Bartolomeo Vallone

Houghton County Mine Inspectors Report

FATAL ACCIDENT NO. 50 - September 1st, 1908 – Barni Valona, Red Jacket Shaft, Calumet & Hecla. The fall of a piece of vein rock at the 57th level of the Red Jacket shaft was the cause of the death of Barni Valona upon this day. An inquest was held and the following testimony taken:

Dom Melchoir: “I work for the C.&H. Mining Co., at the Red Jacket Shaft. I knew the deceased. He was running dirt at the 57th level this morning between 10 and 11 o'clock when the accident happened. We went inside to take the timbers out of the way of the trammers. We looked around and took down everything we could, and thought everything was alright. They then went in to run dirt and about a quarter of an hour after the rock fell. It was a piece of hanging rock about 3 or 4 ft. square. It fell about 20 feet, it was the cap between the hanging and vein. The blast had knocked out the timber and left down the lacing and then the cap fell away.”

John Michette: “I was working today with the man who was killed. I was standing right close when the rock came away. We went there this morning and took all the timber out of the way. We barred down all the loose and thought it was all right. We sounded the piece that came down and thought it was safe. About 15 minutes after they went in to run dirt and this piece came away."

Verdict: "That the said Barni Valona came to his death on September 1, 1908, at the 57th level of Red Jacket Shaft, North of No. 5 by being struck by a piece of vein rock."