Paul Kobe

The Calumet News
Oct 29, 1896
Thursday
Page 4

Killed at Hecla.
A fatal accident occurred in the Hecla mine this morning by which Paul Kobe, an Austrian Timberman, was instantly killed. Kobe was working with the timbergang south of No. 6 shaft at the 34th level, when the accident happened. The men had just put in a prop against the hanging when a piece of loose rock gave away above the timber and came down and struck the deceased on the shoulder, knocking him down and killing him on the spot. He was removed by the other men to the shaft and immediately taken to the surface and then to Calumet hospital, where he now lies. Captain Hall, mine inspector, accompanied by the mining captain, went underground soon after the accident and examined the rock in the vicinity. The mine inspector notified Justice Fisher and a jury was empaneled and an inquest will be held at the hospital this afternoon.

Paul Kobe was 26 years of age and single and had lived in this country for the past 7 years. He had been laid up for 7 or 8 months with a serious compound fracture of the leg bone, the result of another accident, and had only been working the past 2 months. He was an occupant of a cot in the ward at the hospital for many weeks last winter and made many friends there by his patience while suffering. He was known as a good workman by his companions. The deceased was a member of St. Joseph’s Benevolent society and they will have charge of the funeral, arrangements for which have not yet been made.

The Calumet News, Oct 30, 1896, Friday, Page 4.

The jury empaneled by Justice Fisher, to inquire into the cause of the death of the late Paul Kobi, who was killed at the Hecla yesterday, viewed the remains at the hospital ward and then heard the following testimony in the afternoon in Dr. Osborn's office at the hospital:

Mat Opland was the first witness and he gave the following testimony:
"I am a timberman. There were one set more of 10x12 timbers to go in and there were two props in there before we put in two more, because these two were in the road of the timber so as to cover it up. We took one of these out and was about taking down the other when the ground came down and struck the deceased. The ground was behind the headboard of the top about two feet and that ground broke off and came down, killing Kobi instantly. I examined where it fell from and found there were shoots of copper behind it. The rock would have been dangerous if the props had not been there. The headboard was one foot above the props."

Peter Hammes was next sworn and gave the following testimony:
"I am a timberman and worked with the party all morning and put in the props. I had the blocks threaded and ready to pull down, when the ground fell. I do not know the size of the rock, for when I went to get help two men had moved it off the deceased. I looked around the hanging and thought it was safe after the props were put in and was in the same danger as the deceased. The accident occurred south of No. 6 shaft, Hecla, about forty-five feet from the 34th level. It was about sixteen feet from where I stood that the rock fell. The deceased never spoke after the rock struck him, but died instantly."

John Blight was the next witness and gave the following testimony: "After we had put in two props, I went to chop out the second prop after we had taken the first out and the ground fell behind me. I jumped away. The boss asked me if I was All right and I said yes. When I came back they were moving the rock off from the deceased. I work with the timbermen and this same gang. I was about two feet from where the rock fell and thought that the hanging that fell was all safe after the props were put in and was as close to deceased when the ground fell as any of the gang. Deceased was cleaning away to put a log in the mill, and no fine stuff came down before the rock fell and it gave no warning."

John Shotkoskey, the last witness, gave the following testimony: "I thought the place was all safe and was about four or five feet south of deceased when the rock fell. I thought everything was safe as far as I knew. Nothing more could have been put in to make it safer after those props were in. Did not hear any small dirt falling before the rock fell and no warning was given whatsoever."

Mine Inspector Hall then told the jury what he knew of the accident, from what he had seen afterward, and the jury after being out a short time returned a verdict as follows: "We, the jury, find that the deceased was instantly killed by being struck with hanging rock that fell from the stope in the 34th level, south of No. 6 shaft, in the Hecla branch, Calumet and Hecla mine, on October 29, 1896."

Signed, 

"Frank B. Lyon,
"P. J. McClelland,
"Joseph Torreano,
"John J. Friederichs,
"Christ Chrisnenson,
"Robert Haynes."

Accident No. 4 . ‒ October 29th, 1896 ― A fatal accident occurred in the 34th level south of No. 6 Shaft, Hecla Branch of the Calumet and Hecla mine.

Paul Kobi, an Austrian working with the timber gang, was instantly killed by being struck on the head and back by a piece of hanging wall-rock. The men had put in two props against the hanging rock and supposed everything was safe to work under.

An inquest was held before Justice Fisher, the jury returning the following verdict: “The said Paul Kobi, deceased, was accidently killed by being struck by hanging rock that fell in the 34th level south of No. 6 shaft, Hecla Branch of the Calumet & Hecla mine on the 29th of October, 1896."

Mine Inspector’s Report, Houghton County, 1897. Hathitrust.

The L'Anse Sentinel, Oct 31, 1896, Saturday, Page 5.

Paul Kobi, an Austrian miner, was killed Thursday morning while working in the 34th level, south of No. 6 shaft, Hecla mine. Deceased was 26 years of age, married and a member of the Austrian Society, of Calumet.