Antonio Giacomo Cerutti

ACCIDENT NO. 1 – October 1, 1903. - Antone Carutti, employed as underground watchman in No. 6 shaft, Calumet Branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine, was found dead 30 feet below the 28th level. His station was from the 24th to the 28th levels. It is presumed that he fell in the shaft at the 24th level and was run over by the cage. As no one witnessed the accident, it is not exactly known how it happened.

An inquest was held before Coroner Fisher.

Frank Viani testified as follows: “I am employed by the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company to look after and fix rollers in No. 6 shaft. I knew the deceased; I was with him about 4 o'clock this morning. I got into the cage to go to the surface. As we passed the 24th level we heard a noise as if something was crushing under the cage. I went to the surface and then went down again to see if there was a rock in the shaft. I got out of the cage at the 22nd level and went down the shaft. I found a hat and a lamp on the way down, and ongoing further I found the body about 40 feet below the 28th level. The deceased was a watchman in No. 6 shaft from the 22nd to the 27th level. When the cage passed the 24th level on the way down he was there. On the way up I heard a noise under the cage. He has nothing to do that would call him out into the shaft.”

Frank McKenna testified: “I am employed as watchman at the 22nd level, No. 6 shaft, Calumet Mine. I know the deceased. I do not know how the accident happened, further than I found the body in the roller-hole this morning when I went to look for him, at the 28th level. I did not see him fall. I was at the 22nd level; he was probably at the 24th. There are two places from which he watched the cage, the 24th and 26th levels. He had no business in the shaft. It is likely he was watching the cage and losing his balance, fell into the shaft. The accident happened about half past five this morning.”

Verdict of the Jury: “We, the jury, find that Antone Cerutti came to his death on the 1st day of October, 1903, accidentally, while engaged in his regular employment at No. 6 shaft, Calumet Branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine, he evidently having fallen in the shaft and being run over by the cage."