Paul Smolcic

ACCIDENT NO. 11 – December 3, 1909 – Paul Smalcic, South Hecla Branch, C. & H.

Paul Smalcic, an Austrian trammer met his death on this day in No. 8 shaft, South Hecla. His injuries were bad. He died in the operating room at the hospital preparatory to attending his injuries.

An inquest was held and the following testimony taken:

John McLennan: “I am a miner, was at work. The deceased was filling a car under us. I heard the mill run, looked around and saw him going down. I did not see the rock strike him, for when I got down he had walked to the shaft. It looks to me that in filling his car, when he picked away the small rock, this large one turned over. He ran down the mill to get away, but the rock struck him.”

Martin Strangel corroborated the above testimony.

Verdict: “That the said Paul Smalcic came to his death on the 3d day of December 1909, from injuries received from being hit with a rock at the 59th level, No. 8 shaft, South Hecla Branch, of the Calumet & Hecla mine.”