The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-01
FAULT OF THE DECEASED
Finding of the Jury in the Hath
erell Accident.
HIS OWN CARELESSNESS
He Failed to Exercise Due Precaution
In Removing the Plank That Was
Struck by the Sinking Cage.
The Witnesses.

An. inquest was held yesterday after
noon by Coroner Tremblay, to inquire
into the circumstances of the accident
in the Blue Jay mine Sunday. in which
George Hathereli lost his life by be-
ing knocked into the shaft. Hatherell,
as explained in yesterdays Standard,
was in the sinking shaft, a set below
the S00-foot level, removing the stag
ing preparatory TO starting the cage to
the 800 foot level for the first time. To
remove the planks it was necessary to
pass them over the sinking compart-
ment of the shaft adjoining the work.
ing compartment, and While the de-
ceased had plank in this position the
sinking cage came up. struck the plank
and knocked Hathefell off his footing.
causing him to fall down the working
shaft. The coroner's jury declared the
accident to be the fault of the de-
ceased. their verdict after reciting the
facts, reading.
And from the evidence before this
jury we are of the opinion that de-
ceased failed to exercise due precaution
while removing the plank; also to the
warning of the shift boss. Mr.. Emer-
son, telling him to look out, the cage
was coming.
The jurors We're: \. Jacco, j. 7.
Perrin. s. IL. Almon. James b. Bloor. ID.
T. McHugh and John Mccormick.
Shift Boss w. Il. Emerson was the
only eye witness of the accident. He
testified that he gave orders Sunday
morning to put in guides down to the
a00-foot level. and when that was done,
he told the station-tender he would go
on ton and let down the rope for the
bell rope, and directed Hatherell to get
down into the shaft on n platform
about two feet below the station and
pass up the staging, and he would put
them away After two planks had
been passed up, Hatherell got down
into the first set to pass up the last
plank. 1t was necessary to shove the
end of the plank over into the sinking
shaft and while the plank was in this
position the witness called out to look
out for the cage. He turned to pass
the plank he had in his hands and just
then heard Hatherell yell
Deputy Mine Inspector Hunter ques-
tional the witness, asking why he did
not give a stop bell instead OF calling
cut to Hatherell, and the witness re-
piled that he didn't know whether the
cage would stop quick enough. Mr..
Hunter then asked if HalEerell heard
him when he called, and ne said he
didn't know. MIR. Hunter asked why
Re put station-tender in TO clean out
a shaft when he had shaft men, and he
replied that he seemed to be expert
enced and careful, and he thought
nc knew enough about the work to d
IL. Hunter dSkeu Will MoufH lldAs
been the result had he rung the 'toI
bell, and the witness replied he thought
The accident would not have happened
w. II. Sullivan, the engineer. said
he got a signal to hoist, and when
he got the cage on top he cot a danger
signal. He got no stop-bell.
Isaac II. White, Edward l.. Grimes
John f. Williams and Ole Anersdum
the four men working at the 300 foot
level, told of picking up the body and
taking ii ON top.
Deputy Mine Inspector Frank Hunter
testified to investigating the accident
He exhibited piece 81 plank he found
in the west shaft. tipped over at III,
500. 1t showed a splinting at the enc
where the cage had struck il. From
his examination there was no way %
getting the plant out except by SHOWING
them over the sinking shaft, about 81;
inches. which would cause them to b,
hit by the cage in that shaft if i
nassed IN or down. In his opinion. j
Shift Boss Emerson Ind rung a stop
bell instead of calling TO Hatherel III
deceased would be alive to-day. TIL
jury returned the verdict given.