Charles Martin

ACCIDENT NO. 19— February 1st.— Charles Martin met with a fatal accident at the 47th level, north of No. 6 shaft, Hecla Branch, of the Calumet and Hecla Mine, by a fall of vein rock striking him on his head and back, killing him instantly.

An inquest was held before Coroner Fisher.

Frank Hellner testified: "I am employed by the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company; was working to day with Charles Martin when the accident happened at the 47th level north of No. 6 shaft, Hecla. About half-past ten this morning we got through drilling and took down the machine and put it away and was ready to blow the mud or sludge out of the hole with compressed air before the powder can be put in the hole. Charles said to me he would go down and open the valves and turn on the air and I went to get the blow pipe. We had no more than turned our backs, going in different directions, when the rock fell from the back of the stope that struck Charles. It was a piece of vein rock. The timber-men tried to take down the rock this morning with two crow-bars but could not take it down. I was there when they tried it. Seeing they could not take it down we, of course, thought it was safe."

John B. Curto testified: "I work for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, as timberman, at Hecla in No. 6 shaft at the 47th level. Worked there this morning. I examined the ground that fell away myself. We tried to bar it down but could not move it at all, so we left it alone as we thought it was safe. We took down everything that would come down but the piece that fell we could not get down. We tried it with two crow-bars."

James Moretto testified: "I work with John Curto. Was working with him today. When we started to work we tried to take down the rock that fell with two crow-bars, but it would not come down, so we thought it was safe, it looked good."

Verdict: "We find that the said Charles Martin came to his death at 10:30 A.M. February 1st, 1905, at the 47th level north of No. 6 shaft, Hecla Branch, of the Calumet and Hecla Mine by falling rock. The evidence of the witness convinces us that the accident was un avoidable."

Mine Inspector's report for Houghton County, 1905. 2021. "Mine Inspector's Report For Houghton County, Michigan. 1905.". Hathitrust. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015074974141&view=1up&....