Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Mine Inspector's Report for Houghton County, Michigan For the year ending September 30, 1901 Josiah Hall, Mine Inspector Index of individuals involved in fatal accidents below: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Amala, Matt. Nebala, Gustaff Carne, William Nick, Matt Enajarvi, Jacob Niemi, Andrew Erkkila, Henry Nikee, Oscar Germain, Matt. A. Niska, Isaac Goggin, William Palmer, David Hein, Matthew Pejanich, Peter Inch, Henry T. Picchiottino, Joseph Jacobson, John Pietila, William Kaupus, Sakri Poikalava, Henry Koski, Matt. Simmons, John Lane, William Starniche, Matt. Letcher, Wiltand Sunich, Joseph Lowney, Dennis Trezona, Richard Mackala, John Vago, Vincent Mainard, William Violo, Baptist Mattes, John [p. 5- 39] ACCIDENT NO. 1. - October 24th, WILTAND and WILLIAM LETCHER, brothers, were employed in a drift at the 42nd level in No. 2 shaft of the Quincy Mine. They drilled five holes in the drift and charged the holes and lit the fuse of the short hole first, and it exploded while they were setting fire to the fuse of the other holes. Both men were violently thrown down in the drift. WILLIAM arose though much bruised and made his escape. WILTAND was hurt too badly to arise and a moment later the other four holes exploded; the rocks from the blast striking WILTAND on his head. He was taken to the St. Joseph hospital, where it was ascertained that his skull was badly fractured. It was not believed that he would survive. He died twelve days after the accident happened. ACCIDENT NO. 2. - October 29th. JOHN HECKLA, a trammer at the Franklin Junior Mine, when dumping rock into the skip at the 15th level of No. 1 shaft, fell down the shaft about forty feet and struck his head on the timber in the shaft, fracturing his skull. He was taken to St. Joseph's hospital in Hancock. ACCIDENT NO. 3. - November 10th, An accident occurred at the 53rd level in No. 8 shaft, South Hecla branch of the Calumet & Hecla, by which HENRY THOMAS INCH lost his life by the fall of a rock from the hanging side of the shaft. INCH with three others was employed to cut a plat. They had drilled and charged several holes and were waiting for the trammers to fill the car. Two of the party went up to the 52nd level leaving INCH and THOMAS OSBORN to set fire to the fuse. While waiting for the trammers to get out of the shaft INCH went to sit down. He had not been sitting but a short time before the rock fell. An inquest was held before Justice FISHER. THOMAS OSBORN was the first witness and he testified as follows: "I am a miner and was working in No. 8 shaft South Hecla branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine, at the 53rd level. I know the deceased; had been working with him. I was standing near him at the time the accident happened. The deceased and his partner, ALLEN CAMERON had been working with machines. INCH was sitting down waiting for the trammers to take away the dirt in order that we might complete the blasting, when a piece of rock weigh- ing six or seven hundred pounds broke loose from behind and above where he was sitting and fell on him doubling him up. Deceased and his partner, ALLEN CAMERON, and WILLIAM FLOYD and myself had been working around the plat all morning and we felt perfectly safe and had no suspicioun that there was any loose rock in the shaft." Witness was under the impression that had deceased been sitting with his back up against the rock instead of about ten inches or a foot away from it he could have held it in place when he first felt it move. Witness and his partner removed the rock from INCH, but life was extinct. He never spoke after the rock fell. WILLIAM FLOYD and ALLEN CAMERON cor- roborated the testimony of the above witness. Dr. POMEROY testified: "I have made a post mortem examination of the body of HENRY THOMAS INCH and find that death was caused by a fracture of the spinal column and rupture of the aorta. That the ab- dominal and chest cavities were filled with blood from the aforesaid blood vessel that had been ruptured." Verdict of the jury: "We, the jury, find that HENRY THOMAS INCH came to his death on the 10th day of November, 1900, at the 53rd level of No. 8 shaft, South Hecla branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine, by the accidental falling of rock from the hanging fracturing the spinal col- umn and rupturing a blood vessel. This caused his death." ACCIDENT NO. 4 - November 10th. PATRICK McGRATH while at work in the Franklin Mine was injured by a piece of vein rock falling from the back of the stope striking his left hand, injuring it so badly that it was found necessary to amputate his hand between the wrist and elbow. ACCIDENT NO. 5 - November 14th. WILLIAM LANE came to his death in a stope at the 25th level, south of No. 2 shaft, Tamarack Mine, by a fall of vein rock. An inquest was held before Justice FISHER. SYDNEY GILLES, partner of the deceased testified at the inquest as follows: "I am a block holer and was working at the 25th level of No. 2 shaft Tamarack Mine. The deceased was my partner and I was working with him at the time the accident happened this afternoon. We came up from the 26th level to the 25th level. We went up in the stope to the rock that was jammed in the mill and had not been there very long before I crossed the mill. My partner, the deceased, was coming behind me and all at once a crash came and tons of rock came down and timber. The rock was on top of my partner. We knew nothing about the rock being loose; we just got into the stope. I went at once to hunt for my partner. Then some one went to get help and we found LANE under the rock. JOHN ROWE was one of the men that helped to take him out from under the rock." JOHN TALUS testified: "I am a miner. Was working in the stope at the 25th level south of No. 2 shaft Tamarack when the accident happen- ed that killed WILLIAM LANE. A piece of vein rock fell down from the top of the stope. I saw the rock fall. I was working about sixteen feet away from where the rock fell from. When the rock fell down it made a crash but I heard nothing before it fell. There was a hole drilled in the rock that fell ready to blast it down. Had no idea the rock would fall before the hole was blasted." JOHN KANGAS testified: "I am a partner of the last witness. We were working in the same place when the accident happened. I did not see the rock fall, I saw it afterwards. It fell from the hanging side of the vein. I was working about twenty feet away. I thought the rock was all right. There was a hole drilled in the rock that fell. We were working on the foot side of the vein to make room for timber. I looked at the place the rock fell from, before dinner, and thought everything was safe." Verdict. "We, the jury, upon our oaths do say that the said WILLIAM LANE came to his death on the 14th day of November, 1900, at the 25th level south of No. 2 shaft Tamarack Mine by the accidental fall of vein rock from the hanging side of the vein." ACCIDENT NO. 6. - November 24th. An accident occurred at the Atlantic Mine resulting in the death of OSCAR NIKEE. Deceased with four others was coming to surface in the cage from the 25th level No. 3 shaft. Through some unfortunate mistake of the engineer the cage was not stopped at the surface landing where it should have been stop- ped for the men to get out of the cage. But it was pulled up 30 or 40 feet into the dump where the rope