The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1908-09-14
FATAL ACCIDENT At RUBY HILL
John Erickson Caved On While
Working in Richmond Mine
Last Monday

An accident occurred last Monday
about 10 O'Clock a. m. on the 400 leve
of the Richmond mine on Ruby Hill
which resulted in the death of JOIN
Erickson. one of the miners, about tive
hours and a half later. The accident
was caused by the ground caving. Wher
found Erickson was buried up to hi,
waist. and although a ton of earth and
rock came down when the ave occurred
only about 900 pounds covered him. th,
remainder rolling away from him.
Finding he could not extricate him
self. his legs being pinned tightly in th,
! rock. he called for help. Two miner
working close by came to the rescue
and after digging the unfortunate mai
out brought him to the surface anC
telephoned for DIR. Burnett at Eureks
but the patient passed away shortly
after the doctors arrival.
Justice James Williams of Ruby Hill
held a ~coroner's inquest there Monday
evening and q number Of witnesses wer,
examined.
Ernest Fritscbe, shift boss. in the EN-,
ploy of the Richmond Eureka Company
testifi d in substance as follows:
Tie accident occurred on the 400-fooi
level of the Richmond mine was Oh
that level the morning the cave.in took
place; Ell Philips. a miner. was also Oh
that level at the time; as l walked into
the drift l heard some one calling, ]
paused a minute to ascertain where the
sound came from her Phillips and ]
climbed up a 15.foot ladder, when we
found Erickson covered up to his waist
in earth and rock Phillips and / gol
him out and took him TO the surface
when we extricated him from the ave
in We did not think he vas very badly
hurt, he vas conscious all the time
believe the accident was caused by
carelessness ON the part of Erickson +; !
considered the place safe where he wa
working if he had followed orders; l TOLD
him before he went to work in that
place to get a timberman and make il
safe; there was a timberman about 10C
feet from where he was working; he did
not do as l directed.
DIR. Burnett testified hat after being
summoned to attend the injured man,
upon examination he found the patient
with a fracture and dislocation of the
right hip. The man was in great pain
and asked for ~chloroform. The doctor
stated he administered the chloroform,
and then proceeded to reduce the dis
location and fracture. When this was
done the patient stopped breathing
Artificial respiration was then resorted
to. as we'll as administering heart stimu-
liant. After working over the man foi
three-quarters of an hour aud failing to
revive him, the physician pronounced
the patient dead. The doctor stated
that from appearances the deceased had
also sustained internal injury.
Allcl tHO cAdLniuhbtOu VI bhC WIZ
uesses had been concluded. the Coro
ner's jury, composed of @. S. Six, John
Hancock, Jr.. William Quick. Thomas
Glynn. George Bailey and William
Sharp, brought in the following verdict:
THAT John Erickson, employed by
the Richmond. Eureka Mining Company
came to his death on September z. 1908.
by being accidentally caved or in the
400.foot level of the Richmond mine OH
Ruby Hill, Eureka County Nevada"
Deceased came from Utah with Frank
Custom about two weeks ago Nc.
Custom says Erickson was married. but
did not know his wife's present place OF
residence. He also has a cousin, An
drew Matson. living at Lake City, Colo
RADIO. He as a native of Finland and
had been in the United States off and
on for about eight years. He was 2S
or 30 years of age.
The funeral took place in Eureka
Tuesday afternoon at 1880 O'Clock and
was we'll attended. The Richmond
Eureka Company closed down its works
that afternoon and the employees at
tended the funeral in a body.