The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-05-28
KILLED AT THE
SALTS LAKE

Guatona JaQuinto, AN Italian, aged
20 wears. who has lived in Oroville
and vicinity for the past 10 years, was
killed at the EPSON salts lake, while
working in the tunnel from which the
salts is being extracted, about 3
o'clock last Thursday afternoon.
For some time the tewart-Calvert
company has been extracting salts
from under the bottom of the lake,
where the salts is deposited in layer
of varied thickness. The salts is being
mined by means of a tunnel, that is
now some 300 feet in length. This tun-
mel is but a few feet below the bottom
of the lake The bottom of the lake is
mud. of the consistency of rubber, and
80 impervius to water that there is
every foot of the tunnel is carefully
and securely timbered. This work is
done under the supervision of Percy
Eastman one of the most experienced
and careful miners in the county. The
salts at the face of the tunnel Is
broken down with light blasts and the
workmen are never allowed to enter
the new ground opened by these blasts
until the roof is firmly timbered. After
the blast Thursday afternoon Mr..
Eastman was particular to warn ia
quinto not to go into the face of the
tunnel AS Jaquinto remarked me no
die yet" when ordered to keep away,
Mr.. Eastman repeated his admonition
and then went out to order in the nee
essary stulls and timbers. 1t appears
that as soon as Mr.. Eastman's back
was turned Jaquinto left the timbered
section of the tunnel and commenced
work at the face. The opening here
was so low that Jaquinto had to stoop
down in order to enter. He had hardly
commenced work when section of
the roof fell, estimated to weigh abou.
500 pounds, crushing him to the
ground. Three or four men were work
ing within half dozen feet of the
unfortunate man and in very few
minutes they had Jaquinto exhumed.
He breathed for some ten minutes, and
lifted his head two or three times, but
never regained consciousness. His
face turned completely black immedi-
ately after death.
DR.. ID. H. Lewis was Immediately
summoned from town, but the man
was passed all earthly aid. Upon ex-
animation it was found that the de-
ooaaod had q oon,nound fraoturo IF
the left leg just above the ankle, but
otherwise the body was not injured
and death evidently resulted from SUI
location. The remains were removed
to Barnes undertaking parlors, where
under the direction of Mr.. Calvert,
eevry arrangement was made for the
preservation of the body and it's pre-
paratiOn for burial, which took place
Sunday.
GuatOna Jaquinto was born in Italy
and came to this country 20 years ago,
according to Frank Devon, one of the
small Italian colony in this place. He
has lived in this part. of Okanogan
county about 10 years and has
homestead few miles northwest OF
town. lie leaves a wife and four chill
dren, one daughter, who is married
and lives in Portland, and who was
here to attend the funeral, and three
sons.
This is the first serious accident
that has ever occurred either at the
salts lake or the salts plant since the
Stewart-Calvert company has been in
possession of the properties, some
tnree or four years, and they have en-
ployed many men during that period.
Jaqulnto had been working at the lake
Tor only four days when he met his
death and that resulted through his
own stubborness in disobeying repeat
ed orders. Mr.. Calvert feels keenly the
unfortunate circumstance, but neither
ne, nor any one connected with the
work can be held responsible, for ev-
cry precautiOn is taken to protect the
workmen, and this death never would
nave occurred had the deceased heed
ed the instructions and orders of the
foreman.
Coroner Grove came down from
Molson Friday and after ascertaining
the particulars of the accident decided
mat 1t was unnecessary to hold an in
quest.