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W.M. Solomon and Delaware Sewell the Victims—Particulars of the Accident—A Reasonable Explanation — The Funeral Last Thursday.
About 10 o’clock last Wednesday morning, William M. Solomon was instantly killed and Delaware Sewell so seriously injured that he died within a few hours. At the hour named smoke was seen issuing from the main tunnel of the Occidental mine, where the two men were working. This was followed by the reports of two explosions. Mr. Solomon, the father of the deceased and of J.Z. Solomon, Superintendent of the Occidental mine and mill, ran to the tunnel and looked in. He could see nothing but heard moans. Going into the tunnel he found Sewell lying speechless on the ground, his clothes torn off. He walked up the tunnel to where the two men had been working, looking for his son, but did not find him. On returning be found him lying between the rails, under a two-inch plank, dead. The plank was a section of the flooring of the track; one end of it was still nailed to the sill, the other was loose It was evident that the explosion had raised the plank and it had fallen back just as Solomon reached the spot, in endeavouring to escape. The bodies of the two men were removed to a neighbouring house, at once, while J.Z. Solomon jumped on horseback and came to this city after a physician. W.M. Solomon being dead nothing could be done for him. Some hopes were entertained of saving Sewell's life, but they were not retained long. As soon as the physician had examined him, he pronounced his case hopeless and he died about five hours after the accident.
The physician who attended the men states that Solomon was found entirely uninjured, apparently, as he had not a wound on his body, and that he died by asphyxiation. Sewell, however, died from inhaling poisonous fumes, and from extreme cold consequent on the loss of the epidermic or outer skin, which fell in large scales whenever the man was moved. He had also suffered a compound fracture of the third rib of the left side, the rib having been forced out of place over three inches and a piece having been broken off which penetrated into the lung. Through the opening thus made and through the pores of the cuticle or true skin exposed by the removal of the outer skin, air was admitted. This would doubtless have caused the unfortunate man to literally freeze to death.
The cause of the explosion is not known, and must therefore be guessed at. As usual in such cases, many theories are advanced, but that which is most generally accepted by the miners of this city is that the unfortunate men went to the magazine without a light; that they there struck a match to look about; that a piece of the match fell into the keg of black powder, which stood close to the door; that, the powder being been wet and hardened into a cake, it began to sizzle, and (the fire having penetrated the “cake” to the soft powder beneath) an explosion followed. The concussion resulting from this explosion then caused the giant powder to explode. This part of the theory, at least, is reasonable enough, as two reports were undoubtedly heard. Now as to the men: Upon hearing the sizzling of the black powder they became aware of what they had done, and started on a run for the entrance of the tunnel. Sewell being ahead; but the explosion occurred before they could get out, and they were found as stated, but about seventy-five feet apart. Had the explosions occurred while they were in the drift, they would undoubtedly hare been reduced to atoms. The fact that they took no light to the magazine is shown by their lantern (they could not use a candle because of the air-currents in the tunnel) having been found close to the car, about thirty feet away from the junction of the drift with the tunnel and in the opposite direction to that in which the bodies were found. The additional fact that Solomon was apparently uninjured adds great weight to this theory of the miners.
Delaware Sewell was a native of Canada and about 42 years old. He came to this city in 1860, and has remained on or about the Comstock ever since. He has at times been worth quite a sum of money, and owned a mill opposite the old brewery, in the lower end of this city. He was also, at one time, Superintendent of the Pioneer mill, and has had charge of various mines. He is not known to have owned any property at the time of his death, besides a dwelling house in this city and a third interest in the Edison mine, in Delaware District, which was named after him. He was a member of three associations, to-wit: The Miners’ Union, the Masonic, and the Odd Fellows; and was not married.
Solomon was not so generally known as Sewell, but is very highly spoken of by all who knew him. He was not a member of any local society, but was about to be admitted to the Silver City Miners’ Union. He was a native of New Jersey, and 25 years old.
As they had been intimate friends, a double funeral was agreed upon. in pursuance of this agreement Sewell's remains were brought to the hall of Amity Lodge, while those of Solomon were taken to the hall of the Miners’ Union.
About half past 8 o’clock Thursday afternoon Amity Lodge met and, after the preliminary services, escorted Sewell’s remains to the Miners’ Union Hall, where they were received by the Miners’ Union, and religious services were held. At their conclusion the procession was again formed, the Masons taking the lead with Sewell’s body, the Miners’ Union coming next, with Solomon's remains, and citizens closing up the line of march. In this order the graveyard was reached, when the procession broke ranks.
The funeral was attended by many citizens of Virginia, Gold Hill and Dayton, and was beyond a doubt the largest funeral which has ever taken place in this city. Yerington Times, 4 January 1879.²

