John B. Coppo

ACCIDENT NO. 22 - February 15th.-- Occurred at the 57th level of the Red Jacket shaft, Calumet and Hecla Mine. John B. Coppo, employed as timberman, with others, was removing some covering or “lagging” which was to be placed at another point. Several pieces of covering had been removed and a piece of rock had been jammed between two pieces of timber. An attempt had been made during the day to remove the rock with crow-bars, but was unsuccessful. When the men took hold of the two pieces of timber, the rock rolled over, the edge of the rock struck Coppo on the temple, causing almost instant death. An inquest was held before Coroner Fisher.

Tony Bobboi testified: “I am employed by the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company as timberman at the 57th level south of the Red Jacket shaft. I was working there this morning at the time of the accident. I know John B. Coppo, he has been working with me for about ten months. We were taking out the covering this morning, and I was standing near Coppo when I saw the rock start to move. It struck Coppo and knocked him down the mill. I grabbed hold of the rock to keep it from rolling, and called out to Coppo, but he did not answer. The rock did not fall; it just turned over, and as it turned- it struck Coppo on the side of the head. We tried to bar out the rock before we started to move the covering, but it was jammed so tight we could not move it. When we were moving the covering one of the pieces must have struck the rock and caused it to turn over. I did not think the place we were working was dangerous.”

I. S. Michaelson testified: “I am a miner in the employ of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company. I know John B. Coppo, and was present at the time of the accident this morning. All I know is that I saw Bobboi and Coppo standing on the timbers. Coppo took up the tongs and passed it to the man on the cover, and then Bobboi said 'hoist up' and then I saw Bobboi take hold of the rock and said to Coppo to look out. They tried to bar the rock out before but could not. When they pulled up the cover it must have struck the rock and turned it over, and as it turned it must have struck Coppo on the head. It was a simple accident in my opinion. Any man working underground would think it was safe. The rock did not fall down the mill — just turned around and struck Coppo. As it turned around it knocked Coppo down the mill.”

Verdict: “We, the jury, find that John B. Coppo came to his death on the 15th day of February, 1905, at the 57th level south of No. 4 shaft, Calumet Branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine by a pure accident, by being struck with a rock while at his work of timbering.”

DEATH- Yesterday afternoon, John COPPO, employed at the Calumet and Hecla Mining company was killed by being struck in the head by a piece of overhanging rock. He was unmarried and lived in Yellow Jacket. He is survived by a mother who he supported solely. The funeral will be Sunday at the Calumet Italian church. Burial will be at Lake View cemetery.