William Webb

ACCIDENT No. 21 - June 4, 1903. Occurred in the Peninsula Shaft of the Franklin Mine Junior. William Webb with others were going down to their work at the both level. When the skip was stopped at the 10th level, some of the men got out on the north plat, but Webb got out on the dividing timber between the north and south compartments of the shaft and fell down the shaft from the 10th to the 16th level, a distance of 600 feet. If Webb got out of the skip on the north side of the shaft it would have prevented the accident.

An inquest was held before Coroner Fisher.

Archelous Collins testified: “I went down in the skip with the deceased, William Webb. I was with him at the time the accident happened this morning. It occurred at the 10th level of the Peninsula Shaft of the Franklin Mine Junior. I went down in the same skip with the deceased to the both level. I got out of the skip before him and got a light from another man and as I turned around I saw him fall in the shaft, he was out of the skip standing on the dividing timber. It would have been the safest way to have gotten out of the skip on the north side. If he had gotten out of the skip on the north side, it would have prevented the accident."

Albert Rowe upon his oath says: “I work at the Franklin Junior Mine. I know the deceased, I went down in the skip with him this morning. I corroborate the testimony of Mr. Collins in regard to the manner in which the deceased fell in the shaft.”

Verdict of the jury — "We, the jury, upon our oaths do say, that the said William Webb came to his death on the 4th day of June, A. D. 1903, by falling in the Peninsula Shaft of the Franklin Mine Junior at the 10th level and to the 16th level, and find no blame to anyone."