Solicitor, partner in Hallett & Co., of Bank Street, Ashford, Kent. Served as Second Lieutenant, Captain and Temporary Major with 24 Anti Tank Regiment Royal Artillery in Burma. He was awarded an MBE in 1945.

A wedding of considerable local interest took place at Holy Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, on Saturday, when Miss Edith Doyle Sewell, daughter of the late Rev. H.D. Sewell, M.A., Vicar of Headcorn, Kent, and of Mrs Sewell, 12, Calverley Park Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, was married to Mr J.W. Tyndale McClellan, son of the Rev. J.B. McClellan, M.A., Principal of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. The Rev. B.J. Stather Hunt, Vicar of the parish, officiated, assisted by the Rev. J.B. McClellan, father of the bride-groom. The Church was very prettily decorated for the occasion with palms and white chrysanthemums. Dr. Hathaway, organist of Tonbridge Parish Church, presided at the instrument.
     The bride was charmingly attired in a dress of ivory satin, the bodice draped with Carrickmacross lace, the gift of her sister, Mrs. J.C. Knocker. She carried a bouquet of white carnations, lilies of the valley, heather, and orange blossom, and wore a pearl and diamond star, the gift of her mother. There were four bridesmaids, Miss Joy Cave and Miss Kitty McClellan (nieces of the bridegroom), Miss Doris Candy and Miss Enid Candy. They wore white silk frocks, trimmed with Valenciennes lace, with lace caps and wreaths of pink Banksia roses. Shepherds' crooks with bunches of pink roses and ribbons were carried; and gold and pearl brooches, the gifts of the bridegroom, worn. Master Harold Knocker, nephew of the bride, acted as page, wearing a white satin suit with three cornered hat and plume. The bridegroom's gift to him was a gold tiepin. Mrs Sewell, mother of the bride, wore a dress of vieux rose Oriental satin, with velvet toque and ostrich feather of the same shade. Col. Smith was the best man. After the ceremony, a reception was held at 32, Calverley Park Gardens, and subsequently Mr and Mrs McClellan left for Switzerland, the bride travelling in a costume of plum coloured velvet, with pale blue silk hat.^3,4

The principal promoter of winter navigation between Quebec and Levis and built the steamer Northern Light which plied between P.E.I. and the mainland, for that purpose. He was a harbour commissioner for Quebec.⁶

Sewell was educated at Mr Burrage's School, Quebec, and in 1814-16 at Brentford, Middlesex, England. Studying for the Church of England ministry, he was ordained deacon in 1824, at the cathedral, Quebec, by Bishop Jacob Mountain, and Presbyter, 1827, in the same cathedral by Bishop Stewart. Mr Sewell was curate at the cathedral for some years. Chief Justice Sewell having built the chapel of the Holy Trinity, founded 1824, as a chapel of ease to the cathedral, Mr Sewell officiated there as well, and in 1834 was appointed minister of the church. He continued there until December 1868, when it became the Garrison Chapel. After that, he went to England in 1870 and passing some time on the Continent returned to Quebec in 1879, where he resided until his death. He received the degree of MA from the Bishop's College, Lennoxville in 1864. For many years he was vice president of the Bible Society, and took great interest in everything connected with the evangelical cause. He was very active in his younger days in connection with the jail, orphans home, hospital, church and other societies. The Canadian Album: Encyclopedic Canada, Vol. 5, p. 90.

