The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-15
DOWN TO HIS DEATH
Charles Simmons, a Miner, Meets a
A. 90 20 Horrible Fate.
NO ONE is TO BLAME FOR 1T
It Is one OF Those Lamentabie Ao-
cidents Which Appears to Be
Unavoidable In a Region
bsf Such as This.

Butts May 14.-Charles Simmons met
an instant and horrible death in the
Gagnon mine this afternoon through
one of those lamentable accidents I'm
which It seems that no one is to blame
and which 1t seems impossible to guard
against. iets
Shortly after / O'Clock Simmons got
on the skip at the surface with load
OF men who were going to the soo-foot
level. He had been working on the 300
during the forenoon but had been
changed to the 200. and IL was his in
tention to go to the 900-foot station
and get his candle and return TO the
level on which he was to work. AS
Simmons had been working on the low
er level, to which all of the other men
were !. going. the engineer, William
Thomas, supposed that he was going to
remain there. and the accident was
largely due to this mistaken belief.
When the skip reached the station at
the 900 the other men got of and start
ed of into the level. while simmons
stepped back on the empty skip after
securing his candlestick and started to
give the signal to hoist to the 200. The
signal for the 200 is one and three bells.
while one bell is the signal to hoist the
empty skip. After giving the first bell
he made the customary pause before
pulling the other three. but unfortu-
nately the engineer didn't wait Tor
them Ne supposed that the men had
all left the skip and that they We're
signaling to hoist IL up empty. and he
took IL away so quickly that Sim
mons head was caught between the
skip and the wall plate and almost
| torn from his body. A second later and
| before the engine could be stopped.
A. 49, a ra1 aHHt snf
| and fell TO the bottom of the SHAFT, 400
| feet below.
Two or three of the miners who had
| remained in the station witnessed the
horrible accident, and the engineer also
knew from the jar of the engine that
| something was wrong, ana ne stopped
| the skip almost instantly, but not In
| time to avert the calamity. The skip
1 was at once lowered into the stump and
| the mangled remains were hoisted tc
| the surface in a canvas sack. Deputy
i Coroner Chance Harris took charge OF
4 them and had them removed to the
Butte undertaking rooms, where ar
Inquest, will be conducted at 10 O'Clock
| to- morrow.
L. Mr. simmons was about 3s years ole
/ and leaves a wife and four children
who reside, at No. 515 West Broadway
HedWas a native OF Maine and had
llined In Butte for about four years
- -
he was. employed at the Gagnon. Pre-
vious TO coming here he lived in Idah'
Springs and Aspen. Col. where h,
Iowred number of quartz teams. AT
ter leaving there he worked for tim
Hin Spokane before coming TO Butte
Vie was well known here and had
| number of friends who had worries
| with him I'm Colorado. He possesse
an excellent education and a high or
der of intelligence. and was highly re
| spected by all who knew him. He wa
one of the best-lilxed men in the min
and his sad death cast a gloom owe
| all of the Gagnon employees.
He was a member of the Mason
and carried life Insurance to IN
amount of $4,000. although his wifi
will not be able to collect $1,000 of 4
as that policy afforded him no proteC
ton while working underground. III
was of both an industrious and say
ing disposition. however. and he leave
considerable property aside from HI
| life insurance.