Wilhard Peterson

ACCIDENT NO. 6 — Surface Accident - October 27, 1909 – Willard Peterson, C.&H. Mine, No. 9 and 10 rockhouse. Willard Peterson, a Norwegian, employed as a car filler came to his death by being run over in some unknown manner with a rock car at No. 9 and 10 rock house. His body was first discovered by a 13 year old lad, returning home from Raymbaultown. The boy immediately told his father who lived about 200 feet from the shaft house.

John Cortese, the father testified saying: “The deceased's hand was across the rail and his head close to the side of the rail. His body was clear of the track.”

Chas. Uksila: “I am employed by the C.&H. Mining Company as a car-filler. I filled cars with Peterson at No. 8 shaft at about 7 o'clock. About 7:30 I started to go north to No. 7 and No. 5 and deceased went to No. 9. I never saw him again until I saw his body at No. 10 shaft. We filled 5 cars together at No. 8. He did not appear to be sick. He had run down four cars at No. 10. The brakes on the first were tight, the next to the last one the brakes were just a little loose. Looked to me as if the cars had bumped slightly, but I was not there. His body was lying out from the track, his head near the track and his feet out.”

Verdict: "That the said Willard Peterson, employed as a car-filler by the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company, came to his death on the 27th day of October, 1909, by being run over in some unknown manner with a rock car at No. 9 and 10 rock house."