The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-04
THE DEATH OF WILLIAMS
Coroner Tremblay and Jury Make
an Investigation.
UNAVOIDABLE ACCIDENT
His Life Crushed Out by a Fall of Ten
Tons of Rock in the Gray Rock
Mine = Evidence in
the Case.

'hS O VI ihACudIu liam VIM
had his life crushed out by a lotion
rock falling IN him while he was at
work on the 18th floor of 1900 level Of
the Grey Rock mine Tuesday after
noon, was Investigated last evening at
an inquest held by Coroner Tremblay at
Richards undertaking parlors at s
O'Clock. The jury found a verdict of
unavoidable accident.
Thomas Bolitho, Williams partner,
was the first witness. lie said he and
Williams were preparing to square out
for a set OF timbers. He was handing
drills up to his partner when the rock
fell away from the hanging wall. Re-
plying to questions by Mine Inspector
Hunter. the witness said he sounded the
ground and it had all the appearance
of being sound. Williams was a careful
man and, in the opinion of the witness,
there was no negligence on his part.
William MAXWELL, another miner en-
ployed i'm the Grey Rock, was working
on the level a few feet above where
Williams was working. He repeated
the statements of the preceding wit
ness and said the deceased had succeed
ed in getting in a part of the set when
the rock fell. In response to a question
by Mr.. Hunter, the witness said he had
not noticed any crack in the ground
prior to the accident.
John Pooley also worked on the 1,200
level, just above where the accident &C.
Cured. He heard the rock fall and as
sisted in removing the body. In the
opinion of the witness every precaution
to prevent accident was taken.
l.. NJ. tombstone, shift boss, said his
Instructions to the men were always to
protect themselves by getting in timbers
as soon as ii was possible. He passed
the scene of the accident about three
quarters of an hour before the rock fell.
He inquired if the ground was safe,
and Williams and his partner replied it
was. He had been prompted in asking
the question by having seen some loose
slabs higher up. William was a good
miner. The ground was such as was
likely to deceive an experienced miner.
There had been no blasting on the level
for some hours prior to the accident.
Mr.. Williams, foreman, said he saw
the deceased about 10 minutes before he
was killed. Witness asked about the
gound and the deceased replied it was
solid and he thought he would ave to
drill before he could get in a timber.
Witness asked about the ground over
head and advised putting in timbers as
fast as possible. The ground that fell
was soap slip, likely to come down with
out warning.
L tAtl Dobltt III tilaiis was "N
probably 90 feet away from the scene of
the accident, and was notified by Will
Jams partner of the accident and assist
ed in removing the body. He stated the
miners were never pushed, but had all
the time necessary to do their work.
The ground in the particular spot was
seamy and would frequently sound all
| right and a moment later fall away.
The witness considered the accident
purely unavoidable.
Thomas Odds was called, but was un-
able to throw any light on the inVesti-
CATION.
Mine Inspector Frank Hunter testi-
fed to investigating the accident. 1t
occurred, he said. about four feet below
the 1900 level. In the neighborhood Of
10 tons of rock fell. He found where
Williams and his partner had put in a
hole to loosen the rock, and from all APP
p]earances there had not been room to
put in a timber before the rock came
away. Witness was of the opinion that
there must have been a crack, which.
in his Judgment, should ave been no.
ticed by Foreman Williams, If he was
there 10 or Is minutes before the acci-
dent occurred. Such ground, however,
was not TO be relied on, and, in the opin-
ion of the witness, no one was RESPONSE
BILE for the accident.
1t took the Jury but a few minutes TO
| reach a verdict, i'm which the facts were
recited as brought out in the testimony,
and declared the accident unavoidable.
TIL remains of Williams were re-
moved last evening from the under
takers to the family homo in Center
vile.
The funeral will be held from there at
. o'clock this afternoon under the aus
pices of the Masons, a. o. u. w. and
Sons Of St. George, of which societies
the deceased was a member The serV-
ices will be held at Centerville NJ. L.
church and will be conducted by the
Rev. Mr.. Feese. Music will be furnished
by a choir composed of all the best sing
ers of the city, who have volunteered
their services owing TO the prominence
of the deceased in musical circles.
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