The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-12-01
WELL KNOWN
IN FLATHEAD
j. E. McGovern. Boss Carpenter in
the Cora Mine
KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT
At the Mine Thanksgiving Day.
Was Working Near the Surface and
Fatally Injured by a Heavy Skip.

j. +. McGovern, one of the early
settlers in the Flathead, and who
owned the lake ranch which is now
being farmed by Oscar Engel, was ac-
cidentally killed in Butte last week
Ed McGOvern was we'll known among
the old timers of this valley and has
been here frequently during the past
few years looking after his interests
mine work and settle down in the
Flathead upon the occasion OF his
last visit here. He was not related
to Thomas McGovern. although the
latter knew him we'll and is in re-
ceipt of letter from Butte authori-
ties inQuiring as to the deceaseds S
standing. The account OF the fatal
accident follows.
Butte. Nov. 26.--John f. McGovern
familiar'y known as Ed McGovern
was struck by skip in the shaft of
the Cora mine about 2:3O o'clock yes
terday afternoon and instantly killed.
The unfortunate man was in charge
OF the crew of carpenters at the mine
and was working behind some lag
glng just below the collar Of the
shaft. 1t is not known whether Nc
Govern knew the location of the
skip: whether it was below or above
the surface. It was above the sur
face. however, and when the engineer
received signal to lower it he be-
gan to let it down. Just as it started
to drop McGovern stuck his head in
tn he haf 1on q, y,tp n i'm,
on the back of the neck with such
force that his body was thrown com
pletely over and landed on the floor
of the skip. The accident was wit
messed by two or three persons who
gave the alarm. When the skip was
brought to the surface McGOvern was
dead. his neck having been apparent
ly broken by the blow. In addition
to the injury on the neck, which
alone was sufficient to cause death,
both of the unfortunate mans arms
were broken, one in two or three
places. His legs We're also broken,
and his skull Just above the left eye
so badly fractured that brains oOzed
from the aperture. There was also a
bad bruise on the forehead and an
other under the right eye.
McGovern leaves a wife and two
children, boys. living at 219 East
Quartz street.
John E. McGovern was about ~
veaEs old and is said to have been
one of the best mechanics that ever
came to Montana. The Cora mine
is owned hv the Montana Ore Pur-
chasing company, an asset of the
United Copper company. and Mccoy
ern had been working there since the
5th Of last July. He had just fin
shed placing a large wooden gallows
frame over the shaft. and the work
he was doing at the time he met his
death was in connection with the
frame Prior to his employment by
Heinze he was boss carpenter at the
Mountain Consolidated mine. He
left his position there at the time
James Keegan severed his connection
as superintendent of that property.
He had been in and out of Montana
many times during the last 20 years,
but had lived in Butte almost con-
stantly during the last eight years.
1t was Mr.. McGovern who built the
gallows frame and hOisting works at
the Granite Mountain mine in Gran
lie county lnOSe VINO kne" MN,
especially Mr.. Thomas. speak highly
of him both as man and mechanic.
The time for the funeral has not
been decided, but it will probably not
be held until Sunday. for. as far as
known, none of the relatives of the
dead man. with the exception of his
family. lives in Butte, and it is possi
Bile that some may desire to be pres
ent at the obsequies. Consequently
they will have to be given little
time in which to reach the city.