Springfield
Tuolumne County
California, USA
Age 48
Mining Accident
Angelo B. Bachich was a shift boss working in an uprise in a tunnel of the Springfield Tunnel and Development Company claim located near where the Columbia Airport is located now. At approximately 8:30 p.m., he carelessly entered that section of the mine while loosened rock was being removed.
A series of holes had been bored and exploded about 75 feet above the floor of the tunnel where Bachich entered. After the explosion, workers entered the area where the rock had been loosened and began the task of clearing it away by hurling it down to the tunnel level. The procedure in the mines was to send a signal when the tunnel floor was safe to enter. Bachich and another miner entered the uprise without waiting for the signal. Bachich ordered the other miner to get a saw. While that miner was nearly down the ladder, a rock fell.
Not knowing that the rock had fallen on Bachich, the miners above called, "All right" to signal that the uprise was safe to enter. The helper climbed back up the ladder with the saw and found Bachich is a sitting position but already dead. He had apparently been dead about ten minutes when found, and death was certain to have been instant.
The rock was about 30 pounds and struck Bachich squarely on the head breaking his skull at the base. It was the first fatality to occur in that mine after many years in operation, and it was the opinion of the coroner that it was an accident due to Bachich's own carelessness.
Quoting from the Union Democrat newspaper:
"The deceased was a brother of John J. Bachich, of Quartz. He was a willing worker and a good miner, abut unfortunately, according to his brother, with who he mined in Arizona and in this county, he never seemed to realize the danger attendant upon the occupation under normal conditions, and was always taking desperate chances of sustaining injuries or losing his life. He was a steady, reliable man, well thought of by all who knew him. He was a member of Sonora Lodge No. 10, I.O.O.F., and his funeral took place this Friday afternoon, interment being in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.
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Springfield
Tuolumne County
California, USA
Age 48
Mining Accident
Angelo B. Bachich was a shift boss working in an uprise in a tunnel of the Springfield Tunnel and Development Company claim located near where the Columbia Airport is located now. At approximately 8:30 p.m., he carelessly entered that section of the mine while loosened rock was being removed.
A series of holes had been bored and exploded about 75 feet above the floor of the tunnel where Bachich entered. After the explosion, workers entered the area where the rock had been loosened and began the task of clearing it away by hurling it down to the tunnel level. The procedure in the mines was to send a signal when the tunnel floor was safe to enter. Bachich and another miner entered the uprise without waiting for the signal. Bachich ordered the other miner to get a saw. While that miner was nearly down the ladder, a rock fell.
Not knowing that the rock had fallen on Bachich, the miners above called, "All right" to signal that the uprise was safe to enter. The helper climbed back up the ladder with the saw and found Bachich is a sitting position but already dead. He had apparently been dead about ten minutes when found, and death was certain to have been instant.
The rock was about 30 pounds and struck Bachich squarely on the head breaking his skull at the base. It was the first fatality to occur in that mine after many years in operation, and it was the opinion of the coroner that it was an accident due to Bachich's own carelessness.
Quoting from the Union Democrat newspaper:
"The deceased was a brother of John J. Bachich, of Quartz. He was a willing worker and a good miner, abut unfortunately, according to his brother, with who he mined in Arizona and in this county, he never seemed to realize the danger attendant upon the occupation under normal conditions, and was always taking desperate chances of sustaining injuries or losing his life. He was a steady, reliable man, well thought of by all who knew him. He was a member of Sonora Lodge No. 10, I.O.O.F., and his funeral took place this Friday afternoon, interment being in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.
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