Joseph Hammes

Accident No. 5 - January 27, 1893- Joseph Hammes and Jacob Link were employed to look after the rolls in No.'s 9,10, 11 and 12 shafts in the South Hecla branch of Calumet and Hecla mine. They went down to the 5th level No. 9 shaft and there separated, Hammes telling Link to go on down and that he (Hammes) would go to No. 8 shaft to see if the bell wire was all right and that they would meet at the 22nd level of No. 9 shaft.

Hammes left Link and was not again seen alive. His body was found at the 15th level in No. 8 shaft. It is supposed that Hammes, in attempting to cross the hoisting shaft to get to the ladderway, slipped and fell down the shaft. At this point the shaft was covered with a coating of ice and it being a down cast it was difficult to cross. Link testified at the inquest that they had not received any orders to go to No. 8 shaft. Their work was in No.'s 9,10,11 and 12 shafts and what caused Hammes to go to No. 8, he did not know.

An inquest was held before Coroner MacDonald, when the jury rendered a verdict, "that Joseph Hammes came to his death by accidentally falling down No. 8 shaft, South Hecla mine on the 27th day of January 1893."