separated from the cage, catching in the timbers at the dump and was held there. NIKEE thoroughly excited jumped from the cage and fell into the shaft. The four who remained in the cage got out safely on the landers' platform at the dump. An inquest was held before Coroner BRAND. Six witnesses were examined who gave testimony in accordance with the above statement. The jury returned a verdict as follows: "We, the jury, find that OSCAR NIKEE came to his death, from the evidence given by the witnesses, by the engineer not stopping the cage at the surface land- ing and allowing the men to get out of the cage." ACCIDENT NO. 7. - December 1st. JOHN MACKALA and MATT SALO, em- ployed in a stope at the 3rd level north of No. 3 shaft North Tamarack Mine; while drilling a hole the drill struck some powder in an old hole that had been blasted by their partners on the day shift. A part of the charge exploded and a part did not. When the drill struck the unexploded powder a premature explosion occurred fatally injuring MACKALA. SALO received some cuts and bruises but was not very seriously hurt. They were taken to the mine hospital where MACKALA died about six hours after he was taken there. SALO stated after being brought to the hospital, "We started to drill near an old hole that had been drilled and blasted by the day shift men and after dril- ling a short time the drill struck into the powder that caused the ex- plosion. We did not know there was any powder near where we were drilling." No inquest was held. MACKALA'S brother was satisfied that it was a pure accident. ACCIDENT NO. 8. - December 7th. An accident occurred at the 24th level north of No. 3 shaft, Osceola Mine, by which JOSEPH SUNICH lost his life by a fall of vein rock falling on him. An inquest was held before Justice FISHER. NOAH BENNETTS, the first witness testified, "I am a miner in the Osceola Mine. I was working today in the 17th level, between Nos. 3 and 4 shafts. I was at the place of the acci- dent shortly after. It happened at the 24th level of No. 3 shaft. I was told by the mining captain to go and help to get the man out from under the rock. When I got there some men were trying to get the de- ceased out from under the rock, which was a large vein rock. Then we sent to surface for a jackscrew to lift the rock clear from him. We got the deceased out from under the rock and sent him to surface." JOHN STAIER, partner of the deceased, upon his oath says: "I am a miner employed in the 24th level north of No. 3 shaft, Osceola Mine. Was working there today with the deceased, he was my partner. JOSEPH SUNICH, my partner, put a ladder up and was pinching down the loose ground. Me and the deceased thought it was better to blast the ground down. I told the boy FRANK SUCELL to go and get some powder, as we will blast the ground down. Before the boy got into the stope with the powder a piece of vein rock came down from behind my partner and threw him down and turned him around in falling. The piece of vein rock that fell was apparently perfectly safe, could see no danger whatever. I called to the trammers to bring me a light, the wind from the rock in falling put out my candle. The rock was about 12 or 14 feet long and nine feet wide, and three feet thick in the middle." Verdict. "We the jury find that JOSEPH SUNICH came to his death on the 7th day of December, A. D. 1900, at the 24th level north of No. 3 shaft, Osceola Mine, by a large piece of vein rock falling on him accidentally, killing him instantly." ACCIDENT NO. 9. - December 11th. JOHN MOSNECK, a timberman, while at work in the 20th level south of No. 2 shaft, Tamarack Mine, met with an accident. A party of miners who were near by the timber gange blasted a block hole and called to the men to go out from the blast. When the blast went off a rock struck MOSNECK on his left leg badly fracturing the limb. He was taken to the mine hospital where the limb was amputated. ACCIDENT NO. 10. - December 14th. ALFRED BOND, a miner employed at 41st level in No. 6 shaft, Quincy Mine, was injured by a premature ex- plosion. BOND and his partner, WILLIAM DICKENS, started to drill a hole. They had drilled but a short distance when the drill struck some powder in an old hole, which exploded, throwing some rocks into BOND'S chest and side, and slightly fracturing his skull. DICKENS, at the time of the explosion, had gone for a pail of water, and escaped injuries. ACCIDENT NO. 11. - December 21st. An accident occurred at the 9th level in No. 3 shaft, Kearsarge Mine, resulting in the death of WILLIAM PIETILA, and JOSEPH HARRINGTON had his left leg badly frac- tured and the ankle of the right leg injured - owing to some misunder- standing of the signals given to the engineer. PIETILA and HARRINGTON got into an empty skip at the 19th level and signalled the engineer to hoist the skip to the 9th level and stop. They would get out of the skip at the 9th level. Instead of stopping, the skip was hoisted up into the dump and both men dumped out. PIETILA was jammed between the skip and the timber across the shaft. HARRINGTON fell down the shaft a short distance. They were at once taken to surface, and then to the Tamarack hospital. PIETILA died about six hours after he was taken to the hospital. ANTON PIETILA and PETER PIETILA, father and brother of the deceased, did not wish an inquest held. ACCIDENT NO. 12. - January 10th. This accident occurred at the 30th level north of No. 6 shaft, Osceola Mine, causing the death of MATT NICK by a fall of a vein rock. An inquest was held before Coroner FISHER. JOSEPH TROJE, partner of the deceased, testified as follows: "I work for the Osceola Mining company. Was working last night in No. 6 shaft, on the 30th level, north side. I know the de- ceased, he was my partner. Was working with him last night, at the time he was killed by a rock falling on him. I was standing at the back of the car, about four feet behind MATT NICK, when we went in with the second car. We tried the ground to see if it was loose. We found it all safe. The miners blasted two block holes while we were out with the car. After the blast went off we went in for another car. We could not see if there was anything loose or not, there was too much smoke. The rock that fell was about ten feet above the bot- tom of the level." JOHN JERIESE testified: "I am a trammer in the Osceola Mine. Was working last night with the deceased at the 30th level, north of No. 6 shaft. MATT was as the hanging side and I was at the foot side fill- ing the car. When we went in for the first car we looked all around and thought it was all right. That was about a half an hour before the accident happened. The rock that fell was up about ten feet." WILLIAM MITCHELL testified: "I am a miner working for the Osceola Mining company at the 30th level, north of No. 6 shaft. I was in the stope running the machine and heard a fall of ground. I went down to see what was the matter, and when I got down the deceased was under the rock. I got some help and took the man out and took him to sur- face. I worked under the rock that fell last night. If I thought there was any danger I would not have worked under it." After listening to the evidence the jury brought in the following verdict. "We, the jury, find that the said MATT NICK came to his death on the 10th day of January, A. D. 1901, between the hours of 10 and 11 o'clock p.m., by an accidental fall of vein rock at the 30th