Acclaim Scouts of Butte Heroes
In Greatest of Emergencies Show Results of Training; Bolt Kills Youth.

First Aid Probably Saves Lives of Boys Torn By Lightning; Scout Executive Ben Owen Praises Youths for Their Efforts to Resuscitate Wounded.

The story of a torturous five-mile mountain descent with wounded youths that covered nine hours and the unflagging efforts of highly trained boy scouts of Butte and their leader, Ben Owen, was told by members of a group of 10 scouts and their chief, who were victims of a bolt of lightning that struck in the midst of the party of hikers on Red mountain, near Melrose, resulting in the death of Henry Heldeman and the wounding of Tommy Lanphler, Carl Shiner and William Kent.

How all of the members of the party that, besides the dead youth, the wounded ones and Owen, included Homer Bradford, James Weal and John McCarthy, were hurled and stunned on the south slope of the rocky peak, and how first aid applied by the less injured probably saved the lives of the three wounded scouts, was told upon the arrival of the survivors with the body of Heldeman, which was brought here after a day’s labor in the mountains.

Praise for Scouts

Praise for the manly and heroic efforts of the scouts was given by Scout Executive Owen while the wounded boys from their cots were enthusiastic in their descriptions of their leader’s work in endeavoring to resuscitate Heldeman and his efforts in aiding them while he himself was suffering from a severe shock.

The three boys who suffered most from the accident were brought to Butte by Dr. John A. Donovan, who left Butte following a telephone call that came several hours after the bolt struck and as a result of extraordinary efforts on the part of scouts and residents of the district.

William Kent, who suffered burns about his eyes, face and back, is probably the worst injured. He is at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Kent, 1117 Farrell avenue. He will recover, as will the rest, it was stated.

Tommy Lanphler, son of Thomas Lanphler of the Lanphler-Casey brokerage firm, was taken to St. Jame’s hospital, where he is being treated for shock and a burned foot.

Carl Shiner, son of Sam Shiner of the Shiner Furniture company, suffered burns about the chest and back. He is at his home and reported doing nicely.

Had Scaled Mountain

The members of the party were picked boy scouts and were on the first lap of a four-day hike with 20-pound packs. They had scaled the northern side of Red mountain after leaving the scout summer camp at Highlands and were on the south slope of Devil’s Spire, a rocky and dangerous locality, when the bolt struck.

The party was headed by Scout Executive Owen and the scouts were picking their way on a narrow path. Every member of the party but John McCarthy was hurled to the ground when the flash came, according to the story of Owen and the other survivors. Heldeman, who was killed, was bringing up the rear.

A terse order from their leader was all that was needed for every scout to take his place in the rescue work. It was related. Two of them, Bradford and Marvin, began the long descent for help, while Owen rushed to give aid. to Heldeman, who was seen to be badly hurt. The other boys gave artificial respiration to Kent and Shiner, who were knocked unconscious. Lanphler was badly stunned and delirious for some time, it was reported.

Owen worked for more than an hour endeavoring to bring Heldeman back to life. When it was seen the efforts were useless, the body was laid away in a recess and more attentions were given to the wounded. The scouts in the meantime had done their task. Kent, Lanphler and Shiner had been made comfortable, a brief consultation was held and the long and dangerous descent was begun.

Sliding on their backs while they held Lanphler, who, wounded in the heel, was unable to walk, the party laboriously went down the steep grade. Young Kent and Shiner were assisted by their comrades.

Few steps could be taken upright in the slow descent along dangerous slide rock and a dim path. When, after hours, the bottom of the mountain had been reached, a wagon with a bed of straw, brought by C. J. Nelson, a rancher, who had been notified by Scouts Bradford and Marvin, met the party. Then another slow journey began to the ranch home.

Cared for at Ranch

There warm food prepared by Mrs. Carl Johnson was given the boys and fresh bandages were applied to the wounded. in the meantime C. J. Clark, who heard of the accident from the scouts sent out for help, was making a long Journey by foot to the Highlands camp. He reached there about 11 o’clock to inform Assistant Scout Executive Henry Searls of the fate of his comrades. Searles immediately set out on foot far a ranger’s cabin several miles distant. There he telephoned to Dr. Donovan in Butte.

When the three injured boys had been taken from the ranch a party composed of Ben wen, C. J. Nelson, T. McAuley, Clifford Peterson, C. J. Clark and Keeley Nelson climbed the mountain to get the body of young Heldeman. It was brought to the lowlands after a long trip and taken by wagon to Melrose. From the latter town it was taken to Butte.