Janez Rom

ACCIDENT No. 23 - April 11, 1913 – John Rom; No. 2 Calumet.

John Rom met his death by being struck by a descending skip on this day.

An inquest over his body was conducted by Justice Fisher. The following testimony was taken:

Joseph Gazvoda: “I work in No. 2 Calumet for the C.& H. Company. I am a roller fixer; so was Rom. We worked in the same shaft. He was at the 30th level. I was about 10 feet below him. He loosens the roller after skip passed him going up, and he intended to change ends on roller before skip came down. As soon as he heard skip coming, he threw the roller in the hole and he intended to jump in after it; but before he could do that, the skip was on top of him. He threw the roller in the hole so it would be no trouble with the skip, causing it to jump the track, perhaps. He was struck with the skip coming down. He fell from the 30th to near the 36th level.”

Question: “Was there room there for him to get away?"
Answer: “Plenty room.”

Verdict: "We, the jury, upon our oaths, do say, that the said John Rom came to his death on the afternoon of Friday, April 11, 1913, being struck by a descending skip, at the 30th level, No. 2 Shaft, Calumet Branch of the C.&H. Mine."