level, north of No. 6 shaft, Osceola Mine." ACCIDENT NO. 13. - January 19th. - An accident occurred at No. 3 shaft Franlin Mine, when the men were getting into the skip to go to their work. ANDREW NIEMI stepped on the back of the skip. Through a mistake of the engineer the skip was hoisted up. NIEMI fell from the skip and down the shaft. His body was found at the 13th level. An inquest was held before Coroner FISHER. Daniel McGRAW testified: "I am a miner employed by the Franklin Mining company. I know the de- ceased by the name of ANDREW. I saw him this morning in No. 3 shaft house, on surface. I was present at the time of the accident. We were all around the shaft. The skip came up and was lowered to the brace and stopped. We were all going to get on. The engineer then hoisted the skip up. The deceased man was on the back of the skip, and fell into the shaft. I was just getting on the skip when it moved; I jumped off again. No one signalled to the engineer that I know of. The lander was there at the time. It is the duty of the lander to signal to the engineer to hoist or lower, as the case may be. The miners ride up and down every day. The bell ringer was at his place at the time. There were several who tried to get on the skip at the same time. The skip was hoisted up about 15 feet. The deceased fell between the back of the skip and the back of the shaft. The skip was lowered back in place again. The skip stopped about a minute at the brace before the engineer hoisted it up." JOHN McMAHAN, the next witness, testified as follows: "I am lander in No. 3 shaft, in the Franklin Mine. I was at my post this morning at the time the accident happened, and the miners were all waiting to go down on the skip. The engineer lowered it to the brace and stopped about a minute. The men were getting on when the engineer hoisted the skip up about fifteen feet, and then lowered it back to the same place. I saw ANDREW ready to get on the skip, but did not see him fall. I did not signal the engineer to hoist or lower. It is my duty to give the signals to the engineer. Neither me or anyone else that I know of signalled to the engineer. I always signal when the men are coming up or going down." MART BROWN testified: "I am a miner employed by the Franklin Mining company. I came into No. 3 shaft house after the deceased fell into the shaft. When I got in the men told me a man had fallen into the shaft. Mr. McGRAW and myself went down the shaft and found the body of ANDREW NIEMI at the 13th level. We wrapped the body up and took it to surface." The jury returned the following verdict: "We, the jury, find that the said ANDREW NIEMI came to his death on the 19th day of January, 1901, at No. 3 shaft, Franklin Mine, by the engineer moving the skip after it had stopped at the brace." ACCIDENT NO. 14. - February 1st. A premature explosion occurred in the 30th level, south of No. 3 shaft, Atlantic Mine, causing the death of JACOB ENOJARVI and ISAAC NISKA. From the evidence obtained from ISAAC and JACOB PETERSON, who were working about 200 feet north of where the accident occurred, and who, hearing an unusual explosion thought there was something wrong. Going to where the explosion occurred, they found the unfortunate NISKA lying in the bottom of the drift, and ENOJARVI in the stope. ENOJARVI was killed outright, and NISKA died a few minutes after. No one was near and from the evidence that could be gathered the deceased must have been tamping the hole with an iron bar, which caused the explosion and set off a quantity of powder they had in the boxes. Several holes were found in the stope not charged. The powder in the box was to be used to charge these holes. No inquest was held, from the fact that there was no evidence to be secured as to what caused the explosion. ACCIDENT NO. 15. - March 5th. JOHN METTES and GEORGE METTES, trammers, employed at the North Tamarack Mine, were working at the third level, north of No. 3 shaft, tramming poor rock and dumping the rock into an old stope. JOHN went to the shaft soon after they had finished eating their dinners for a pail of drinking water. As he was thirsty, and the water in the pail was too warm to drink. GEORGE told JOHN he had better wait, as the timbermen were going to the shaft in a short time; but JOHN insisted on going. He was never seen alive after he left his partner. He went to the shaft, opened the gate, and fell down the shaft from the 3rd to the 8th level. The cage was standing on the catches at the level where he was found. He must have struck the bonnet of the cage and bounded into the plat. The lamps were burning at the shaft and the gates closed. The gates at the shaft all close automatically, so they are never open except when held open. The deceased must have deliberately opened the gate for the purpose of looking up or down the shaft, and lost his balance and fell down the shaft. He was dead when found. No inquest was held. ACCIDENT No. 16. - March 8th. HENRY PAIKALAVA came to his death at the 4th level, south of No. 3 shaft, North Tamarack Mine, by a fall of vein rock. An inquest was held before Cornoner FISHER. ALBERT KAROLA, partner of the deceased, testified as follows: "I am a miner in No. 3 shaft, North Tamarack. Was working last night at the 4th level south. The deceased was my partner. I was with him when the accident happened, about ten o'clock last night. The trammers came up into the stope where we were working and pulled down some dirt that let the stage down, and my partner went down to get the pole up, when the rock came down that killed him. The rock fell from the hanging side of the vein. It was a piece of vein rock about eight feet long. The rock fell about fifteen feet from above his head. I never exam- ined the ground. The day shift men worked there all the day before, and it was apparently all safe." JOHN EIKE testified: "I am a miner in the North Tamarack Mine, in No. 3 shaft. Was working last night. Saw the deceased when at work, and after he was killed, about ten o'clock. I was not there when he got killed, but his partner called me to help. I went over and seen the rock that fell. It was a large piece of vein rock. We got the deceased out from under the rock, and brought him up to surface." JOHN ERAKELA upon his oath says: "I heard the testimony of JOHN EIKE, my partner, and corroborate the same." Verdict of the jury: "We, the jury, upon our oaths, do say that the said HENRY PAIKALAVA came to his death on the 8th day of March, A. D. 1901, at the 4th level, south of No. 3 shaft, North Tamarack Mine, by an accidental fall of vein rock from the hanging wall." ACCIDENT NO. 17. - March 14th. A fatal accident occurred at the 24th level, north of No. 3 shaft, Osceola Mine, resulting in the death of WILLIAM MAINERD by the falling of the drilling machine and post. The injured man was taken to the mine hospital, where he died twelve hours after the accident happened. An inquest was held before Coroner FISHER. WILLIAM EVELY, examined upon his oath, says: "I am a miner at the Osceola Mine, at the 24th level, north of No. 3 shaft. I know the deceased; was working with him last night. When we went to work we found the drilling machine and post and everything all right for work. We went to work and put up a stage, but before starting to work we tightened up the jacks and found everything all right. Our partners on the day shift had a hole partly drilled. We finished that hole and raised up the