Stephen Krizmanic

ACCIDENT No. 21 - April 2, 1913 – Steve Krizmanich, No. 9 South Hecla, C.& H. Steve Krizmanich, an Austrian, employed at No. 9, South Hecla, with a timber-gang, came to his death on this date.

Justice Fisher conducted an inquest over his body. The following witnesses testified:

John Gaspardo: "I am a timberman, was with deceased at the time of the accident. I was at the 12th level, and the watchman was there at the bell. I told the watchman to 'holler' when the skip went up or down. He hollered when the skip went down. I stuck my head in the shaft to see if they were allright. My lamp happened to run out. I emptied it out to fill it again. Then it was I saw Steve fall down the shaft about 25 or 30 feet above the level. He fell about 400 feet. I did not see, but the rope must have struck him and carried him down. I did not hear anything go down the shaft. The wrench was not on his belt when he was picked up."

George Boggio: “I work with the timbermen, I was present at the time of the accident. Steve had an ax, and I went to put a wedge under the sleeper. I asked him for the ax. He gave it. I heard the rope strike the wrench. I looked behind, I see him, he was gone already; the skip was below when the skip struck him. Nothing came down the shaft.”

John Barnado: “ I work as timberman with the other two witnesses. I was 15 or 20 feet under the deceased. I heard a noise, something pass me, then I heard Steve is gone. I ring the stop skip and went and picked him up. The only time we got to fix the shaft is when the skip is down because it is more dangerous when the skip is up.”

Verdict: "We find that the said Steve Krizmanich, came to his death by being struck with the rope of the descending skip, carrying him down the shaft at the 12th level, No. 9 Shaft, South Hecla, April 2, 1913."