75 Years Ago
The August 30, 1951 Colorado Transcript describes Golden's first responders handling a terrible accident in Boulder County. Gross Reservoir was under construction at the time, and workers were preparing for a blasting operation.
Construction officials stated that two crews of men, about 120 in all, were planting dynamite charges along two steep [canyon] walls when the lightning apparently first hit the north wall and then jumped 1700 feet to ignite the charges on the south wall. Men were working among the charges when the explosion occurred.
Colorado Transcript - August 30, 1951
The Transcript reported that nine men died in the blast and nine more were injured.
An Australian newspaper quoted one of the survivors, who credited "a thin strand of leather" for saving his life.
"I was drilling in the canyon walls when suddenly there was a terrific lightning flash and a deafening roar... I felt myself being thrown and when I came to, I was dangling on the end of my safety belt. It was tied to a pin driven in the rocks and that thin strand of leather saved my life."
The Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW) - August 26, 1951
The Transcript's editorial team praised the sheriff's department, the Golden police, Woods mortuary, the Red Cross, Golden's newspapers, county laborers and county nurses, doctors, and St. Anthony's hospital for their quick response and exceptional teamwork.
This was the dawn of the Cold War and civil defense was on everyone's minds. That may explain their conclusion:
It was demonstrated that officers of various counties can cooperate well in meeting an emergency. There were possibly a few mistakes, of course, but civilian defense can use this tragedy to study any demands which might be made in case of a greater disaster.
