss, and until four years ago was foreman of the property. He was long
identified in Butte with the Clark interests. He was shift boss at the
Original for 18 years.
He, with Harry Rodda, was interested in the claim at Maiden Rock, which they
were working when they met their death. James Martin had gone there for a
visit, about two weeks ago, and was also to share in the profits if a lead
were discovered. All were to return to Butte last evening for a visit with
their families and friends.
Mr. Bailey is survived by his wife, who with an adopted daughter, Miss Helen
Bailey, lives at 621 North Main street; two sisters, Mrs. Louis Reeves
Jones, and Mrs. Emily Keast of England; two nieces, Miss Mamie Burt, former
county superintendent of schools; her sister, Miss Anna Burt, and two
nephews, William and Joseph Burt of Butte. Mr. Bailey was a member of the
Odd Fellows, Elks and Knights of Pythias lodges of Butte.

Harry Rodda

Harry Rodda, known to all Butte as the blind miner and for years proprietor
of a candy and popcorn stand on West Park street, who was killed while
working with his partners in the prospect near Maiden Rock, was 57 years of
age, a native of Cornwall, England. He came to Montana the first time 36
years ago and located in Marysville when that was one of the big camps of
the state. On his return to England, where he spent three years, he married
Miss Carrie Bennett, who is among those who survive him.
On his return he came to Montana again and made his home near Maiden Rock,
at the lime quarry. It was at this place, Oct. 28, 1890, that he lost his
sight as a result of a premature blast in the quarry. Despite this loss of
his sight, he continued to work in the quarry until 1906, when the family
moved to Butte to make their home. Shortly after his arrival in Butte, Mr.
Rodda suffered a shock from the death of his son William, which was greater
to him than the loss of his sight.
Before he lost his sight, Mr. Rodda's ability as a musician was recognized
and he was a member of the old Alice band. After losing his sight he gave up
the study, but not his delight in music.
He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and was prominent in the doings
at the miners' picnics. He, with another blind man, often participated in
drilling contests at these affairs and he took a keen interest in the
miners' outings.
Mr. Rodda is survived by his wife, three daughters, Mrs. Thomas Blythe, 636
Colorado street; Mrs. Owen Bennett of Colorado Springs and Miss Vera Rodda;
two grandchildren, Carrie and Harry Blythe, and scores of nephews, nieces
and cousins. He also leaves three sisters in England. His two brothers were
residents of Butte until their death several years ago.

James Martin

James Martin, who was one of the three men who lost their lives in the
cavein at the prospect, was 36 years old and well-known in Butte. He lived
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Uren, 85 Main street, Meaderville, and
worked on the east side of the hill. He was employed at the Elk shaft until
it was shut down a few weeks ago, and from there was taken to Maiden Rock by
Mr. Rodda with the promise that he would share in the profits if the
prospect turned out well.
Although he leaves no relatives in this country, he will be remembered by
many members of the Sons of St. George, Victoria lodge and many residents of
Meaderville.
He was born at St. Just, Cornwall, where he leaves his mother, four brothers
and three sisters. He came to this country 10 years ago, first going to
Nevada, where he worked silver mines, and came to Butte four years ago.

Coroner Drew went to the scene of the accident and investigated it. He will
hold an inquest at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon.
D. J. McGrath, deputy state mining inspector, interviewed all the witnesses
who were on the scene when the bodies were recovered to determine if
possible the cause of the accident.
The funeral arrangements have not been completed. They are pending the
arrival in Butte of Mrs. Owen Bennet, daughter of Mr. Rodda, who is on a
trip to Colorado Springs. It is possible, if she arrives in time, a triple
funeral will be held Sunday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

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