The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-23
CONNELLY'S OWN FAULT
Such Is the Verdict Reached by
the Coroner's Jury.
WENT BACK TOO SOON
Cautioned Repeatedly to Wait TIL the
Foul Air Was Out-There Was No
Safety Door to the Cage, as
the Law Requires.

A coroner's jury held John Connolly,
who was killed in an accident in the
Parnell mine Saturday night, RESPONSE
BILE for his W death, in a verdict rem
dered at the conclusion of an inquest
held by Coroner Tremblay at Sherman's
undertaking rooms last evening. AS
published in yesterdays Standard, Con-
nelly was overcome by gas on the 500
level OF the Parnell. and started for
the surface. When he reached fresh air
at the 400 he was knocked out and fell
away into the stump. Deputy Mine In
spector Hunter testified that IL there
had been safety gates or the cage Con-
nelly would not have fallen OFF. The
mine attaches testified that Connolly
had been several times warned to be
careful and not go back too soon after
/ a blast. The jury returned the follow
ing verdict:
I'VE. the jury, find that deceased
came to his death Aug. 20. 1898, about
10 o'clock p. m, caused by falling from
the cage at the Parnell mine while 60
ing from the 500 to the surface; and
from the evidence we find the said
John Connolly was overcome by foul air
caused from the blasting at the 900. and
from the evidence to the effect that he
was repeatedly cautioned not to go in
until the air was thoroughly good, we
find his death was the result of his own
carelessness. N. Jacco, ]. b. Glover, NJ.
+. Kennedy. John Mccormick, w. E.
Headings, Bias Dabovich."
superintendent James MacFarlane,
representing the Montana Ore Purchas-
ing company, was present and ques-
toned the witnesses in the
interest. Deputy Mine Inspector Hun
ter also took a hand in the examina-
ton of the witnesses. John Lee, part
ner of the deceased, related the cir
cumstances of the accident. He and
his partner found nine holes in the
breast when they went to work at s
o'clock. They put in three more and
blasted and then went on top. They
stayed on top about an hour and Con-
nelly proposed going back. The wit
ness said they had better wait longer,
as they had blasted three more holes
than usual. They waited a little longer
and went back. Continuing, he said:
MY partner and l commenced shovel
ing back the ground to set up, | soon
commenced to feel sick and | believed
ii was gas. He said no. and we kept
at work. Finally his head commenced
to ache, and We decided to go up. On
the way to the station we met the car
man, and asked how he felt. He said.
all right, but his legs felt tired We
all went to the station. ] felt pretty
bad and asked John how he felt. He
said he felt pretty weak. We all got
on the cage M / rang to hoist, and
we started up. At the 400 l felt some
thing touch me. My light had gone out
and | could not see, so / felt around
and found my partner was gone. When
we got on top l went and told the en-
sineer my partner had fallen down the
shaft"
Superintendent MacFarIane asked IL
the air was turned on after the blast,
and the witness replied that it was.
Replying to a question from Deputy
Mine Inspector Hunter, the witness said
ne was knocked out on the Tuesday
night previous in the same place by
gas. Connolly had hold of the safety
bar when the cage started. The cage
was hoisted at a very moderate rate of
speed.
Replying to a question from a Juror.
the witness said he had heard Foreman
Birmingham say not to go back to the
breast too soon after a blast. Mr.. Hun
ter asked IL the air blast was going
Mhen they went back into the breast.
The witness said he was too far away.
but he thought his partner shut the air
off.
Nick Varnbernich, the carman testi-
NED through an interpreter. He said
he did not know the name of the mine
ne worked in. He had only worked
there seven shifts. His examination
was very unsatisfactory, as he did not
seem able to comprehend what was
wanted of him, and all that could be
gotten from him was the fact that he
felt badly from the air and got on the
cage with the others and one fell off.
Patrick Comba, engineer on duty at
the time of the accident, told the Jury
the men went on duty at 6 O'Clock and
finished about Q o'clock, blasted and
came on top. They stayed less than
an hour and Connolly proposed going
back. Lee suggested he had better
wait a while longer and Connolly con-
scented. but after waiting a few minute
proposed going again. This time the
witness cautioned him and he waited
10 minutes longer and then insisted on
going, so the witness let them down.
After they had been down about an
hour or so, he got a signal for the cage
and gave it to them. When he got
the signal to hoist, the witness said to
his helper, those fellows were knocked
out again and he would have to hoist
slowly. Accordingly, he took them up
as carefully as he could. When Lee got
up he came and said his partner had
fallen away. The witness knew the aid
was turned on. Connolly was an eager
man to work, and was always wanting
to go back too soon and had been fire.
quently hauled over the Goals by the
foreman for taking men in too soon.
The witness knew of other men
having been overcome by gas in the
mine.
o Birmingham, the foreman, said
he had frequently cautioned Connolly
but he was an eager. conscientious fell
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