John Nowak

ACCIDENT NO. 30 — April 21st, 1910 — John Nowak, No. 5, Calumet Br., C.&H. John Nowak, a Polish timberman, came to his death on this day.

An inquest over his body was held before Justice Fisher. The following witnesses testified regarding the accident:

Joseph Cossa: “I am a timber-boss, employed at No. 5 shaft. I was working at the time of the accident today. We were all inside working when John Nowak left and went out to the shaft. I do not know why. He did not say anything to any of the men. He may have gone for a drink or a little fresh air. It was only a minute or two after he left, that I said to the boys, 'Well go out and get some timbers.' We did not find what we wanted there so went down to the level where I knew we could get the plank wanted. When I got to the level, I found Nowak lying there under the timber. There was a piece of cedar there broken in two. Nowak was right at the bottom of the short ladder near the gate-piece. I suppose he was struck by the piece of cedar. We were working about 100 feet from the shaft at the 59th level."

Martin Regetta: “We were landing timber this morning at the 51st level. We were putting the timber in and a piece of cedar about 12 ft. long got away from us and went down the shaft. Did not know, of course, that it struck anyone until they rang for the cage and then I went down and found that a man was killed. I saw the piece of timber at the 59th level. It was the same piece that got away from us at the 51st level.”

Verdict: “That, the said John Nowak, came to his death on the 21st day of April, 1910, at the 59th level, No. 5 shaft, Calumet Br. of Calumet & Hecla Mine, by being struck with a piece of timber, falling from the 51st level to the 59th level."