Károly Versegi

ACCIDENT NO. 24 - February 27, 1909 – John E. Murphy and Chas. Versigi, Red Jacket Shaft.

This accident at the 57th level; South side, of the R. J. Shaft caused the death of the two men named above.

An inquest was held before Justice Fisher and the following testimonies were taken:

John Lynch: “I work at the Shaft, was working last night at the 58th level. I knew Murphy, but did not know the other fellow. I was about 300 ft. away when the accident happened. I went out to the shaft at one o'clock for some fuse and caps and was told by another party of miners to get a box of powder for them out of the big powder box and leave it there and tell the trammer to bring it in. I told the trammer to take it in and to take it off the car when they got inside. That's all I know about it.”

Peter Rosonen: “I work a partner to Lynch. I told Lynch to go for fuse and caps. Another machine man asked him to get him a box of powder. He took it out of the big powder - box and asked the trammer to take it in. They put it on the car and no one took it off and the car was filled with rock and sent out to the shaft again and when it was dumped into the pocket the powder exploded.”

Stanko Klasnic: “I am a trammer at R. J. Shaft at the 58th level. The miner told me to put the box of powder in the car which I did and rode in with it. I did not fill this car but passed it on to some trammers who were already in there and I forgot to take the powder out.”

Capt. Jno. F. Lindstrom, Mining Captain in charge of R. J. Shaft: “It is the duty of the miner to take care of the powder when they order it. The trammers are not supposed to look after the powder nor are they supposed to notify the miners of the arrival of powder in the stope. The miner is supposed to take care of the powder himself. Regarding the accident, one of the bodies was found on the east side of the pocket about 15 feet away and the other on the west side of the pocket about the same distance away. There was no one but those men there. The car was standing on its end. The pocket was torn to pieces."

Verdict: "That, John E. Murphy and Chas. Versigi came to their death by a premature powder explosion at the 57th level, South side of Red Jacket Shaft on the 27th day of February, 1909."

Source: Hathitrust, Houghton County Mine Inspector Report 1909: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015074974091

Immigration:

• Name: Karoly Versegi
• Gender: Male
• Birth: Circa 1878
• Arrival: Jan 25 1906 New York, New York, United States
• Departure: Fiume
• Ship: Slavonia
• Age: 28
• Last permanent residence: Litke
• Nationality: Hungary
• Marital status: Married
• Relative joined in the U.S.: Ferenc Szabo - Friend in Calumet Michigan.

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