Domenico Pignocco

ACCIDENT NO. 2— October 15th. — An inquest was held over the body of Dominick Pignocco, before Coroner Fisher, who lost his life by being struck by the timber-car between the 41st and 42nd level in No. 2 shaft, Calumet Branch, of the Calumet and Hecla Mine.

Baptist Marta, upon his oath says, "I work for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, as timberman, and was working today in No. 2 shaft between the 41st and 42nd levels. Dominick was working in my gang. I was present at the time of the accident. This morning the timber-car came down from surface to the 42nd level. The car was lowered one level too low. I called down to the 42nd level and told the men to come up to the 41st level where we wanted to take the timber off the car. They came up the ladderway. Dominick came up part of the way on the ladderway, and then he heard a little rock falling between the casing-plank and the south arch. He did not know what was coming and he jumped out onto the skip road. The timber-car was coming up from the 42nd to the 41st level, and he got caught with the timber-car and was dragged up the shaft about eighty-five feet. We got him out and took him to surface. He could not have been struck by the timber-car if he had stood in the ladderway. There was no danger of rocks striking him as it is all planked up close."

Edwin Halley testified: "I work with Baptist Marta's timber gang. Was working with them today. I know the man who got killed. Dominick was down at the 42nd level and our boss called us up to the 41st to take the timber off the car. I was at the 42nd level too, and we went up to the 41st and Dominick was behind me. I was at the 41st level when he jumped into the shaft. If he had stayed in the ladderway he would have been safe. He jumped into the skip shaft just as the car was coming up and was caught and dragged up to the 41st level. I helped to take him out."

John Harper testified: "I work in the same place with the deceased. Was working with him this morning at the time of the accident. I heard the testimony of the other witnesses and can add nothing further. I corroborate what they have said. I am sure the deceased knew the car was coming up."

Verdict: "That the said Dominick Pignocco, came to his death on the 18th day of October, 1904, between the 41st and 42nd level of No. 2 shaft, Calumet Branch of the Calumet and Hecla Mine, by being struck accidentally between the timber-car and the skip-way."