Giacomo Dighera

ACCIDENT NO. 7 – November 16, 1906. - James Dighera, Italian, timberman, Red Jacket shaft. A fall of rock in the 64th level, Red Jacket shaft, north of No. 4, caused the death of James Dighera today at about 9:30 a.m.

At the inquest, which was held on the same date, Anthony Bobbio testified as follows: “I work for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, at the 64th level, Red Jacket shaft, north of No. 4. I am a timber man. James Dighera worked in my gang. We were pinching down loose ground when the accident happened. We had been pinching with a short bar and then took a longer bar to pinch what we could not reach with the shorter one. Dighera was holding the slide staff to show light. He stepped aside to make the staff longer when the rock fell. I said: “Look out, boy." Then I said: "Everyone all right?" three or four times. Then I called "Jim," and the miner said: "Jim is gone." I ran down the level, but did not see him, and then I ran up in another mill and found him. I grabbed him and brought him to the level and called for help. I was turned the other way at the time and did not see the rock strike him. We were all standing in a line against the back and Jim stepped out to lengthen the staff and the rock fell on him.”

Testimony of Daniel Kumpula: “I was working at the Red Jacket shaft today and knew the man who was killed. He was a timberman. I am a miner. I was right there when the accident happened. They were pinching with short bars, first getting the ground down from the footside. Jim had the slide staff, but it was too short, and he stepped down a couple of feet to lengthen it when the rock came down on him. They called “Jimmy!” I said: “Jimmy is gone." The piece that came away was about eight feet thick and about four or five feet square; it broke off about six feet from the foot. All the rest of the gang were in the back. Jim was down farther and got caught. I was working there myself only three or four minutes before it came down. I filled my lamp with 'sunshine' and stood looking at them only a minute or two when the ground came down."

Verdict of the Jury: “We, the jury, upon our oaths do say that the said James Dighera came to his death by falling rock in the Calumet and Hecla Mine, Red Jacket shaft branch, at the 64th level, north of No. 4 shaft, November 16, 1906.”

Mine Inspector's report for Houghton County, 1907. 2021. "Mine Inspector's Report For Houghton County, Michigan. 1907.". Hathitrust. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015074974125&view=1up&....