John Sandretto

ACCIDENT NO. 9 — November 16, 1903. — John Sandretto lost his life by being struck by a large piece of vein rock which fell from a stope at the 35th level north of No. 8 shaft, Hecla Branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine.

An inquest was held before Coroner Fisher.

Anton Rossinti testified as follows: “I know John Sandretto; I was working with him at he 35th level north of No. 8 shaft, Hecla Branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine this morning, when the accident occurred. We were working in the mill, and a Finn miner asked the deceased to bring him a blow-pipe. He went up and handed the miner the blow-pipe, then sat down on a plank. Just then a rock fell, striking him on the back.”

Matt Hoffman testified as follows: “I know the deceased and was working with him at the 38th level, No. 8 shaft, South Hecla Mine. I was shoveling dirt and he was sitting on the plank above me. He was moving rocks with his feet and they were coming down where I was. I was just reaching up to touch him with a shovel and have him stop, as there was so much noise he could not hear me call, when the rock fell. I heard something coming and I jumped away. The plank he had been sitting on came down. He was supposed to be down in the mill. He went up there to hand a blow pipe to one of the miners. He then sat down on the plank. He had not been there three minutes when the rock fell. It was a piece of vein-rock from the back of the stope. When we went to work we were told to keep down in the mill. The deceased's work did not call him up there at all. He simply went up to accommodate the miners, as it was inconvenient for the miners to get the blow-pipe from where they were working.”

Verdict of the Jury: “We, the jury, find that the said John Sandretto came to his death on the 16th day of November, 1903, at the 35th level north of No. 8 shaft, South Hecla Branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine, accidentally, by being struck by a piece of vein rock."