Richard Thomas

Houghton County Mine Inspectors Report-

ACCIDENT NO. 53 – September 19, 1910 – Richard Thomas, No. 5 Shaft, Calumet Branch, C. & H. Richard Thomas, an English miner, came to his death on this day, while at work in the 37th level, North of No. 5 Shaft, Calumet. At the inquest held over his body, the following witnesses testified:

Matt Spehar: “I was working with the masons today at the 37th level, North of No. 5 Shaft, Calumet, for the Calumet & Hecla Co. I know the man who was killed. It was about nine o'clock and we started to look around to see if anything was loose. I held the light and Thomas took the bar to take out a little piece, he just put the bar against the rock when a piece came from behind and struck him and knocked him over against me. I called to my partner and we picked him up. The rock that fell was about four feet square, it came right from the top of the hanging. It was in a crosscut and it was not more than ten feet high. The rock fell just as he put the bar to it, he did not pinch it at all.”

Above testimony corroborated by Frank Mascagna.

Verdict: "We find, that the said, Richard Thomas came to his death on the 19th day of September, 1910, while in the act of barring a rock, on the North side of the 37th level of No. 5 Shaft of the Calumet Branch of C. & H."

The Calumet News

HIS DEATH ACCIDENTAL.

A coroner's jury, presided over by Coroner William Fisher yesterday afternoon, brought in a verdict of accidental death in the case of Richard Thomas, who was killed at the 37th level, No. 5 shaft, of the Calumet branch of the C. & H. Mine, while at work yesterday morning. The evidence as brought out at the inquest, showed that Thomas, who was conceded to be a very careful miner, was sounding the ground, preparatory to "pinching" it down, when
a huge mass fell away. The decedent was well known throughout the district, where he has resided for a great many years, coming here from England. His demise is sincerely regretted by a large number of friends.

FUNERAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

Remains of Late Richard Thomas Will Be Laid to Rest.

The funeral of the late Richard Thomas, who met death this week through a fall of ground in No. 5 shaft, Calumet branch of the C. & Η. mine, will be held tomorrow afternoon, with the services at the Calumet M. E. church at 1:30 o'clock. Thomas James, a layman, will have charge of the services. Mrs. John S. Tobin and Mrs. George H. Watson, daughters of the decedent, have arrived in Calumet from Butte, to attend the funeral, which will be under the auspices of the Calumet branch of the A. O. F. The decedent who was aged 64 years, and a native of Somersetshire, England. He came to Calumet in 1872, and was a continuous resident up to the time of his death. He is survived by a wife, two sons, Robert and Wesley, and three daughters, Mrs. John S. Tobin, Mrs. George H. Watson, both of Butte, and Mrs. William Martin, of this city.
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