machine and drilled another hole. The first hole was ten feet deep. The deceased and I were on the stage to the left of the machine, and were going to drill another hole when the post gave out, the post that holds the machine. The first I saw was Mr. MAINERD falling towards the foot rock. He just fell over and I picked him up and found a cut on his head over the left eye. I sent the boy to get help, and we took him to surface. I do not know whether he was struck with the machine or not; his head fell on a sharp rock. He fell over sideways. As far as I can tell the machine dropped square down, but whether the machine struck him or not I cannot tell. The deceased tightened up the hind jack and I tightened the fron one. I said, 'Now partner, how is it?' and he said, 'all right.'" WILLIAM T. WILLIAMS testified: "I was working yesterday in the same place as the last witness. I am a miner; I work on the opposite shift. We put up our post like it belongs to be, and as good as we could. We drilled nineteen feet of ground, and found it good and tight as we were drilling. We tried the jack and saw if the post was all right for our partners. We drilled nineteen feet of ground and left the machine and post all right." Verdict: "We, the jury, upon our oaths do say, that the said WILLIAM MAINERD came to his death on the 14th day of March, 1901, at the 24th level, north of No. 3 shaft, Osceola Mine, by the accidental falling of the drilling machine and post throwing the deceased on the rocks below." ACCIDENT No. 18. - April 3rd. HENRY ERKKILA, a trammer, came to his death at the 35th level, south of No. 5 shaft, Franklin Mine, by being struck with a piece of vein rock, falling from the stope above while filling the car with rock. An inquest was held before Coroner FISHER. WILLIAM ENKELA, partner of the deceased, testified as follows: "I am a trammer in No. 5 shaft, at the 35th level of the Franklin Mine. Was working with the deceased yesterday when the acci- dent happened. We were throwing down dirt when some loose rocks came down in the stope where we were working. I started to run away, and so did my partner. I had a pick in my hand and the rocks struck the pick. I got behind a pillar and the rocks were still coming down. While I stood there the men working above called to me and asked if I was all right. I said I was, but did not know where my partner was. They asked in HENRY was with me, and I said no. After a while we started to look for him, but could not find him. I called for JIM LEWIS to come up from the level below. LEWIS came up and found the deceased under some rocks, lying on his back. We examined the ground in the stope several times during the day and thought it was all right. I felt perfectly safe in working there." Verdict: "We, the jury, upon our oaths do say, that the deceased, HENRY ERKKILA, came to his death on the 2nd day of April, 1901, at the 35th level, No. 5 shaft, Franklin Mine, by an accidental fall of ground." ACCIDENT NO. 19. - May 10th. PETER GINGLIO, an Italian trammer, while at work in the 26th level, north of No. 9 shaft, South Hecla branch of the Calumet & Hecla mine, went into the mill to pry down some rocks, and while engaged in his work a large rock came down sooner than he expected it would, and in rolling down struck his right foot crushing it very severely. He was taken to the mine hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate midway between the toes and heel. ACCIDENT No. 20. - May 10th. JOHN LIDDECOAT, a miner, employed in the 45th level, north of No. 6 shaft, in the Hecla branch of the Calu- met & Hecla mine, met with an accident. He and his partner had fin- ished blasting the last holes, and went back to take down the loose rock that was shattered by the blast. LIDDECOAT got a crowbar and sounded the rock above him, and considered it safe. He stepped ahead to pry down some loose rock ahead of him, and just as he stepped ahead a large piece of rock fell on him, breaking his right arm and dis- locating his hip, besides bruising his back. ACCIDENT No. 21. - May 15th. An accident occurred in the 49th level, south of No. 7 shaft, Quincy mine, where four trammers were seriously injured by a premature explosion. These men were hammering a large rock that was blasted down by the miners, and as the powder that was in the hole did not explode, but when the trammers commenced to strike the rock with a hammer an explosion occurred which blew the rock into their faces and legs. GUS GUSPARAH had his left eye taken out; MICHEN STAHLICH received a bad wound in his face; ANTON WABANTTY and ANTON GESTIF were injured about their bodies and legs. ACCIDENT NO. 22. - May 17th. An accident occurred in the bottom of No. 5 shaft, Tamarack Mine, where four men were injured by the pre- mature explosion of a hole. GEORGE WATSON, GEORGE ILES, English; STEPHEN LISEK, Polander, and MATT RAISEN, Finlander, had finished their night's work of drilling in the bottom of the shaft. The miners drilled eighteen holes in the bottom of the shaft and charged them. Another party of miners drilled some holes in the plat just above the bottom of the shaft. ILES was in the act of charging the holes in the plat when WATSON came there. They found that a short drill had been put into the hole they were charging and could not get the powder down the hole. WATSON put an iron bar into the hole to put the powder down, a thing that should not have been done. As soon as the iron bar struck the powder an explosion occurred. The men were taken to the mine hospital where it was found necessary to amputate ILES' left hand, and he also lost his right eye. WATSON lost his left eye, and received other injuries. LISEK and RAISEN were not severely injured, and went to their homes. ACCIDENT NO. 23. - May 24th. SAKRI KOUPOS, a trammer employed in the 4th level, north of "A" shaft, Atlantic Mine, met with a fatal accident by being struck with a rock from a blast. The miners working in the drift set fire to the fuse of two holes, and notified the tram- mers to get out of the way of the blast. The deceased stood by the side of the car, about two hundred feet from the blast. When the second blast went off it threw a rock which struck KOUPOS on the head. He was at once taken to surface. He expired just as he was taken to his home. No inquest was held. ACCIDENT NO. 24. - May 25th. WM. CARNE, a miner, while going to his work in No. 1 shaft, Trimountain Mine, got into the bucket to go down the shaft to his work, and told the engineer to lower slowly. When the bucket was lowered a short distance he fell from the bucket and down the shaft, a distance of one hundred feet. He was at once taken to surface, and the mine doctor examined the unfortunate man and found his jaw was broken and his skull badly crushed. He died when taken to surface. The friends of the deceased did not wish an inquest held. ACCIDENT NO. 25. - May 31st. MATTHEW HEIN, a lander of No. 2. shaft, Isle Royale Mine, lost his balance when crossing the shaft on the dividing timber of the shaft and fell down the shaft a distance of five hundred feet. He was dead when found by the miners who went down in search of the body. An inquest was held before Coroner BRAND. WILLIAM RICHARDS, partner of the deceased, testified as follows: "HEIN and myself were oiling the wheels of the skip at the brace of the shaft. We oile two wheels and went to the other side of the skip. The deceased went around the shaft and was