Osvaldo Moruzzi

ACCIDENT NO. 41 — August 19, 1904. — This accident happened in “B” shaft of the Champion Mine. A party of miners had gotten into the skip on surface to be lowered down the shaft. Osvaldo Mozurri stood on the south side of the skip and stopped at the 2nd level. In getting out of the skip Osvaldo fell down the shaft.

Herman Huovinen testified as follows: “I rode down in the same skip with the deceased. Went as far as the second level in the north skip of “B” shaft. No one in the skip had a light, it was dark. I was on the front of the skip. The deceased stood on the south side of the skip. When we got to the second, there were several of us who said we had better not get out until we had procured a light. Osvaldo did not take any notice of what we said, and a minute later we heard him fall down the shaft. The guard rail betwen the compartments of the shaft was in place. I took hold of it myself.”

Fornati Michelomi, being duly sworn, testified as follows: “I rode in the same skip as the deceased in the north compartment of “B” shaft. He stood on the edge of the skip with his feet spread apart, holding on to a man who had hold of the hoisting rope. The skip stopped at the second level. Someone on the bail of the skip started to light a match. I then heard someone move, and then someone said, a man had fallen down the shaft.”

John Balma, being duly sworn, testified as follows: “I went down in “B” shaft last evening on the north skip. I knew the deceased. He stood on the edge of the skip and had hold of another man. The skip stopped at the second level. No one had a light. Somebody struck a match to make a light. We then heard a noise in the shaft. I heard somebody say, a man had fallen down into the shaft.”

Emil Johnson, being duly sworn, testified as follows: “I work at the Champion Mine as a trammer boss. I worked last night. I did not go down in the same skip with the deceased, but went down afterwards. I did not see the skip lowered in which the deceased went down. I met Herman Huovinen and went down as far as the fourth level. I met some men at the fourth level; they told me the deceased was in the south skip. I asked if the skip was all right; they answered “yes” and that the man was in the skip. I then signaled to hoist the skip and then noticed at once that the skip was off the track and stopped it. I went down nearly to the fifth level and got into the skip and noticed the body of the deceased in the skip. There was no life in the body. I then assisted in getting the skip on the track. Captain Pooley and Hodge came; the three of us rode up to the fourth level in the skip. We then discovered that one leg of the deceased was missing. I climbed down with several of the men to see if we could find the missing leg. We found it at the fifth level on the south side of the shaft. The skip was again lowered to the 5th level. We put the limb into the skip and took it to surface. I then went down the shaft and noticed the guard rails in place between the two compartments at the second level. I think the body in descending struck the bail of the skip, and that cut off the leg."

John Broan, being duly sworn, testified as follows: “I am mining captain of the Champion Copper Company. Last night a little after seven o'clock I was informed than an accident had happened at “B” shaft. I went right over to the shaft. I waited for some time in the shaft house and saw the skip come up with the body of the deceased. Captain Pooley, Emil Johnson and Joe Hodge were with the body of the deceased, Moruzzi Osvaldo. I was standing at the back of the shaft. Before the body was taken out of the skip I examined the bail. I saw traces of blood on the bail between the rope and the bridle on the south side of the skip. The body was wrapped in a blanket. I gave directions to have it taken to the hospital. I have repeatedly warned the men against riding on the side of the skips, and many times have prevented them from doing so."

Mine Inspector's report for Houghton County, 1904. 2021. "Mine Inspector's Report For Houghton County, Michigan. 1904.". Hathitrust. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015074974158&view=1up&....