Santi Pellegrini

ACCIDENT No. 24. – February 18. Occurred at the Franklin Mine, resulting in the death of Desanti Tellegrin.

An inquest was held before Coroner Fisher.

Bernard Bruso, partner of the deceased, testified as follows: “I am a Trammer for the Franklin Mining Company and was working at the 16th level No. 5 shaft. We were dumping the car. I was on the north side and my partner was passing to the south side of the shaft and passed on the timber across the shaft. I am not sure whether he struck the hanging or whether he slipped, but I saw him fall head first into the shaft. The gate is on the south side and we always pass on the south side on the timber to lower the gate because it is quicker. The best way is to go under the track. We were both sitting down waiting for the skip, then we rose, and the deceased rushed across the shaft on the timber to lower the gate and fell down the shaft.”

Verdict of the jury was as follows: “We, the jury, upon our oaths, do say that the said Desanti Tellegrin came to his death on the 18th day of February, 1902, by accidentally falling from the 16th to the 21st level in No. 5 shaft of the Franklin Mine.”