Antonio Moriconi

Accident No. 3. - Antony Mariconi, employed with the timber gang at the 24th level north of No. 11 shaft, South Hecla branch of the Calumet and Hecla mine, received injuries from which he died soon after being taken to the mine hospital.

An inquest was held before Coroner Sowden.

William J. Jilbert (boss timberman) testified as follows: “I was with Tony ten minutes before the accident happened. I was under the place from where the rock fell. We were at work cleaning up to put in timber. The place was supposed to be safe, as we had taken down all that we thought was dangerous. I went down in the level to help move an engine and had just finished moving it, when I heard Tony calling for me. As soon as I got to him, I turned up the rock which was lying on his arm and he drew his arm out himself. There was also a rock lying on his leg and a piece of square timber. He was lying on his stomach against the foot wall rock and his leg was jammed between the rock and timber. We lifted the rock off his leg, but saw nothing that would give an internal injury. His worst hurt was on his foot. I always examine and pinch down all rock that is unsafe before we go to work. I examined this place about an hour before the accident happened and discovered nothing weak or dangerous.”

Peter T. Haan and Henry Riuttaniemi, who were working with the deceased, testified at the inquest to the above facts.

The jury brought in the following, verdict: "We find that Antony Mariconi, came to his death by an accidental fall of rock at the 24th level north of No. 11 shaft, in the South Hecla branch of the Calumet and Hecla mine, on the 25th day of October, 1897.”

The Calumet News, Oct 26, 1897, Tuesday, Page 4.

Died from his injuries.

Antoine Moriconi, a Timberman employed in the Black Hills branch of the Calumet and Hecla mine was injured while at work yesterday and died at the Calumet hospital last night from the effects of his hurts.
Moriconi was employed with a party of eight timbermen and they were at work in the level north of No. 11 shaft when the accident happened. They were getting ready to hoist some heavy square timber into position when the ground gave way in the stope and came down on top of Moriconi. When the other members of the party heard the ground coming they hastened to make their escape and Moriconi was the only one that was caught. The ground was a lot of loose rock which was thought to be perfectly safe by the timbermen who had tried it before going to work in the stope and had found it safe. The poor fellow had his chest crushed in and both arms were badly bruised beside internal injuries. He was taken to the hospital with all possible speed and his injuries dressed, but it was plain to the physicians that he had not long to live. However, he did not expire until after midnight.
Moriconi was well known among his fellow employees as a very steady man and he had been employed here for many years. He is a single man and has no near relatives in this city, but is said to have a wealthy brother in Chicago. He was a member of Christopher Columbus society and the "Justi" society.
Mine Inspector Hall went underground this morning and afterward informed Coroner Sowden, who empaneled a jury to hold an inquest over the remains. They viewed the remains at Slattery & Ryan's morgue this morning and the testimony of the witnesses of the accident is being taken this afternoon.

The Calumet News, Oct 27, 1897, Wednesday, page 8

The Coroner's Inquest

Verdict of Accidental Death Returned by the Jury

In the Case of A. Moriconi, who died from injuries received while working in No. 11 Shaft, South Hecla mine.

The coroner's inquest over the remains of the late Antoine Mariconi, who died from injuries received accidentally by fall of rock in the Calumet and Hecla mine, last Monday night, completed its work yesterday afternoon.
The jury, which was composed of Messrs. Christ Christianson, James Lisa, Anthony Coppo, William Dower, Henry James and Nels Hecka, viewed the remains at Slattery & Ryan's morgue and then heard the testimony of the witnesses.
William Jilbert, one of the timbermen, and his two assistants, Peter P. Halm and Henry Rutehen(Riuttaniemi), who were working with the deceased at the time of the unfortunate affair, told the story virtually as it was given in last evenings' News; that they were getting in place when the rock came down. They all swore that the rock was considered perfectly safe and that they had been working under it all day and had not been hurt. They were not getting the timber ready to fix up that place when the rock came down, but were working at an entirely different place as they considered the ground that came down to be good and sound, the jury after hearing the testimony of the witnesses, brought in the following verdict: "We, the jury, find that the deceased Antoine Mariconi, came to his death by the accidental falling of rock at the 24th level north of No. 11 shaft, South Hecla branch of Calumet and Hecla mine, on the 25th day of October, 1897. No blame attaches to anyone."
The funeral takes place tomorrow and will be attended by the two societies to which he belongs.