George Drew Sanders

ACCIDENT NO. 32— April 18th.— George Sanders, a timberman in the employ of Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, No. 2 Hecla shaft, 30th level, was killed while assisting to remove some timber caused by the parting of a rope, used for hoisting the timber and putting it in place. Sanders had his foot on the log, the other foot on a piece of timber 14x14, when the rope parted; he fell away with the log to the bottom of the level, a distance of seventy feet, killing him instantly.

An inquest held by Coroner Fisher.

Theodore Modrock testified: "I work as timberman for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company. Was working today between the 29th and 30th levels. I know George Sanders; he was working with me. I know of the accident today; I was present at the time. We were pulling up a log about ten feet long, from the 30th level up. We had the log up about 70 feet and then changed the block so as to pull it up a little further; when we started to pull again the rope broke. George was the next man to the log, had his foot on the log. When the rope broke he tumbled with the log, down to the level. We ran to him right away but he was dead. We had three-quarter inch rope, had not been in use over two months. Nine men pulled on it the day before."

Matthew Kraemer testified: "I work for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company. We were working on the south side of the shaft pulling a piece of timber up. We pulled the log up about seventy feet and then changed the block so as to pull the log up a little further. We gave two pulls and on the third pull the rope broke and Sanders came down with the log."

Verdict: "We find that the deceased, came to his death on the 18th day of April, 1905, between the 29th and 30th levels, south of No. 2 shaft, Hecla, in Calumet Township, County of Houghton, State of Michigan, by the fall of a piece of timber while engaged in his regular work."