Michael Kranjac

ACCIDENT NO. 43. – Aug. 13, 1907. – Mike Kranjac, Austrian, timberman, Hecla, C.&H. A fall of rock at the 35th level, No. 2 shaft, caused the death of Mike Kranjac upon this day.

An inquest was held and the following testimonies taken:

Peter Zunich: "I am employed at No. 2 Hecla shaft, by the C. & H. Company, as boss of a timber gang. I knew the deceased. He worked in my gang. Was with me at the time of the accident. We were working at the 35th level, north, about 3 o'clock this afternoon; we had examined the ground carefully. I went over it myself and then the boys went over it. They pried down a few loose pieces and we all thought it was all right and were preparing to go to work when the piece fell and struck Mike, He was throwing dirt at the time. The piece that fell was about twenty inches in width and weighed probably three or four hundred pounds. These men, Felix Defillippi and Mike Stajimer were right near him at the time. The vein is small there, only about eight feet, and I consider it a good safe place to work."

Felix Defillippi said: "I thought the place was allright. I was not afraid to go under it myself but I had other work to do. Mike Stajmier and I were putting up a pole, and I was looking for a hammer when I heard a sound and looking around saw that the rock had fallen. Stajmier left go the pole and ran to pull out Kranjac. I held on to the pole so that it would not fall on anyone and then threw it on the back and went down and helped pull deceased out. The rock that fell was all hanging rock, blue trap; the ground there is full of heads."

Mike Stajmier corroborated the above testimony.

Verdict: "That the said Mike Kranjac came to his death on the 13th day of August, 1907, at No. 2 Hecla Shaft, Calumet & Hecla mine, 35th level, north side, by an accidental fall of rock."