Janez Kocevar

ACCIDENT NO. 37. — Calumet & Hecla Mine, Sept. 2, 1906, John P. Carvar ( Austrian ).

Testimony of witnesses at inquest on the body of John P. Carvar, who died on this date from injuries received August 28th, 1906, before Coroner Fisher.

Frank Urbas, being duly sworn, says: “I am a trammer in No. 5 Calumet & Hecla mine. I knew John P. Carvar, he worked with me. I was present at the time he got hurt Tuesday at the 50th level. I had just got down in the cage and as I was getting out they said a man fell down the shaft. We went down the shaft and found Carvar at the 51st level in the south side. The cage was in the north side. I was on the top seat of the cage and was one of the last to get out. I did not see him fall. He had just gotten out of the cage and had his pail in his hand. The cage was in the north side, and he fell in the south side. His work was on the south side of the shaft, and in walking across he probably fell in. There was plenty of room to walk around the shaft at this point.”

George Spehar upon his oath says: “I knew the deceased. He was my partner. I got off at the 50th level and went in on the north side of the shaft, and I heard someone say a man fell down the shaft. I walked over between the shafts, and someone said: “Your partner fell down the shaft.” I work on the south side, and I dropped my shovel and pail there and went down the shaft, to the 51st level, and found him. I helped to take him to the cage, and came to the hospital with him. I did not see him fall. I got out on the north side of the shaft. I have known him for about eight months, ever since he worked there. Never heard him complain of feeling sick. The accident happened just after we got out of the cage in the morning.”

Dr. H. M. Joy, upon his oath, says: “I am a practicing physician and surgeon for the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company. I was called to attend the injuries of John P. Carvar, at about 8 o'clock Tuesday morning. The only evidences of external violence were a few minor scratches on the head and neck and on his back. The only symptoms that he presented in addition to this were those of complete paralysis of the lower extremities, and also lack of sensation in both legs and the lower part of his body, which would indicate probably some spinal injury, although we were unable to come to a definite determination as to the exact nature of such injury. It would be impossible to determine the exact nature of the injury without a postmortem examination.”

Verdict of the Jury — “We find that the said John P. Carvar came to his death on the 2nd day of September, A. D. 1906, from injuries received from falling in No. 5 shaft, 50th level Calumet Branch, Calumet & Hecla Mine, on August 28th, A. D. 1906.”