William Henry Chinn

ACCIDENT NO. 47 - Sept, 4, 1911 -William Chinn and John Kurtti, Red Jacket Shaft. This accident resulted in the death of two men William Chinn, an Englishman and John Kurtti, a Finn.

Justice Fisher conducted an inquest over the bodies when the following testimony was taken:

John Mukovac: "I work at the Red Jacket Shaft. We were in the cage coming up from the 59th level, we had passed the 57th level, but how far up we were i cannot tell, when the cage gave a violent jerk and we were all thrown together in a heap and we knew something had broke, but did not know what it was. When we got to the surface, Chinn and Kurtti were missing. I did not see them fall. I suppose that when the cage jumped they were thrown out, but as I say, I did not know they were thrown out until the cage got to the surface. The bar was down. I do not know what caused the accident."

Mat Fortune: "I work at the Red Jacket shaft and was coming up in the cage with the former witness about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. We started at the 69th level and had gone past the 57th level, but I cannot say how far we had gone when the cage jumped. We knew something had happened but could not tell what. I did not see the men thrown out. They were in the cage when we left the 69th level but when the cage got to the surface they were missing. I cannot say what caused the accident."

James MacKenzie: "I am an employee of the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company at the Red Jacket Shaft as shaft inspector. I was on the surface at the time of the accident. All I can say is that the car, which was on the descending cage, got off in some manner and got jammed in the shaft timbers and stopped the descending cage; this put a severe strain on the balance rope, which finally broke under the ascending cage in which the men were. When the rope broke the cage must have jerked violently and threw the two men out. The shaft was in good condition, the accident did not happen through any fault in the shaft, it was the car getting loose and becoming jammed in the timber. I examined the cage -which carried the car - after the accident and found the stops - that held the wheels of the tram car - in their proper place, and I cannot account for the car getting loose."

Verdict of Coroner's Jury: "We find that the said William H. Chinn and John Kurtti came to their death by falling from a cage in the Red Jacket shaft of the Calumet and Hecla Mine at 4 p.m. on the 4th day of September, 1911."

DEATH OF A HAYLE MAN IN AMERICA.

The many friends of Mr. William Henry Chinn, of Market-street Hayle, will regret to learn of his death in America on Sept 4th. He had been employed for 18 years by the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company of Calumet Michigan, and for ten years had held the position of blaster and was working on the day of his death at the Red Jacket shaft branch of the C and H mine. He had finished his work for the day and was coming to the surface with eleven other men in the cage, when by some means the tail rope broke, throwing deceased and another man into the shaft, death being instantaneous. He leaves a widow and four young children to mourn their loss.
Mr. Chinn was well and favourably known in Calumet and a large circle friends mourn his demise. The funeral was largely attended, the Independent Order of Oddfellows and Rechabites of which he was a member being present in a body. Services were held at the Calumet M.E Church, Rev. Adams (pastor) officiating. His brother Mr. Fred Chinn, came over 2,400 miles from Globe Arizona to attend the funeral. Amongst the Cornishmen present Messrs. John Harris (nephew), William Trestrail (cousin), John Chinn (cousin), Thomas Drew, J.H. Paull (all of Hayle), Capt. James Martin (Redruth), Capt. John Rowe (Connor Downs), Capt. Richard Martin (Lanner), Messre. Henry Johns (timekeeper Red Jacket shaft of and mine) (Lelant), Robert Woodward (Lelant), John Cadwell and John Henry and Raymond Cadwell (Camborne), Samuel Carter (Bodmin), James Letcher and Solomon Letcher (St Agnes), Thomas Mitchell (Canonstown), and Trudgen (Bodmin).

[Source: St. Ives Weekly Summary, Visitors' List and Advertiser, etc., St. Ives, Cornwall, England • Fri, Sep 29, 1911 - Page 5]

Source:
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
MyHeritage.com [online database], MyHeritage Ltd.
https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30042/england-births...

Record:
https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-30042-41550295/william-h...
William Henry Chinn
Country: United Kingdom; State: England; Film: 254199, 254200

Citation:
William Henry Chinn
Birth: Nov 17 1870
Christening: Dec 9 1870 - Phillack, Cornwall, England
Parents: Edward Chinn, Ellen

Source:
1881 England & Wales Census
MyHeritage.com [online database], MyHeritage Ltd.
https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10154/1881-england-w...

Record:
https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10154-38712026/wm-h-chin...
Wm H Chinn in household of Edwd Chinn
Year: 1881; Country: England; County: Cornwall; Township: Hayle; Series: RG11; Piece: 2337; Enum. District: 3; Page: 51; Page: 27; Line: 8

Citation:
Wm H Chinn
Birth: Circa 1871 - Phillick, Cornwall
Residence: 1881 - St Johns St, Hayle, Cornwall, England
Parents: Edwd Chinn, Ellen Chinn
Siblings: Elizth Ann Chinn, Mary E Chinn, Richd Chinn, Edward J Chinn, Harrit Chinn, T G Chinn, F C Chinn

Source:
1891 England & Wales Census
MyHeritage.com [online database], MyHeritage Ltd.
https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10155/1891-england-w...

Record:
https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10155-12132921/william-h...
William H Chinn in household of Edward Chinn
Year: 1891; Country: England; County: Cornwall; Parish: Phillack; Series: RG12; Piece: 1852; Enum. District: 3; Page: 40; Page: 13; Line: 16

Citation:
William H Chinn
Birth: Circa 1870 - Phillack, Cornwall
Residence: 1891 - St Johns Street, Phillack, Cornwall, England
Parents: Edward Chinn, Ellen Chinn
Siblings: Minnie Chinn, John Chinn, H Jane Chinn, George Chinn, Frederick K Chinn

Source:
U.S. City Directories
MyHeritage.com [online database], MyHeritage Ltd.
https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10705/us-city-direct...

Record:
https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10705-19028462/william-h...
William H Chinn
Publication: Calumet, Houghton, Hancock and Laurium, 1910; Calumet, Houghton, Hancock and Laurium, 1912; Publisher: R L Polk & Co; R L Polk & Co

Citation:
William H Chinn
Residence: Between 1910 and 1912 - Res 4872 Red Jacket Shaft, Calumet, Michigan, USA
Occupation: Miner