crossing on the timbers. I told him not to cross the shaft on the timber, he had better go around the shaft. He said 'it's all right.' HEIN told me a short time before that his head was dizzy. When he was about half way across the shaft he fell backwards into the shaft. I told the deceased several times before not to cross the shaft on the timber." Dr. R. M. BURDON, one of the mine physicians, testified that he had been treating the deceased the past two weeks for dizziness in his head. Verdict of the jury: "We, the jury, find that MATTHEW HEIN came to his death on the 31st day of May, A. D. 1901, by accidentally falling down No. 2 shaft of the Isle Royale Mine, caused by dizziness in his head." ACCIDENT NO. 26. - Occurred at the 51st level, north of No. 6 shaft, in the Quincy Mine, fatally injuring DENNIS LOWNEY. He died while being taken to surface. An inquest was held before Justice FINN, of Hancock. Partners of LOWNEY testified that they drilled two holes in the stope and were about to start another hole. "DENNIS took a pick to pry down some rock. The rock that he was prying came down, striking him on the head knocking him down. He rolled down with the rocks in the stope about twenty-five feet. I went and got some help and took him to surface." Verdict of the jury: "We, the jury, upon our oaths, do say that the said DENNIS LOWNEY came to his death on the 11th day of June, 1901, at the 51st level, north of No. 6 shaft, of the Quincy Mine, by the acci- dental fall of vein rock while in the act of prying it down." ACCIDENT NO. 27. - June 18th. JOHN SELTA and PETER KOSKY, miners, were seriously injured in the cross-cut of the 14th level of No. 3 shaft, North Tamarack Mine. These men had finished their work of drilling and blasted three holes, and went back into the crosscut, and were charging more holes to blast, when some rocks fell from the top of the drift, striking them on their backs. KOSKY, had his pelvis broken and received internal injuries. SELTA was injured in his back, head and arms. ACCIDENT No. 28. - June 19th. SAMUEL RICKARD, a miner, fell 240 feet in No. 1 shaft, Kearsarge Mine. RICKARD and his partner were working raising up against a party sinking to meet. They had set up their machine and started to drill when the machine post fell (in the miners' language, kicked), knocking RICKARD down the rise a distance of 240 feet. His injuries consisted of a bad scalp wound and bruises on his face and back. ACCIDENT NO. 29. - June 22nd. An accident occurred at the 43rd level, north of No. 6 shaft of the Calumet & Hecla Mine, which re- sulted in the death of VINCENT VAGO and JOSEPH PICCHIOTTINO, by a fall of vein rock. An inquest was held before Coroner FISHER. CHARLES GALLASSERO, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon said inquest, upon his oath says: "I work in the mine as timberman for the Calumet & Hecla Mining company. This afternoon was working at the 43rd level, north of No. 6 shaft, Hecla Mine. Was there at the time of the accident. I am boss of the gang. Was standing right alongside when the rock fell. Accident happened about half-past two this after- noon. I examined the ground about a quarter to one, and sounded it with a bar, and it sounded good. We started to work and put in one set, and were getting ready to put in the second set when the rock fell and caught these two men. The rock was about six feet long, two and one-half feet thick, and three and one-half feet wide. Always ex- amine the ground and sound it before we go to work under it, and if there is any loose or likely to fall, we pry it down or blast it. Considered the place where the accident happened safe; was working there myself." PETER COPPO, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon said in- quest, upon his oath says: "I work with timbermen; CHARLES CALLASSERO is boss. We were working today picking down dirt when the rock fell; a piece of the rock struck me in the leg. There was no time to get away. Was not afraid to work there, everything seemed safe. The men never spoke after the rock fell. I was there when they took the rock off of them." PETER GRINDATTI, a witness, produced, sworn and examined upon said inquest, upon his oath says: "I can add nothing to what has been told by the other two witnesses. I thought the place was safe. The boss examined and sounded the ground about a quarter to one, before we went to work. The rock dropped some time after two o'clock. PAUL MORETTO, a witness, produced, sworn and examined upon said inquest, upon his oath says: "I work with CHARLES GALLASSERO'S gang. This afternoon worked at the 43rd level, north of No. 6 shaft, Hecla; was there when these men were killed. The ground was examined before we went to work, right after dinner. I considered it safe enough for anyone to work under." The jury brought in the following verdict: "We, the jury, find that the deceased, VINCENT VAGO and JOSEPH PICCHIOTTINO, came to their deaths on the 22nd day of June, 1901, by the accidental fall of vein rock at the 43rd level, north of No. 6 shaft, of Hecla branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine." ACCIDENT NO. 30. - June 25th. MATT A. GERMAIN, a trammer was struck by a descending skip at the 8th level, No. 3 shaft, Osceola Mine, breaking his back. He was taken to the mine hospital where he died on the 27th. An inquest was held before Coroner FISHER. GEORGE MATCELL testified: "I work at the Osceola Mine, at the 8th level of No. 3 shaft. Was working there at the time the accident hap- pened at five o'clock in the evening. When MATT, the deceased, came out to the shaft he ran past and jumped in front of the car and start- ed to cross the shaft. As soon as he was in the middle of the shaft the descending skip struck him, knocking him down the shaft about thirty-five feet. I helped to take him out of the shaft and to sur- face. It was the first time MATT went across the shaft to ring the bell. JOSEPH STERWELL always rings the bell. It was not MATT'S busi- ness to go to the shaft at all, and it was the last car for the day. I think MATT, the deceased, wanted to dump the car so as to go to sur- face quick." JOSEPH STERWELL, partner of the deceased, testified: "I worked in the same place with the deceased. I was with him at the time of the accident. We were a little late in going in the drift to fill the last car for the day. It was about five o'clock when we came to the shaft. My partner, MATT, was on the foot side and GEORGE, the last witness, was between us. MATT jumped across the shaft. He was in the middle of the shaft when the skip knocked him down the shaft. We found him down about thirty-five feet below the 8th level. We took him to surface. MATT did not have to cross the shaft to ring the bell. It was my business to ring the bell. I do not know any reason why he crossed the shaft." Verdict: "We, the jury, upon our oaths, do say that the said MATT GERMAIN came to his death on the 27th day of June, 1901, by injuries received on the 25th day of June, at the 8th level in No. 3 shaft, Osceola Mine, by being accidentally struck by the descending skip whilst crossing the shaft." ACCIDENT NO. 31. - MATT KOSKI, a boy 16 years of age, employed as drill boy, met death in the Isle Royale Mine by falling down No. 1 shaft from the 14th to the 15th level. How the accident happened is not known. An inquest was held before Coroner BRAND. Three witnesses testified that they saw the deceased about one