Peter Verderber

ACCIDENT NO. 35. — August 7th, 1906, No. 5 Tamarack Rockhouse, Peter Verderber. Peter Verderber, a lander at No. 5 Tamarack, lost his life on this date.

An inquest was held at the Mining Captain's office before Coroner Fisher, and the following testimony taken:

Martin Hogan testified: "I knew the deceased and was with him when the accident happened. I was standing alongside of him. He was pushing a car, and in taking a step forward fell through into the chute, and down into the rock bin, a distance of about forty feet.”

Jonas Opal, being duly sworn, testified as follows: "I was a witness to the accident. I was there helping them get a car on the track when the accident happened. What I have to say is similar to what Mr. Hogan has said, but I had a better chance to see all, as I was on a platform, and Mr. Hogan was helping to push the car which they did with a crow bar. The rope had jumped the drum and got into the clutch and the car had to get off the track. It was necessary for us to put the car back on the track, and after doing this we pushed the car forward. In pushing it, we passed by the side of the opening, and in making a step forward Verderber lost his balance and fell down into the ore chute, and from there slid down into the rock bin in the rockhouse. I think he struck about three times on the way down. He was dead when we reached him, and appeared as though he had died before he reached the bottom. He must have gone head first and it looked to me as if he had struck the back of his head and fell into the rock bin."

Verdict of the Jury: “We, the jury, upon our oaths do say, that the said Peter Verderber came to his death, on the 7th day of August, A.D. 1906, while performing his duty as lander at No. 5 shaft house, by accidentally losing his balance while making a step forward and falling into the chute.”