EDWARD HAMILTON SEWELL-The major portion of the life of Edward Hamilton Sewell, of the City of Quebec, was spent in the service of the Canadian Pacific Railway, in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario. His life was consecrated to the advancement of the Province of Quebec through his work with the great railway system with which he was for years associated, nor did he confine himself to that but took a deep and abiding interest in all civic enterprises and gave his time and energies to promote all worthy causes affecting the people. Quebec had no better example of public spirited citizen than he, for, while he was a native of this Province, his blood was American of English ancestry. He was serving as passenger agent of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Sherbrooke, Quebec, at the time of his death, May 18, 1916.
Descended from one of the oldest of New England families, distinguished for their many achievements in business, professional and public life, the Sewells of Quebec note that the first representative of the family to locate on Canadian soil was the Hon. Chief Justice Sewell, who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1766 and was sent to England, where he received his education at Bristol and Cambridge University. After the close of the War of the Revolution he came to Canada and located in the Province of New Brunswick in 1785, where he took up the study of law in the office of Mr. Chipman, who became the famous Judge Chipman. Completing his course of study in 1789, he came to Quebec, where he was admitted to practice, October 30, 1789, and at once began his professional career. He became solicitor general in 1793 and in 1795 advocate and attorney general and judge of the Court of Vice Admiralty. He was also a burgess in the Provincial Parliament for the Royal Borough of William Henry and continued to represent that Borough for three successive terms. In 1808 he was appointed Chief Justice of Lower Canada and president of the Executive Council. He functioned in the first named office until 1838, resigning from the second in 1829. He was appointed, July 19, 1809, Speaker of the Legislative Council and held that office until his death in the City of Quebec, November 12, 1839, at the age of seventy-three years. He was the father of three sons: Rev. E. W; Sheriff W., and Dr. James A., of further mention. Dr. James A. Sewell, who was born in Quebec, took up the study of medicine and to that end attended the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was graduated with his degree and returned to Canada. Here he practiced his profession and lived the remainder of his life. He attained a high reputation and for years was Dean of the faculty at Laval University. He was a member of the Church of England. Edward L. Sewell, son of Dr. James A. Sewell, grandson of the Hon. Chief Justice Sewell and father of Edward Hamilton Sewell, was born and grew to manhood in Quebec. He became engaged in the lumber business and eventually was one of the greatest lumber manufacturers in the Province. He married Emily Housman, and they were the parents of three children:
1. Edward Hamilton, of whom further. 2. Mrs. E. A. Bishop, of Quebec. 3. Mrs. C.C. Pangman, of St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Sewell was born in the City of Quebec, March 17, 1875, a son of Edward L. and Emily (Housman) Sewell, and was educated in the public schools. Upon his graduation from high school he entered the lumber business with his father, spending six years in that occupation and then going to Ottawa, where he became passenger agent for the Canadian Pacific Railway and held the post for five years, then being transferred to Sherbrooke, where he performed the same duties for the following twelve years, his death terminating a career of splendid promise and usefulness at a comparatively early age. He was a member of the Church of England, a Conservative in politics and belonged to the order of Free and Accepted Masons and to the Knights Templar Commandery of that organization. Edward Hamilton Sewell married in Quebec, in 1899, Mabel J. Ross, daughter of Henry and Harriet (Sait) Ross, and a sister of the late Ernest Ross. Mrs. Sewell now makes her home at the Chateau St. Louis, on Grande Allee, City of Quebec. The career of Edward Hamilton Sewell was of value to the public of the Dominion, in that he gave to that service a great ability and his whole strength. He was a man of most engaging personal qualities, with a host of staunch friends, whose esteem for him was as sincere as was their grief at his passing. 288 The Storied Province of Quebec.

DURHAM — Elsa S. Brodie, 95, a resident of Edgewood Road, Durham, N.H., left this world to be with Jesus on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover after a brief illness.

Elsa was born in Lebanon, Maine on Oct. 17, 1916, the daughter of Edward and Ruth (Lord) Sewell and attended Lebanon schools. She lived in Durham for most of her life.
She was a homemaker for many years, where she enjoyed gardening, making rugs, photography and oil painting.
Elsa was a member of the Durham Evangelist Church in Durham.
She was predeceased by her parents and three brothers and one sister.
She is survived by her son, Edward Brodie of Lebanon and a daughter, Marima Estaver of Rochester.²