The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1916-01-08

Phoebe was cast into a shadow Of
deep gloom last Monday afternoon be-
cause of the tragic death Of two min
ers in No. 3 shaft of the Yuba Leas-
ing & Development company. The
unfortunate ones who sacrificed their
lives were H. N. Craw, and Tom
Mathews, while their companion, ]. J.
McKenna, escaped being thrown into
eternity by the narrowest margin.
The accident was most peculiar
one and perhaps never in the history
of mining has there been anything to
compare with this particular incident
The men were coming off shift and
came up on the second skip through
the inclined shaft.
They had arrived within few feet
of the surface when the skip jumped
the ice covered rails and in almost a
flash, the skip turned turtle. and
dumped it's precious load into tho
abiss below. McKenna was the first
to go, but was fortunate in catching
himself about 40 feet below the col
lar of the shaft and sustained only
sigh bruisets.
Mathews rolled down the incline
for about 700 feet where his mang-
led form lodged against some tim
bers and was later picked up by a
rescue party consisting Of George
karakas, r. R. Orr. Jack Strasser
and Jack Mathews, brother of
the dead man. The remains We're
hoisted to the surface and the search
continued for Craw. who was found
in the sump below the 1900 station,
which contained about 40 feet OF
wafer. The pumps were started and
It was netrly 2 o'clock Tuesday
morning before the water was lower
ed to the point where the rescuers
could obtain the remains. OF course,
falling the distance that he did,
Craw was taken out torn indescrib-
able mass.
Mathews had been in the district
but short time and had planned to
work only few more shifts when he
was to return to his former home al
Bisbee, Ariz. where a widow. two
children and other rs,relatives ares
side. His brother left with the re
mains for Bisbee last wednesday
afternoon. Mathews was rs years OF
age and a favorite among his associ
ates. -
.aw had been resident of P4'
oche for good many years and was
well known by all. He was A years
OF age and leaves to survive him. a
widow, four children. mother, sisters
and other relatives here and in Utah
The funeral was held from the
Union Sunday school building last
Thursday afternoon and intermen1
took place in local cemetery. Th'
obsequies were conducted by Judge
Horsey and the building was jammet
by friends who came to pay their
last respects to the deceased, wh'
was highly respected citizen. The
floral offerings were many and beaut
iful
There were so many circumstances
so many conditions surrounding tn
cause OF this awful accident. tha'
the jury empanneled by Coroner Bel
Harris, was unable after hearing tn
testimony of numerous witnesses, t,
definitely fix the blame and brough
in the simple verdict to the effec
that the tragedy was due to the &C
cidental overturing of the fatal skip
Deputy State Mine Inspector Chas
Huber was in attendance at the in
quest. That official has made al
inspActioh of the mine and has giy
en- orders to the Yuba company t
make certain improvements and al
ply such safeguards that there ma
not be a repetition of such an acc
dent in the fuure with its awful re
suits. 1t will probably require seN
eral week to make the changes dc
manded by the inspector. Meanwhile
the mine will not be producing an
as natural consequence the mil
will be shut down. OF course thi
will, unfortunately. work a hardshi
upon the employees who will be ten
porarily thrown out Of employment
The repair work at the mine will b
started today.