The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-25
AN UNFORESEEN ACCIDENT
AN INvEsrIoArI0N OF THE DEATH
OF CLARENCE MOLEN.
An OverhanginG Slab Of Rock Fell On
the U~nfortunaie Miner In the
Mountain Con.

Acting Coroner Laurandeau conduct
ed an inquiry into the cause of the
death Of Clarence Molen. who was
killed in the Mountain Con No. 2 Sat
urday morning by a fall OF ground.
The Jurors were ]. f. Paddy. Peter
Johnson. III. watkins. Patrick Fitz-
gerald, Albert Godbouc and Thomas
Cody. The inquest was In
Duggan's undertaking parlors.
The first witness was Sam Chino He
was working on Nc. 4 floor. He didn't
know anything o the accident. as
he was not near the men when the ac-
cident occurred.
John Sileno knew nothing further
than that Molen had been killed. He
heard the cry. Come here. my partner
Is killed" HIS assisted to carry Mr..
Molen away from the scene.
Nick w. Hanney said that he was on
the floor below. He heard the crash
and saw a man fall through the floor.
He called for help and assisted to carry
Molen away. A large rock fell upon
Molen. He didn't know anything o
the condition of the ground aside from
what he a heard his partner say,
hat there was a large o~verhanging
slab OF rock.
Patrick H. Terrell, a shoveIer in the
mine. was the next witness He was
on the east side Of the stope.
Molen's partner called for him TO come.
as Molen was hurt. He thinks a boul-
der fell on him. Just as he reached the
scene the man and rock fell down the
stope. Molen and Terrell had just I'm
ished shoveling way for a new set OF
timbersl He went to the east side and
his partner went to the floor below.
Dennis J. Mccarthy, shift boss at the
mine. testified that he was just on the
manway going up the mine. He heard
the call for help and gave Instructions
to the men and also asked Hagey why
he did not take down The dangerous
looking slab OF rock, and was told that
Il would not yield TO his attempts to
remove II. He knew nothing more
about the condition Of the ground than
what Hagey. Molen's partner. told him
after the accident.
the accident. He was told 10 go to No.
. az soon as possible and was surprised
10 find a dead man there.
Joseph Hagey was the most import
ant witness. as he was Molen's partner.
He was late in arriving at the inquest.
He said: I'VE had everything ready
to put in a couple OF ttmbers. I did not
see the ground fall on Moien. I noticed
In the morning that the ground was
heavy. A slab about three feet suuar
fell. I should Judge. There was no
crack rack Of II. only irregular seams
OF tale running every way.
He didn't remember telling anyone
that he tried to pick the slab down. al
though questioned closely by Deputy
Mine Inspector Hunter regarding IL. He
said. however. that IL was a heavy
hanging wall. Molen sounded the
ground and remarked that IL was
heavy. but they both agreed that IL was
safe enough 10 work under till the tim
bers could be put I'm. He had been told
frequently by the bosses TO look out for
the hanging wall. as IL was heavy.
Superintendent Keegan asked the
witness N. after the set had been pre-
pard. ne examined the ground. He said
ne did not. In answer TO a question by
Keegan, witness said that he could not
place the blame for the accident. He
thought there was no neglect on any
ones part.
Deputy Mime Inspector Hunter said
that he saw Molen dead in the mine
and inspected the hanging wall OF the
stone where the accident occurred. He
and he believed that the piece projected
to an extent 20 make II unsafe 20 work
under. A hanging wall may Sound"
all right. yet at the same time be dan
gerous. He believed the men wanted
10 put In the timbers at once and take
chances on the ground. which they az
mitted was unsafe. and thus make
Roadway In their work. II the mer
were practical miners they should have
exercised better Judgment. The follow
ing verdict was rendered:
THAT said deceased came to his
death on the pad day OF October. 1898
In the Mountain Con mine in Butte
Silver Bow county. Montana. from th'
effects of a cave In said mine: and
from the testimony. we find that sale
death was the result OF an unforeseen
accident and nnd that no blame at
taches to the company"