Giuseppe Ferretti

ACCIDENT NO. 7 - October 27, 1909 - Joseph Teretto, No. 7 Shaft, Hecla Branch, C.&H. Mine.

Joseph Teretto, an Italian, employed with a timber gang, received injuries while at work on October 20, these injuries being the indirect cause of his death on October 27. An inquest was held by Justice Fisher and the following testimony concerning the accident was taken:

James Moretto: “I was working with deceased on October 20, at the 62nd level, No. 7 shaft, Hecla. We were wedging up a piece in a battery. We had one piece wedged up and were putting up the second piece. We had the head boards up and then I went over to speak to the miners who were going to blast two or three uppers and I wanted to tell them to do the best they could for us. While talking to them, I heard a yell and ran back; I found Teretto wedged between the two pieces of timber. The first one we had put up had pinned him against the second one. I think when we were wedging up the second it must have moved a loose piece of hanging which knocked out the first piece. We had a prop on the bottom and one on top and a piece of ground fell and knocked out the prop and the piece fell down. The rope and blocks were still on the second piece. We were putting up a battery and had two pieces in."

John Belopavlich corroborated the above testimony.

Verdict: "We find, that the said Jos. Teretto came to his death on the 27th day of October, 1909, from injuries received by being struck with a piece of timber on the 20th day of October, 1909, while at work at the 62d level of No. 7 Shaft, Hecla Br. of Calumet & Hecla Mine."