Mate Butorac

ACCIDENT NO. 1 – October 3, 1906. - Matt Butorac, Austrian trammer, Calumet and Hecla Red Jacket shaft, this accident occurred at the 59th level, north side of No. 4, Red Jacket shaft, by a fall of ground. It caused the death of a trammer, Matt Butorac by name.

An inquest was held on October 4th, when the following testimony was heard:

Maurice Murphy said: “I am a miner in the employ of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, I work at the 59th level, Red Jacket shaft, north of No. 4 shaft. I know the man who was killed. He was a trammer. The accident happened between ten and fifteen minutes past 8 o'clock last evening. The trammers went in a little while before we did - five or six minutes not much more. I was the leading one of our gangs and was on my way in when I heard a fall of ground. I did not see the car and did not know it was there until I heard the ground strike it. I did not know there was a man there, but thought there must be as the car was there. I tried to look over the pile, but could see nobody. I then went in and came down on the inside and found the man lying on his back in the level. I could not swear that the ground had been examined because I did not see it done, but I am almost sure it was, as they were working under there all day and the ground is always examined before work starts. We passed under there and thought it perfectly safe. We walk back and forth under there three or four times a shift. It was mixed ground that fell — hanging and vein rock. The hanging gets broken in taking out the vein. We cannot take out the vein without breaking the hanging."

Alfred M. Bostrom testified: “I am employed as a miner at the 59th level, north of No. 4 shaft, at the Red Jacket shaft. I was there at the time of the accident, about forty feet away from where the rock fell. I was under it myself about five minutes before thought it perfectly safe had no idea of danger. I suppose the place was examined Wednesday morning. I did not look at it myself, went right in and up to the machine. I know nothing more than Murphy has said.”

Verdict of the Jury: “We, the jury, do hereby say that the said Matt Butorac came to his death on the night of October 3, 1906, about 8:15 o'clock, by a fall of ground at the 59th level, north side of No. 4 shaft, Red Jacket shaft, Branch of the Calumet and Hecla Mine."

Mine Inspector's report for Houghton County, 1907. "Mine Inspector's Report for Houghton County, Michigan. 1907.". Hathitrust. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ptid=mdp.39015074974125&view=1up&s....