Looking back: Explosion in Blackfoot, and deputies save woman’s life

IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Jan. 27 to Feb. 2 in east Idaho history.

1900-1925

BLACKFOOT — An explosion rocked Blackfoot, but nobody was injured from the blast, The Blackfoot Optimist reported on Jan. 27, 1916.

The explosion was caused by a Mackay passenger train car’s heating plant (steam generator) while the car was switched on the Mackay side track.

The top of the car was blown off, and several windows in nearby buildings were broken.

A man by the name of Frank Paine had just left the car three minutes before the explosion. Nobody was in the car at the time of the explosion.

1926-1950

POCATELLO — A Pocatello family was told they couldn’t bury their dead dog in the local cemetery, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on Feb. 1, 1933.

“Donny,” a bird dog, belonged to N.M. Eldredge. He died Monday, and his owners wanted to place his body in the family plot at Mountain View Cemetery.

However, the Pocatello City Council, along with the city attorney, ruled that burying the dog at the cemetery was “unlawful.”

“I guess we’ll have to bury Donny in the backyard with our cat, who died a short time ago,” Eldredge said.

1951-1975

DOWNEY — Two deputies saved a woman’s life while she was delivering her child, the Idaho State Journal reported on Jan. 27, 1954.

Bernicee Beckstead, 35, of Downey, needed 18 pints of blood and 5 pints of plasma between the afternoon of Jan. 26, 1954, and 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 27, 1954.

When the supply at Marsh Valley Hospital ran out shortly before midnight, Deputy Leo Sorensen quickly drove from Pocatello to the woman in Downey to deliver an additional 2 pints of blood.

Another emergency call went out at 3 a.m. Deputy Y.D. Vorwaller responded that time with 3 pints of blood.

1976-2000

FREMONT COUNTY — Approximately $20,000 of allegedly stolen Forest Service radio equipment was seized on a federal search warrant at a Teton City residence, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on Jan. 29, 1977.

The equipment was seized by Forest Service special agents with the assistance of an Idaho Department of Law Enforcement agent.

Officials said the warrant was a result of an extensive investigation conducted by Forest Service special agents, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, Idaho Department of Fish and Game law officers, Idaho Department of Law Enforcement agents and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department.

No arrests had been made in connection with the recovery, but officials said the investigation covered theft of forest service radio equipment on at least four national forests in three states.

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