o'clock after they got through their supper, and left him sitting about 30 feet south of the shaft. That was the last seen of the boy. About half-past three o'clock he fell to the bottom of the shaft. He was at once taken to surface. He died soon after he was brought to surface. Verdict: "We, the jury, find that MATT KOSKI came to his death by accidentally falling down No. 1 shaft from the 14th to the 15th level of the Isle Royale Mine, on the 17th day of July, A. D. 1901." ACCIDENT NO. 32. - August 12th. A fatal accident occurred at the 42nd level, north of No. 5 shaft, Calumet branch of the Calumet and Hecla Mine, resulting in the death of DAVID PALMER, who died in the company's hospital on the 16th. The deceased with others were timber- ing up a stope when some rock fell from the hanging, striking PALMER on the left side. An inquest was held before Coroner FISHER. WILLIAM WILSON, boss timberman, testified that he had examined the ground before going to work, and considered it safe. The rock that fell was a piece of hanging, and was about two and a half feet long and one foot wide. The stope was one set high. The distance the rock fell was about six feet. The first intimation he had of the accident was the noise and disturbance made by the rock falling. The other wit- nesses added nothing to the evidence given by WILSON. Verdict: "We, the jury, upon our oaths, do say that the said DAVID PALMER came to his death on the 16th day of August, 1901, by the accidental fall of rock while at work in the 42nd level, north of No. 5 shaft, of the Calumet branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine." ACCIDENT NO. 33. - August 14th. WILLIAM GOGGIN was instantly killed at the 42nd level, south of No. 4 shaft, Quincy Mine, by a fall of hanging wall rock. The deceased had just got to his place of work in the morning, and he sat down against the hanging. He had been there but a short time when the rock fell, stricking him on the back of his head. No one was with GOGGIN at the time of the accident. When his partner went into the stope he found him lying with a rock on the back of his head. He was dead when found, at was at once taken to surface. An inquest was held before Justice FINN. The jury brought in the following verdict: "We, the jury, find that WILLIAM GOGGIN came to his death on the 14th day of August, A. D. 1901, between the 22nd and 23rd levels, south of No. 4 shaft of the Quincy Mine, by a fall of ground from the hanging side of the stope." ACCIDENT NO. 34. - August 14th. This accident occurred at the Tamarack Junior Mine. JOSEPH GENBAHO had his right leg badly broken by a fall of vein rock. He was taken to the mine hospital. It was found necessary to amputate the limb. ACCIDENT NO. 35. - August 16th. A most unfortunate and unforeseen accident occurred at the 28th level, south of No. 2 shaft, Tamarack Mine, resulting in the death of five men, viz.: RICHARD TREZONA, JOHN SIMMONS, miners; MATT STARNICHE, MATT AMALA, and JACOB JACOBSON, tram- mers. The inquest was held before Coroner FISHER, and as the occur- rance is of so serious a nature, and the results of such magnitude, I have deemed it proper to incorporate in this report all the evidence taken at the inquest. Before rendering their verdict, the jury, who are all practical miners, by request went into the mine and made a thorough examination of the place where the accident occurred. The following is a full report of the evidence taken at the inquest, and the verdict of the jury theron: Examination and testimony of witnesses, produced, sworn and ex- amined upon an inquest taken and held at Tamarack Mine, in Osceola Township, on the 16th day of August, 1901, upon the bodies of RICHARD TREZONA, JOHN SIMMONS and MATT STARNICHE, before me, WILLIAM FISHER, one of the coroners of Houghton county, and THOMAS TUCKER, TIM MURPHY, JOSEPH DOBBS, PETER BECKUM, JOHN CARTER and CHARLES WILLS, good and lawful men of said county, sworn upon their oaths diligently to in- quire in behalf of the people of this state when, in what manner and by what means the said RICHARD TREZONA, JOHN SIMMONS and MATT STAR- NICHE came to their deaths. ROBERT RICKARD, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon his oath says: "I am a timberman at No. 2 shaft, Tamarack, south side, 28th level. I was working there last night. I knew the deceased men. I was not present at the time of the accident, I was there in the day shift. It is my business to go round and examine the ground, and I had examined it at this place. I was there all day. Everything seem- ed to be all right. I saw nothing amiss. I left at about a quarter past five, and everything was all right. I heard of the accident this morning. I have been down there since. The biggest piece of rock that fell was about six or seven feet long and eighteen inches or two feet thick. It must have fallen about ten feet. It fell from the hanging." Inspector. "When you left last night did you see the hanging all timbered?" "Yes. It was timbered and lagged up, and blocked tight. I put in the timber myself yesterday, and I judged the place to be perfectly safe." Inspector. "How big a space, measured from top to bottom, was there in which the hanging wall was exposed?" "I should say about seven or eight feet; that is all the hanging that was exposed." (Signed by) ROBERT RICKARD. JOHN SUSTROVITCH, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon his oath says: "I am assistant timberman. I work at No. 2 shaft, 28th level south. I was working there day shift. I knew the three men who were killed. I was working there yesterday with Mr. RICKARD. I was there at about fifteen minutes past five and the ground looked all right. I have been down there today. There was about seven feet of rock by eight feet deep. It fell about ten feet from the hanging. Everything looked all right and we saw no crack. I do not know what caused it to come down. It was all timbered up and looked sound. I work right along with the timbermen. I helped Mr. RICKARD put in the timber; it was all put in solid." (Signed) JOHN SUSTROVITCH OLE HOMAN, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon his oath says: "I work in No. 2 shaft, 28th level. I was working there yester- day. I was working in the place where the men were killed. I left there about a quarter to five, and the place looked pretty nice. Everything looked solid and safe. I was not afraid to work there, everything looked good. I am a miner working in that stope." (Signed) OLE HOMAN JOHN AUGUST HELDEN, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon his oath says: "I work with the last witness at the 28th level. I was working there yesterday. I left the same time as my partner, about a quarter to five. I was working in the same place where the men were killed. It looked all right. I am a miner. I was not afraid to do work there, everything looked good." Juror. "How long have you been a miner?" Ans. "Two months the 6th of this month in the Tamarack. I worked in the Calumet before." (Signed) JOHN A. HELDEN. STEPHEN BRYANT, a witness sworn, produced and examined upon his oath says: "I work at the 27th level, No. 2. I was working there last night. I know the three men. They were killed at the 28th level. I was not there at the time of the accident. I heard of the accident about fifteen minutes after it had happened. The engine boy in our level told me. Some one came up and told him there was five men blocked in