James Paul Bartle

ACCIDENT NO. 23 – March 14, 1907 — John P. Bartell, English miner, Calumet & Hecla mine.

John B. Bartell came to his death in No. 14 shaft, 8th level, of the Osceola lode, Calumet & Hecla mine, on this date, late in the afternoon.

The following day an inquest was conducted before Justice Fisher.

The following testimony taken from Nels Peterson, a witness duly sworn, who said: “I know John Bartell, he was my partner. We were working together at the 8th level at the time of the accident. We had two rounds to blast (6 holes). When we had the first three holes charged, I told Bartell to go to the level above to give the men up there warning. He went, and sent a man from the north side in to help me, and after he got up there, he gave me a signal which I answered and then fired the three holes. I went down and heard the holes go off. I waited about ten minutes and then picked up powder for the other three holes and went up to charge them. After a little while he came up. I had two holes charged up by this time. We started to charge the third hole and by that time I got dizzy on account of the bad air and I said we had better go out and Bartell helped me out. I got a little fresh air and went back on the other side of the raise and laid on the footwall side. Bartell said he would go and charge the third hole and blast. I said, “leave it for the night crew,” but he said he would do it so I gave him the candle and told him to be careful. In a minute or two I heard him tamping the powder in the third hole, and then the first thing I knew I heard two reports. I knew right away that something was wrong and got the men on the other side to go in. I spit the fuse for the three holes I fired. The hole he charged when he went up alone did not go off. The two charged first went off. I did not light the fuse to these two. There was 6 or 7 minutes between the time the first two were charged and when he went up to charge the third one. He must have fired the holes himself. I can't say of course, whether he spit the fuse or used snoffs. We sometimes spit the fuse and sometimes use snoffs. There are candles provided for that purpose. I do not think it dangerous to spit the fuse if we use a long enough piece."

Verdict: "We, the jury, upon our oaths do say that the said John P. Bartell was killed in No. 14 shaft, 8th level, Osceola lode of the Calumet & Hecla mine, about 4:30 p.m. March 14, 1907. No blame can be attached to anyone."