The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-04-08
HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Three Men Buried Beneath
Falling Debris.
DAVID L. DAVIS INSTANTLY
KILLED.
The Magma Charta the Scene Of the
Terrible Accident.

Yesterday morning at 3:15 o'clock,
while four men named David u.
Davis, John p. nhall, Samuel Shovel
and Samuel Mellow, were engaged
in stopping on the 1OO-foot level of the
Magma Charta, the hanging wall OF
the slope in which they were work
ing gave way and caved in, instantly
killing David L.. Davis and burying
two of his comrades. Fortunately,
Samuel Shovel. who is more famil-
iarly known as Captain jack" es-
capped with no injuries other than q
severe fright. The others, PenDall
and Mellow were buried to the waist
by the falling debris, while Davis
was completely submerged aud
instantly killed. The horrible acci-
dent occurred without a moments
warning Samuel Shovel owes his
fortunate escape to the fact that he
was in the ear of the others who
were working beyond where the
mine had been timbered. These
timbers are undoubtedly what saved
his life. The alarm was Immediately
given and the unfortunate men were
speedily extrieated. Samuel Mellow
was badly cut about the heal and
face and otherwise badly injured
about the body. John Penhalj was
also wounded about the head and
face. Their injuries though serious,
are not regarded as necessarily fatal.
On being taken out it was found that
Davis was already dead, a large frag-
ment of rock having struck him on
the back, evidently while in a stoop-
ing posture, breaking his neck and
instantly killing him. About seven
carloads of earth and decOmposed
granite we're taken out before the
men were liberated. They were then
taken to the Alice Hospital belong
ing to the company by whom they
were employed. Superintendent
Hall then Immediately came to Butte
and notified Coroner Whitford
OF the accident. and called in the SER
vices OF Drs. Bacon and Cooper to
attend the wounded. Coroner Whit
ford repaired to the scene of the &C
cident, and summoned a jury to ill.,
vestigate the cause of the death of
David L.. Davis. In this investlga-
tlon it was learned that the mine had
always been well timbered, and the
most precautionary measures taken
to avoid accidents, Superintendent
Hall giving the closest scrutiny and
attenti n to the work under his SUI
The ground had been
sounded from time to time, and at the
of the accident the mine had
been securely timbered up TO within
I n roo mr. Ennr foot af sfo fowro,,,o
Davis. Penhall and Mellow are old
and experienced miners. Superin-
tendent Hall run a night and day
set of men who are engaged in tim
the mine. The jury, after
eliciting these facts, returned the
verdict: |
I'VE, the undersigned jury, find
that David L.. Davis came to his death
by accident, namely, the caving in of
earth in one of the slopes of the Mag
ma Charta mine, under which he was
buried and lost his life. The jury
further find that the management of
the mining corporation wherein MI.
came to his death, are entirely
9xOnerated from all blame.
,Signed) CHAUNCE L. HARRIS.
Foreman
Mr.. Davis, was about So years old
md leaves a wife and three children, |
;wo of them married. The wife OF
he deceased has three times married
md by a singular fatality all three
husbands have been killed In mining
accidents. Mr.. Davis, was q member
If the order of Knights of Pythias
md Mankito Lodge I. o. 0. F. No.
5 of Pennsylvania. The funeral
'ervices will take place at 3 o'clock
his afternoon from the family res
dence on East Park street, near
woodward and under the
luspices of the I. O. o. F.