Giuseppe Romano

FATAL ACCIDENT NO. 24 - Feb. 19, 1908 — Joseph Romano, No. 5 Shaft, C. & H. Mine.

Joseph Romano came to his death on this day at No. 5 shaft of the Calumet & Hecla mine, caused by the accidental fall of timber.

An inquest was held and the following witnesses examined.

Harry Phillips: “I work in the Calumet Mine, south of No. 5 shaft, 56th level. Was working there today at the time of the accident. I am foreman of the timber gang. We were putting up a set of covering. The set was six covers high and we were just putting the top one in place when the bottom one slipped out and that of course let the others down and Romano got caught between two of them, one of them was right across his chest. We were on top of the set just turning the top cover. This was about a quarter to 12 this morning. The first cover we put in was on the flat and we had 14 inch legs under the cover. The timber came down the day before and there was no ice on it.”

Z. P. Biggs: “I work with the same gang as Mr. Phillips. I was there at the time of the accident. I was in the act of climbing up on the covers when the bottom one slipped out. I do not know what started it. The others came right down and Romano got caught between two pieces, one piece right on his chest. He did not speak, was killed instantly."

Verdict: “That the said Joseph Romano came to his death at the 56th level, South of No. 5 shaft, Calumet & Hecla Mine, on the 9th day of February, 1908, by an accidental fall of timber."