Spokane in Spokane County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Spokane's Greatest Human Tragedy
September 6, 1890, 5:40 p.m.
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, August 30, 2025
1. Spokane's Greatest Human Tragedy marker close-up.
August Fluron, Jacob Hemine, Nicola Dimottes, Gust Julien, Louis Arlett, August Warm, R. Erickson, Hugh Hayes, Isaac Johnson, Raffel Vetter, Joseph Rhea, Thomas Maher, F.A. Holm, William Maunsel, & James McPherson.
With only twenty minutes left on their work day, a premature explosion on an embankment buried this crew of workmen beneath a mass of stone. A discharge of over 20 pounds of dynamite was the cause. It was later believed to have been set off by a worker tamping the dynamite with a steel rod. The scene was the construction site of the new Northern Pacific Freight Yards at Sprague and Division streets.
Most of the men that lived in the area of Spokane referred to as Shantytown. The graves of these men were paid for by Smith and Howell, the contractors for the railroad project.
Others killed in the blast were
Ray Pinkney, Peter Raffalle, Henry Aptill, James T. Talbo, Andrew Puelonelio, Home Oleson, John Courtland, Henry Cobin, & James Ballane.
May we remember some of Spokane's first builders with this marker. This memorial is dedicated this 27th day of May, 1996
Erected 1996 by Fairmount Memorial Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed
this page online
Location. 47° 39.516′ N, 117° 28.079′ W. Marker is in Spokane, Washington, in Spokane County. It can be reached from North Government Way north of W Greenwood Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 N Government Way, Spokane WA 99224, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Edward John "E.J." Brickell (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); James "Jimmie" Durkin (about 500 feet away); Rebecca Jane Reba Hurn (about 500 feet away); Garry Chief of the Spokanes (about 500 feet away); Seth Thomas Woodard (approx. 0.2 miles away); Walter Lawson (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Horatio Lewis (approx. 0.2 miles away); Anna Mae Ericksen (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spokane.
More about this marker. This marker is within the cemetery grounds.
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, August 30, 2025
2. Spokane's Greatest Human Tragedy marker wide-angle.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 64 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
