The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-21

at TIE mine at the time of the accident.
was first called. In stating what he knew
of the accident he said F1ankey and Helix
kila came up TO eat their lunch about 4
o'clock. When they were ready 90 go TO
work again they got into the bucket and
he started TO lower them. When the buck
ct was down about IS feet he felt a jar
on the rope and stopped the engine. and
when he got no signal for a long time ne
concluded something was wrong and sent
a man down the ladder. He came back
and said he guessed the men had been
killed. Witness then sent him to find a
policeman and have the coroner notified.
The witness said this was the first shift
he had worked. Replying to a question
from Deputy Mine Inspector Hunter. the
witness said he could not say whether the
crosshead went down with the bucket or
not. or whether Il caught and subsequent
ly fell. striking the men.
Replying to questions by Attorney Lee
ny. the witness said the men were not IN
the bucket when found. He could not say
whether the crosshesd could be taught
and allow the bucket TO go up or not.
Ernest ]. Scheefel. shift boss at the
Otisco. was called but was not at the mine
when the accident happened and knew
nothing except what he had been told as
to how Il occurred. In answer To a ques-
ton by Mr.. Hunter. he said he never
knew Of the crosshead catching in the
shaft. Replying to Mr.. Leehy. the witness
described the manner of timbering the
shaft. and explained the way In which
the crosshead works on the guides.
job Hewitt. foreman of the Colorado
company's mines. was called, but could
throw no light on the inquiry.
John Barkley. top man at the mine. said
the men started down the mine about Is
minutes of s He stood by the engineer
when he was lowering the men and no.
sNa.l ~. s.. fs.. . g..v a.aoa1S vUhan
no signal came. he got his candle and
went down the shaft and found one of the
men lying on the wall plate about 70 feet
down. and the other. with his feet In the
bucket. hanging over the side. He saw
they were dead and went for help. after
wards assisting TO remove the bodies. The
witness did not know whether the cross
head hung up or not when the bucket
went down. lie had never known II to
catch. when the witness went down to
where the men were the crosshead was
In Its proper position and everything APP
peared to be In perfect order. The cross
head was subsequently used In raising
and lowering the bucket.
Depty Mine Inspector Frank Hunter tes-
titled to having Investigated the accident.
The men were removed to the surface
when he reached the mine He went down
to the point at which the men were found
and from inquiry he was of the opinion
I'M NV Na. ~ hh, ~
of the shaft when the men were lowered
and that IL slipped away after the bucket
was down about rs feet and fell. striking
the men and killing them. lie believed
death was instantaneous. He stated that
there was no clamp on the rope above
the crosshead. and IL could therefore very |
easily catch and stay up when the bucket
went down. In explaining how the cross
head might have caught. the witness said
the shaft was wet and he thought that
while the men were eating the bucket was
standing still at the top of the shaft. |
the guides holding the crosshead. finally |
breaking away and falling down the
shaft. The clamp on the rope which held
he crosshead above the bucket was
iriven down. showing the crosshead must
rave fallen on II with great force. There
was no injury on the dead men except on
he head. Their skulls had been crushed
n. |
The jury rendered a verdict that the de-
'eased came to their deaths by an unfore-
'een accident.
Emil Flankey was about * years of age
SINGLE lie has "a brother. John Flan-
key. and sister. Ida Kuntz. living In the
rity. He had lived in Butte six or seven
years. |
Herman Heikkila was about % years
I'D. and also single. He had no relatives
N Montana but has n brother living in
Minnesota, who was notified. He had only
been I'm Butte since last spring. Both men
vent to work I'm the mine a month ago. A
iouble funeral will be held this afternoon
It 2 O'Clock at s3s East Galena street.