Pietro Ciocatto

FATAL ACCIDENT NO. 37 - May 26, 1908 - James Guglielmino, and Peter Ciocatto, No. 7 Shaft, Hecla, Calumet & Hecla.

This accident resulting in the death of James Gugliemino and Peter Ciocatto, who died later, occurred at No. 7 shaft, Hecla Branch of the C.&H. Mine.

An inquest was held over the body of Guglielmino, who died first and the following witnesses examined:

W.E. Daniell: “I am mining captain at the Hecla Branch of the C.&H. The deceased was employed in my department as a trammer. I know of an accident happening between 10 and 10:30 yesterday morning. We were sending down timber. I was at the 36th level, No. 7. I was in the drift with the surveyors. I came back to the shaft and heard a piece of timber coming down ahead of the car. I told the watchman to ring one bell and stop the car and another man went down to see what was wrong. There was nothing wrong with the car and how this piece got away I cannot tell as the timber was chained on the car. We heard it going by and it struck the casing plant on which we were standing. I did not see the car loaded. This man (deceased) and Peter Ciocatto, who died of injuries later, were between the 61st and 62d levels. The timber came from somewhere above the 36th, where I was. In examining the shaft above where we were we could see where the timber had struck in 3 or 4 places. The iron stakes and bars were all in the car and the timber was chained besides. The man who loaded the car was doing that work before I took charge at the Hecla, five years ago.”

Norman McLeod: ”I work for the C.&H., at No. 7 shaft, Hecla Mine, loading timber car. I was at work there yesterday. I loaded the car from which the timber came that struck these men. It was a car of 6 and 8 inch flat timber with a row of wedges in the bottom. I loaded the car the same as usual and thought it safe, the stakes were all in and the load chained down, and no more timber than we usually send down on a car, it was loaded within 2 inches of the top.”

Verdict: "That the said James Guglielmino came to his death on the 26th day of May, 1908 by being struck by a piece of timber in No. 7 shaft of C.&H. mine, said timber supposed to have come from a loaded car. How said timber became detached from the car the jury is unable to state."

N.B. - Peter Ciocatto, who was injured at the same time, but died later. No inquest was held, the inquest reported above, covering completely the accident.