the 28th level. I left our place of work, and informed the men who were working ahead. I was the first one from our level down. There was one man taken out when I got there, and I saw two men under the rocks. They got one out, and he was dead. We took him out and after that we got a man out alive. I do not know the names of the men who were dead. The rocks which killed the men fell about ten or twelve feet from the hanging. They brought timbers down with them. I was not there at the time the rocks fell. I was not down there before." Inspector. "Did you notice the distance from the top to the bottom of the hanging wall that was exposed?" "I could not say. The distance from where the rock fell to where the men were was about ten feet. It came from the hanging wall. Among the men there were trammers and block holers. The block holers were TREZONA and SIMMONS. The block holers were drilling in a rock when the accident occurred. When we found TREZONA he had a drill in his hand." Juror. "Did you see the water can?" "Yes, I did see it. I should not think the place could have been made any more secure. I did not see the place before the accident. The rock was in two pieces when I saw it; but they claim it was one rock and broke in falling. The rock the men were working was not cov- ered by the fall of ground from the hanging. There was just one rock resting on TREZONA'S leg, and they took a long drill and just pried it and we took TREZONA from under the rock. The rock on TREZONA was three or four feet long, and probably a foot thick." (Signed) STEPHEN BRYANT JOHN FREEMAN, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon his oath says: "I am a shift boss at No. 2 shaft. I know the three men who were killed. I was not near the place at the time of the accident. I was at the 24th level. A boy informed me of the accident. I sent down the men and went to the bottom, arriving there about half-past seven, and the two block-holers, TREZONA and SIMMONS, were sitting on dirt, at the place where the accident happened. I said to them, are things looking all right? They looked around and said yes, it looks all right. We could not see any crack or any danger any where. I told them what to blast, and left them there at 8:30. I told the trammers what dirt to take away and everything. I went to the 21st level. I then came down to the 24th, and the boy came and told me of the accident. I went down, and they were taking one man out as I got there. SAM JACOBSON was one of the injured men whom they were taking out. I told them to take him to the hospital as quickly as possible. After we had taken out this man, JACOBSON, we sent him to the hospi- tal, and then another man was taken out, and he was dead. Two men were taken out alive, and three were taken out dead. The ground looked all right at 7:30. I stopped there and looked all over. I thought it was perfectly safe, and they thought so, too. Three dif- ferent rocks came away, the large one was on the three men, and the small one struck TREZONA and SIMMONS. They were not all in the same place. The block holers had blasted four block holes when I left. I was there after they were blasted. After blasting the four holes, the block holers went back again to this place." Juror: "Were the rocks all drilled, or were some of them sand blasted?" "They drilled two of them. They went right down on the track." Inspector: "Were the block holes that were blasted between the south stull and the main stull?" "It was right under the first stull." "Did you think there was any danger in blasting the block holes that the timber would be injured?" "No, the block holes were two stulls away." (Signed) JOHN FREEMAN ROBERT RICKARD, recalled. Juror: "Was the ground safe yesterday before you put in the timber?" "I considered that it was safe." "Did the fall of rock bring down the timber and lagging with it?" "Yes, it did." HENRY THOMAS, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon his oath says: "I am a miner at No. 2 shaft, 28th level, south side. I was working at No. 2, in a drift, and I came out from the place where the accident happened several times during the night. The last time I came out I sat on the rock where the boys were going to drill. I was just going to take a smoke. I had left about a minute to take a drink when one of the Finlander miners said, there were some men killed. I was about two hundred feet away. I went back right away, and found the men there. I thought the place was all right. It was timbered up closely." Inspector. "When you said you were going to have a smoke, were you going to sit under where the ground fell?" "Yes, I should have had the same as the rest, if I had sat under the rock. It is customary for us to examine the place before we sit down and smoke." (Signed) HENRY THOMAS JOHN TAYRA, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon his oath, says: "I am a miner. I work at the 28th level, south side, No. 2 shaft. I was working there last night. I just went past three or four times during the night. I was talking with the men who were killed about half a minute before the accident happened. I was about twenty feet from them when the loose rock came down. I did not think there was any danger there, everything seemed to be blocked up secure. I turned around, and my partner was behind me. I had a drill on my shoulder. I came back and saw what had happened. My partner hollered to me; he had got caught among the lagging and loose ground there. My partner was MATT WOUKALA. I asked him if he was all right, and he said, yes, he had just hurt his hand a little. The rock fell about twenty feet away from the place where I work." (Signed) JOHN TAYRA JOHN JUKURI, a witness sworn and examined upon his oath says: "I am a miner. I was working at the 28th level last night. I knew these three men who were killed. I was working about twenty to twenty-five feet from them. MATT WOUKALA works with me. I was working there at the time of the accident. When we went through this place to go to our work it looked all right. The timbermen had been working there all day and it looked quite safe. When we were working there the block holers blasted and we came out, and went back to our work again after the blasting was over. When we got back to work, the first thing we knew was that an accident had happened. It was about fifteen or twenty minutes after the block holers had blasted. When the accident had happened, I came back and saw the men lying there who seemed to be dead. We took out JOHN HUARI, and then we started to get JACOSON out. We heard MATT AMULA'S voice, and we got him out, and the other fellow was dead. There was a man alive underneath. I saw this place where the men were killed; the timbermen were working there all day, and we thought it would be all right to work in." Juror: "Did you go in before the block holers drilled the holes?" "Yes, when they went to fire the holes I went out. They sand blasted some of these rocks." "Was there any rock on the top of the powder when they sand blast- ed, or was it fine dirt?" "I could not tell exactly, I think there was a rock put on the sand blast. They fired six holes first, and afterwards three more." "How far did the rock fall?" "About ten feet. The big piece of rock that came down was from the hanging near the head of the stulls." Juror: "Was the rock they were blasting lying slanting or perfectly level?" "Perfectly level." (Signed) JOHN JUKURI MATT