Joseph Kobe

FATAL ACCIDENT NO. 44 - July 14, 1908 - Joseph Kobe, Calumet Branch, Calumet & Hecla. This accident, costing the life of Joseph Kobe, occurred on this date at the 52nd level, No. 6 shaft, Calumet.

An inquest was held and the following witnesses examined:

Matt Sacken: “I work in No. 6 shaft, Calumet Branch, at the 52nd level. I knew the deceased. He was my partner. We both went up to blast some block-holes in an open stope, about 1,800 feet from the shaft. My partner (Kobe) had the box with the powder in it, the hand box, and he got ready to charge a block-hole and I went on to the next mill where there was another block-hole to be charged. I had hardly got to it before I heard the explosion. I don't know what caused the powder to go off. There were between ten and twenty sticks of powder in the box, nearer 20 than ten, I should say. I was two or three sets higher than he when the powder went off. I heard nothing fall. He had his lamp in his hat when I left him. This was about a quarter to twelve this morning. We had blasted this rock once and crushed it and Kobe said we will try the other end now and that was what he was going to do when the explosion took place.”

Andrew Alstrom: “I can tell nothing further than the other witness has said. I don't know whether he had the powder on the rock or not when it went off.”

Verdict: "That the said Joseph Kobe came to his death by the discharge of powder at the 52nd level, No. 6 shaft, Calumet Branch of the Calumet & Hecla Mine, on the 14th day of July, 1908."

Houghton County Mine Inspectors Report, 1908 Hathitrust