The Anaconda standard., 1898-01-31
HE FELL TO HIS DEATH
George Hatherell Loses His Life
in the Blue Jay.
PLUNGED DOWN THE SHAF T
He Was Employed as Station Tender
and Was Removing Staging Boards
at the 800 Level at Time When
the Accident Occurred.

sad mining accident occurred yes
terday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock, in
which George Hatherell, one of the
most popular young miners in Butte,
lost his life by falling down the shaft
of the Blue JAY mine Of the Boston and
Montana company. The unfortunate
young man was a station tender in the
Blue Jay. and at the time of the acci-
dent was engaged in taking some stag
ing boards off the wall plates at the
stage of the 500 level. The shaft is "A
three compartment shaft, with cages
running in the middle and west com
partment, the west shaft being the
working shaft the middle compart-
ment the sinking shaft, and the east
compartment the pump shaft
Up 10 yesterday the cage in the work.
ing shaft had been running only as far
as the 800 level, but yesterday guides
We're put in between the 800 and 900
levels, and. after the guides were in
the temporary stagings were taken out
and preparations made to test the cage
to the 900 All the planks had been
taken out but one on the north side of
the shaft, and ii was while endeavoring
to remove this that young Hatherell
lost his life. He was standing on a
couple of planks, set below the 800
stage, and was lifting the last plank
away. In doing so it became neces-
sary to pass one end of IL over the sink
ing shaft. At that moment the sinking
cage came up, and striking the end of
the protruding plank. knocked Hather-
ell off his footing. He fell down the
shaft to the 900, and striking on the
platform over the shaft at that stage
was killed. Four men cutting station
at the 500 saw the body as ii came
down. They picked up the form of the
unfortunate station tender whose brains
had been dashed out by striking against
the wall plates in the fall, and ringing
for the cage took the body to the sur
face. Coroner Tremblay was Notified,
and the remains were sent to Sher-
mans undertaking rooms where an in
quest will be held this afternoon at 3
o'clock
Shift Boss w. +. Emerson who was
the only person With Hatherelf when
the accident occurred, claims he called
to Hatherell that the cage was coming
from the 800, but he appears either not
to have heard or to have been able 10
save himself by withdrawing the plank
or getting to place of safety.
The diseased was only % years Of age.
He was born at Virginia City. New.
and came to Butte four years ago. He
worked most of the time during his res
idence here in the High Ore No. :
and the Modoc mines. and had only
been employed in the Blue jay about
six months. He lived with three other
young men in apartments in the CO.
lumbia block. Notwithstanding his
youthfulness young Hatherell was re-
garded as an experienced, capable and
careful miner, whose habits We're most
exemplary in their character. He was
a tall, handsome young fellow. of fine
physique. and was one of the most ad
mired young men in the city, for to
know him was TO like him, and ii is
doubtful If any young man in the city
had "A greater number of warm and
sincere friends. over them his un-
timely death has east a gloom that is
only lightened by the remembrance of
his genial, warm hearted disposition
and the knowledge that they had pos
sessed the friendship of such a char
acter.
The deceased's only relative i'm Mon
tana is an uncle. Thomas Hatherell,
who resides in Walkerville. He leaves
a father and mother and four sisters,
who live in Virginia City. and an elder
brother who lives at Baker City, Ore.
The members of the family have been
notified by telegraph, and arrange
ments relative to the funeral will be
deferred until they are heard from.
The remains viii probably be shipped
to his native town.
Deputy Mine Inspector Hunter in
vestigated the accident and found the
circumstances to have been as related.