WOUKALA, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon his oath says: "I am a miner, at the Tamarack Mine, No. 2 shaft, 28th level. I was working there last night. I knew the men who were killed. I was just going through when the accident happened. I was carrying some drills. I saw the ground at the place and thought it was all right." his (Signed) MAT X WOUKALA Mark Attest: A. R. PARNALL MATT BYARY, a witness produced, sworn and examined upon his oath says: "I work at the 28th level, No. 2 shaft. I was working there last night. I was about twenty feet away from where the accident happened. Everything looked all right. I passed there just at the time they blasted the last block hole, and everything looked all right." (Signed) MATT BYARY Verdict: "We, the jury, upon our oaths, do say, that the said RICHARD TREZONA, JOHN SIMMONS and MATT STARNICHE (after hearing the testimony of the witnesses, and an examination of the place where the accident happened) came to their death on the 15th day of August, A. D. 1901, at the 28th level, south, No. 2 shaft, Tamarack Mine, by a piece of hanging falling on them accidentally, and we attach no blame to any person, or the company." ACCIDENT NO. 36. - August 28th. An accident happened in No. 5 shaft, Tamarack Mine, caused by two pieces of air pipes bolted to- gether going down through the shaft from surface, a distance of twenty-four hundred (2,400) feet. Six miners were working in the shaft. Five of them escaped injuries, but JOSEPH KLINE was no so for- tunate. He was struck by the descending pipe, which inflicted in- juries on his left arm. He was taken to the mine hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate the limb above the elbow. ACCIDENT NO. 37. - September 11th. Occurred in No. 6 shaft at the Quincy Mine, resulting in the instant death of GUSTAF NEBALA. The de- ceased with his two partners, JOHN KORPI and ALEX MEMELLA, got on a loaded skip at the 44th level to ride to surface. The deceased stood on the back of the skip and his partners on the bail. Just as the skip was near the surface NEBALA stood up and his head was caught under the shaft timber at the brace. His head was crushed beyond re- cognition. If these men waited a short time they could have rode up in the cage and been taken to the surface in safety. Riding on the skip loaded with rock is forbidden by the rules of the mine. An in- quest was held before Justice FINN. The jury returned the following verdict: "That the said GUSTAF NEBALA came to his death, on the 9th day of September, 1901, while riding on a skip loaded with rock in No. 6 shaft of the Quincy Mine, by raising his head and coming in contact with the timber at the mouth of said shaft." [Transcriber's Note: The two different dates are as they appear in the report and are not a transcription error.] ACCIDENT NO. 38. - September 18th. Occurred in a stope at the 27th level, south of No. 2 shaft, Tamarack Mine, causing the death of PETER PEJANICH by the breaking of a rope when hoisting a piece of timber up into the stope. When the rope broke the timber fell striking the de- ceased on the head. An inquest was held before Coroner FISHER. FRANK SARAK, foreman of the timber gang testified: "I was with the deceased, PETER PEJANICH, when the rope broke and the timber fell that struck him on his head and that killed him. I was standing close to him when I saw the timber falling. I tried to pull him away but the timber came down too, quick. The rope was 1 1/4-inch rope. We had the rope in use about three weeks, and thought it was all safe, and did not detect any flaw in it." Two other witnesses corroborated the above testimony. Verdict: "We, the jury, upon our oaths, do say, that the said PETER PEJANICH came to his death on the 18th day of September, 1901, at the 27th level, south of No. 2 shaft, Tamarack Mine, by the accidental breaking of a rope, causing a piece of timber to fall, striking the deceased on the head." ACCIDENT NO. 39. - September 30th. This accident occurred in No. 2 shaft, Hecla branch of the Calumet and Hecla Mine. BAPTIST VIOLO, a watchman, stationed between the 24th and 30th levels, while crossing the shaft at the 27th level, by some unfortunate mistake of his, fell down the shaft, a distance of five hundred feet, and was dead when found. An inquest was held before Coroner FISHER, and three witnesses examined, and they gave testimony as follows: MARTIN CASERIO, upon his oath, testified as follows: "I work as timberman for the Calumet & Hecla Mining Co., at No. 2 shaft, Hecla, between the 27th and 28th level. I know the deceased, he was a watch- man. I was at work between the 27th and 28th levels this morning when the accident occurred, about 10 o'clock. I was about 20 or 30 feet below the 27th level. He fell from the 27th to the 32nd level. Did not see him fall; heard a noise like a dinner pail falling down the shaft. Went down the shaft and found his hat and lamp at the 28th level, and found him at the 32nd level, on the roll under the rope. I called to the men who were working with me to come down. The skip was down below the 32nd; don't know at what level; the skip was down be- fore he fell." THOMAS HOCKIN, upon his oath, testified as follows: "I am a mason; was working today at the 31st level, No. 2 shaft, Hecla branch, of the Calumet & Hecla Mine, when the man fell away. I know the deceased. Do not know how the accident happened. Saw the dinner pail come down the shaft. I was at the 31st level, and he fell from the 27th. Some- thing passed me, and the men above said a man fell down the shaft. I climbed down and found him at the 32nd. The skip was in the bottom. I do not know how he happened to fall." JOHN BONDS, upon his oath, testified as follows: "I work with the timbermen in No. 2 shaft, Hecla. Work with the same gang as MARTIN CASERIO. I do not know anything more about the accident than has al- ready been told. I saw the man at the 27th level, when he passed up to connect his hose to a pipe for sprinkling, and did not see him again until I saw him at the 32nd, dead. I was back toward the shaft when I heard a noise and the boss said, 'What was that.' I said it was a dinner pail, I saw the cover in the shaft. He said, 'where is that man? I believe it was a man that fell down the shaft.' I went to see if I could see the man, and he was gone. There was no one with him at the time he fell. I should suppose he was crossing the shaft and slipped and fell. He usually hung his dinner pail at the north side of the shaft at the 27th level. He looked after six lifts, and when he passed the 27th level on his way up he sometimes took his pail to the south side of the shaft and had a lunch and then went on up about his work. I suppose he must have done this today and slipped in crossing the shaft. Did not hear a sound from him as he fell. The sprinklers do not go into the shaft when the skip is up, but when it is down they sometimes step into the shaft to sprinkle the shaft. The man's duty was to keep the shaft wet. I found his watch between the 29th and 30th levels." The jury returned the following verdict: "We, the jury, upon our oaths, do say that BAPTIST VIOLO came to his death by accidentally falling from the 27th to the 32nd level in No. 2 shaft, Hecla, branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine, on the 30th day of September, 1901, at 10 o'clock, a.m." ===========================================================================