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FATAL ACCIDENTAT THE ARGONAUT,Cable Bieaks and George TroyanFalls to His Death»«ise18GesieRie;eee%nPdisISDei-te0ifaDifdi-ffayzo8St□y0tDGl-:sdit3Siraiskuy5S;rt-gdmsrlaleie3t16ieiyidIRieiet-idid*y9.IDO-1J5,rnGaes.era-m18-lhgsinadSGd.ofyit-o-A lamentable accident, oansing the instant death ot George Troyan, one of the shift bosses, occurred at the Argonaut mine on Sunday afternoon. It illustrates that notwithstanding the utmost precautions, accidents are liable to occur in a manner least expected. George Troyan, the foreman of the day shift, was at the lowest level in the mine, 2000 feet, at about two o’clock in the afternoon. There is a donkey engine in the shaft at the 2400 toot level, which is used in hoisting or lowering below that level. The cable is wire, five-eights of an inch thick.It had been in use but seven months, and the life of a cable of that size is from two to three years. No one had ever complained about its beiug unsafe, and „ the men rode up and down on it without the least apprehension of danger. It was examined regularly, and every precaution was taken to keep it in good working shape. It was the business of Troyan as much as anybody’s to acquaint himself with the condition of the oable, as he had charge of thecable and everything in the mine, if any employe had ccusidered the cable unsafe it was his duty to report to either the superintendent or one of the shift bosses. There were other ways of ascending and descending between the 2400 and lower levelsbesides the skip. There was theladders, and al9o the stope3. Thefact that the skip was preferred bythe men shows conclusively that the employes considered everything about the cable in first-class order, and perfectly safe. After the accident reports were current on the street that the cable had been condemned as unsafe; that the company had neglected to change it after being requested so to do. According to the sworn testimony at the inquest, there was not the shadow of truth in these reports.The accident, so far as known, happened in this way, Chas. F. Kohler the engineer on duty at the 2400 level at the time, says the skip had been traveling up and down all the afternoon. He got the sigual from the 2000 to hoist. He knew from the method of ringing who wus signaling, that it was George Troyan. Some one stopped at the 2500 level, and he then got 3-2 bells to lower to the 2000 level. He stopped there four minutes, and theu got 3-1 bells, which meant “hoist—man on.’' Knew it was Troyan that was giving the signal. He put on the air, and immediately felt a jerk, and at the same time the bell rang again. He knew that something had gone wrong, and expressed his fears to A. Davaile, who was standing by him. The cable had parted, aud someone was aboard at the time. They hastily descended the ladder to the 2600 level, aud found no one there. Went below into the sump, and foind Troyan’s cap resting on the timbers two sets below the station. The only inference wa9 that the victim with the skip had gone into the sump, containing fifteen feet of water. Grappling iruns were sent down as soon as possible, and at the first effort the body ot the unfortunate victim was brought to the surface, aud taken to the top of the shaft.An examination revealed no disfiguring marks upon the body, except a superficial abrasion of the skin over the forehead, believed to have been caused by the rope. It was not sulliicent to cause unconsciousness. The opinion is that he was drowned •in the waters of the sump. The cable parted about 70 feet above the skip. It did not break while being hoisted, but before it started upward. As soon as the cable tightened the jerk indicated that it had snapped. Deceased with the skip fell 70 feet on the incline. It is supposed that the skip never left the track.The body was removed to the home at Newmanville. Coroner Potter was notified and held au inquest the following afternoon, before the following named jurors: A. Ginocchio, Geo. Mann, L. J. Glavinovich, W. E. Spear, L. Prout, H. C. Garbarlni, N. Marelia, Wm. Penry jr., C. U. Arditto, and Oscar C. Myers. The witnesses examined were W. J. Nettle, superintendent, A. Davaile, miner, C. Hess, timberman, C. F. Kohler, engineer and Eugene Konti, shift boss. The testimony developed the facts as above stated. It was shown that four men had ridden on that skip at one time on the morniug of the accident; that C. boss had riddenon it only teu minutes before the accident; that no one apprehended the least danger; that the cable was 500 feet in length, only one half ot which was used, that by changing the cable which the deceased had spoken of shortly before his death he meant— not putting on a new cable, but simply changing ends of the one theu in use, as the end wound round the reel had never been used, and was as good as uew. There wa3 no need of Ihe men going on this skip, as the main skip in the other compartment wa9 available, but they seemed to U9e the smaller one as more convenient.Deceased remarked to the engineer on the morniug of the accideut that he intended to change the cable shortly, but that it would answer for a while yet. He did not mean that it was worn to any dangerous extent.The jury returned a verdict that deceased came to his death by the accidental breaking of the cable, and that no blame could be attached to the company for the fatality.It was one of those unfortunate attairs that no human foresight could guard against. Everything had been done by the engineer to keep the cable properly greased, which was essential to its preservation. The wet, damp conditions existing at that depth in the shaft made it more difficult to keep the cable protected, but everything was done to that end. The lamentable accident spread afeeilug ot depression and gloom over,, all the employes. The victim had been a trusted employe of the company for many years. Ho leaves a wife and live children—four girls and one son. The oldest—a daughter—is about nineteen years of age, aud the youngeet seven.Deceased has been connected with the Argonaut ever since it was started by the present company, holding a position of responsibility all the time. He was liked by all the employes, on account of his atfable ways and consi^rat.lou for the workmen.The funeral took place Weduesday morning at ten o’clock. All the employes of the mine were laid off on tnat day to attend the last sad rites, out of respect to the momorv of the dead. The floral pieces were beautiful and many. The National Crotian Society, o? which the deceased was a member, took charge of Ihe funeral arrangements. Services were held in St. Patricks church, conducted by Kev. bather Gleeson, and the interment was in the Catholic cemetery. The Austrian society attended in a body, in regalia, also the miners, aud a large procession of private citizens followed the remains to the grave.He leaves his family well-provided for financially. His life was insured in the New England company fnr 32000. From the Austrian society they will receive benefits to the amount of about 3800. During the many years of his employment, he had accumulated a fair competence.
Newspaper Details
Jackson Amador Ledger
Jackson, California, US
Fri, Sep 27, 1907
Page 3
Full Page
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USA 26 Apr 2022
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