John Pirc

FATAL ACCIDENT NO. 32 – April 29, 1908—John Pirc, No. 14 Shaft, Calumet & Hecla Mine.

This accident occurred at No. 14 shaft of the C. & H. Mine, causing the death of John Pirc, a laborer, employed by said company.

An inquest was held on the day following the accident, over the body of deceased when the following witnesses were examined:

Murdoch MacDuff: “I am employed at No. 14 shaft. I knew the deceased who was a laborer at this shaft, tramming and mucking. The accident happened about 7:30 yesterday morning. Pirc did not need to cross the shaft to his work. He worked on the North side and the ladder-road is on the North side. We found blood stains at the 8th level, and he was found about 30 feet (9.14 meters) below the 11th level. He evidently fell in the shaft while on the way to his work, but how he came to fall I don't know. I saw no loose rock that might have struck him. There was no hoisting at that time. The shaft was cleaned on Sunday of all loose rock. Pirc had been working in the mine over a year.”

Joe Simonich: “I am a miner employed at No. 14 and knew Pirc. We were working at the 8th level near the shaft and heard something fall, thought someone had dumped a car. Then we were called to come out as someone had fallen in the shaft. We went and found Pirc lying on the South rail in the shaft. He was just breathing and was unconscious. Don't know where he fell from, found him just below the 11th level. He did not need to cross the shaft to get to his work as his work was on the north side.”

Verdict: “That the said John Pirc came to his death from injuries received on the 29th day of April 1908, by falling down No. 14 shaft of the Calumet & Hecla Mine to the 11th level.”

Mine Inspector's report for Houghton County, 1908. “Mine Inspector's Report For Houghton County, Michigan. 1908.” Hathitrust, 2021, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015074974117&view=1up&....

Employment card available from Michigan Tech's Copper Country History here : https://cchi.mtu.edu/copper-country-image-detail?duid=1b54a0ba-07f7...

The employee card indicates John has two brothers, Anton & Frank, that also work at the mine. That his aid fund was paid to Joseph Stukel, on July 17, 1908.
Gravestone information: Johan Pirtz, Jul 9 1884-April 29, 1908
Section K. Lake View Cemetery