The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-24
HANCOCK
MYSTERY IN The DEATH OF
A miner AT QUINCY mine
Nude Body Of Erick John wuopila
Found in Shaft With Head
Crushed
OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING

Tbo dead body of Erick John Wuo-
lila almost nude, was found yesterday
afternoon lying in the shaftway of the
Mesnard or No. 8 shaft OF Quincy
mine. under circumstances that lent an
air of mystery and gave rise to a
supposition that the man had met his
death through foul play From the
state of the remains, II was apparent
that he had been dead for some time.
and IL Is presumed that il had been in
the shaft since Sunday night, the
Waterman at the shaft stating that
about midnight on Sunday he had
driven off a gang of drunken men,
among whom was the deceased.
Although workmen had passed the
place where the body was found, just
below the third level. several times in
tho course of their work on Monday
tho darkness was such that the body
was not discernible, the miners lamps
not throwing a light upon the place.
The discovery was made somewhere
InOul Ilill pdot WV NNoNNAN>'
noon by some men who were engaged
I'm making repairs In the shaft, and 1t
was at once brought to the surface,
Identification was difficult, the face
and head being badly crushed and COW
cred with blood, caused apparently by
the fall into the shaft, where the body
was found huddled up in a heap and
almost tied in a knot against the tim
bers.
The body was absolutely nude with
the exception of one shoe and the
mans underwear, which was partially
removed and only held by one leg.
other portions of the mans apparel
were found later by officers I'm making
a search, the sheriff's office having
been Immediately notified of the find
ing of the body. The hat was found
near the smoke stack of the boiler
house. the coat on a bench near the
engine house, and the vest carefully
hung on n door inside the shaft house.
From the appearance of the garments
and the fact that they showed no
signs of having been forcibly removed
Under Sheriff Sheridan inferred that
the man had taken them off himself,
and there were no signs of cuts or
holes i'm any of them that might have
been made by a knife.
The police are conducting thorough
investigation to decide whether Wuo-
pila was killed and thrown into the
shaft by companions, whether he fell
in accidentally or whether he jumped
in with suicidal intention. Circum
stance at first seemed to point to muir
der and two men alleged to have been
companions of the dead man on Sun
night and held at the county Jail pend
ing inquiry. These men told the sher-
If that Wuopila had undressed himself
and that he had. gone into the shaft
house himself to sleep. while in an In
toxicated condition. This shed a new
light on the subject and offered new
theory. which in the present stage o
developments Is considered by the au
thorities as being most plausible so
luton of the mystery 1t rs though
possible that wuopilo desiring to tax
possible that wnopila desiring to TAX
and sought repose near the warn
smoke stack, where he left his hat
going later to the bench near the en-
CINE house. Here the idea probabl
seized him to z oinside the shaft hous
where he presumably laid down I
sleep, and while i'm a half stupefie
condition gradually moved over to IN
mouth of the shaft whence issued
draft of warm air, and accidental
fell i'm. The disposition of the variou
garments, all of his apparel bein
found except his trousers, indicate
that Wuopila had undressed himselfan
thisvew of the case the officials al
now disposed to accept.
Coroner Fisher of Calumet was sun
moned and arrived at quincy abo'
half past four o'clock. He empanele
jury consisting OF william Cashe
Joseph Harrington, S. Cashen, Ed.
Woolcock, Joseph Pedelty and Geort
Pedelty After the remains had bee
viewed an indefinite adjournment WI
taken to await the results of the she
ins investigation.
The dead man was about twent!
four years of age and he had been
work at the quincy mine until la
Friday night Saturday was pay d'
and Wuopila received his monthly pa
afterwards. 1t is presumed, starting o
with a party Of friends for a visit
town, where all got intoxicated. !
arrangements have yet been made
tho funeral.