Bisbee daily review., 1907-01-05
LURkS IN DROP DOWN
 SHAFT
GoIdfieId Miner FeIled By FalI- ing Crosshead and Dies In
 Bucket Beside Companion
 Who Did Not See Accident,

 GoLDFIELD. Ney., Jan. 4.-Martin woIford, young msaer. at work on the Jumbo Extension and for the Jum- bo Extension Leasing and Mining com pany. was instantly killed while de scending the shaft to begin his shift at o'clock yesterday morning
 [ Death came through a peculiar ac- cident and one that puzzles his fellow workers to explain, and was attended by peculiarly dramatic circumstances. With his partner on the shift. Vim cent BeImoro, he stepped into
 bucket and was being lowered to the depths below When about fifty feet down, according to Belmoro. there was a sudden jar and the bucket stopped. All was dark and Belmoro spoke to his partner. There was no reply. He reached ont but the man who had stood beside was not there.
 He called Martin! Martini but there was no answer.
 I He stopped over and felt the body hanging over the buckets edge. lie clutehsd it and began to call loudly for help In a few moments there came an answer from the mount of the shaft above. In another moment the shift boss had climbed down the ladder to his side.
 The latter, Theo. Manhire, stepped into the. bucket and gave the signal 10 the engineer to hoist. Reaching
 the surface they carried the uncon-
 scious man into the engine room and discovered that he was beyond recall
 There rides above the bucKet of this
 as of all other mines operating shaft by power, a heavy framework of tIDn
 Der, extending across the shaft anG
 moving in guide slots, it's purpose be
 ing to keep the bucket steady. Il rests just above the bail of the bucket
 Wolford was a tall Ilan and his
 head, when standing il the bucket rose little above the lower timber iof this si-called crossteaj. when il
 was in place.
 The crosshead was not in place. fhe
 night was cold and ice had gathered lon in the guides. When thc bucket
 started down the shaft the crosshead
 remained fast. The play of the rope caused 1t to become loose, an instant
 later, and it fell, and Wolford dropped
 dead in the darkness becide his won
 dering and frightened companion. Il This is the judgment of the coron er's jury after hearing the testimony of a number of witnesses. No ons
 knew positively just how the accident occurred. The man in the bucket al the time was not sure it was the fai of the crosshead or the fall of any thing. All he knew was that there was s jar-and his companion was ! dead. It was inky dark.
 W. Mack Foatc- is srpeninterdeIi
 of the workings on the leasing and mining company. He gives it as hi: , opinion that this is the explanation o 7 the accident He says he has seer similar accidents on other mines ant
 he thinks 1t rather a surprise tha , there has not been more of the kins . as the men jump into the buckets 2 without noting conditions He say F that Wolford is well known pros } pector, having been over the grouns g in all the districts. He worked tw, 9 years in Tonopah and has been in th, D Builfrog, Kawich, Manhattan and FsiF 2 view districts. and had just returne' ! from the reservation. He began worl 3 on the Jumbo oE the 5th of DeLe n.bel f Foster shays the crosshead mus have fallen at least fifty feet. becaas
 the rope was stripped for at least g foot, showing 2 tremendous blew. q Martin tvolford was not more thai z 1e years old. He came fiCm Swedei
 a few years ago. He was six fee y tall, weighed sl.eis 90 pounds. ssgoi a loas. healthy and H1a specnnen c . young manhood n who knes e him. He had -ls fa1 bits. but va Q an industrious msae nd ptcspcctc' He was not known ts 4sfe ary rels 9 tives '7 Gle 19e1try. nor any mean save the time that was coming . 2 him. He was a member in good stand 7 ing of the Miners Union and that tod 2 iwlI take charge of the funeral.