The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-01-07
FELL. DOWN A SHAFT
Two Men Fall from 4 Cage and are
Dashed to Pieces.

1t is our painful duty to report an
accident in the hosting shaft Of the
Magma Charta by which two unfOr-
tunate miners lost their lives. 1t &C.
CURED IN the following manner.
Three men working on q contract to
sink the shaft from the 600 station,
having worked their night shift. at
7O'clock yesterday morning entered
the cage to ascend. Their names
were James Tippet, John Bray, and
William Ell Bray, the last named
brothers. While sitting down in the
station waiting for the cage to de-
ecend, all three complained to the
pump man, James pullman, of head
ache and dizziness, which may be
attributed to the fumes from the
charges they had used In blasting.
The cage is made secure by guard
bars placed on its north and south
sides. One of these was in place
when the cage started, and John
Bray stood securely on that side: but
on the opposite side the two others
had neglected to lower the bar to its
rest, and they held on to it In an up
right position.
When they ascended to the purera air
In the shaft, the change seems to have
overpowered them; and this, we un-
derstand, IL generally the effect upon
men half asphyxiated with noxious
fumes. 1t 10 supposed they fell; and
there being no guard to hold them IN
the cage, they dropped between 1t
and the timbers. This produced q
heavy strain upon the cable, as there
was but eight inches of space between
the cage and the shaft, and the for.
mer in grinding past them reduced
the poor fellows almost to a pulp. IT
is supposed that every bone In their
bodies was broken. The engineer
was apprised of something being
wrong, by the wrenching and crack
ing Of the gallows frame by the
strain. When the cage arrived at
the landing place, John Bray was
found to be the sole occupant, and he
was In q kneeling posture. holding
on to the bar with q death clutch
and perfectly unconscious. i
The pump man at the 500 foot
level, hearing the fall of the mangled
bodies. supposed some earth had fallen
through the timbers; but on search
ing the bottom, Is feet below bis sta
ton, he first found a gum boot and
then came across the crushed and
bodies. He Immediately
rung for assistance, and the cage
was lowered with three men to
aid. On reaching the
bottom of the shaft they found
the bodies in so mangled q con-
dition that it was necessary to
them up In blankets. They
rang for more help and Superin-
tendent Hall was notified Of the
tragedy. By the time the CHASTITY
remains were raised to the surface,
Mr.. Hall was present, who directed
that proper care be taken of. the de-
The remains were taken to
The Alice hospital and Coroner Whit
lord was summoned, an inquest was
neld and the facts, as we have given
hem, detailed. the jury abs0lved
The company from blame, aid at
;ributed the accident to the careless
1ess Of the victims.
James Tippet was of English birth,
.ged thirty, and has three brothers
n the camp. William Bray was
BORN in Humboldt. Michigan, lwhere
ais parents reside and was 10 years
age. The funeral will take place
It 2 O'Clock to-day from the Alice
hospital The last named being q
member of tho ancient order of
the members of the Butte
Oipe will attend.