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  CHARLES CARVER KILLED IN FALL DOWN SHAFT   

      June 25, 1901.   Charles Carver, a miner and at work with others was sinking a shaft for the Derby Lead Company at Elvins, Mo., when he was killed by falling down the shaft.  Deceased was a married man and the father of two children.  He was a member of the Woodmen Order, and had insurance through his membership.  From the testimony delivered before the coroner's jury, it appears that the deceased, with two others, got on a tub without lights, to go down in the shaft after their lunch time.  One of the men got inside the tub which was about 8 feet in depth while the deceased and another miner stood on the rim of the tub.  They did not take the yoke with them that acted as a guide through the timbered portion of the shaft but left it on top.  When about 275 feet from the surface, the tub began spinning around, when some one of them put his hand out to stop the spinning.  This apparently caused the bucket to so swing as to strike one of the guides, then, when it swung to the opposite side of the compartment, the bottom of the tub struck the top of the timber, causing it to tilt, throwing the deceased from the edge of the tub on which he was standing, and he was precipitated to the bottom of the shaft, some 190 feet or more.  The men in the tub missed Carver as they approached a light in the shaft and securing the help of another man, proceeded to the bottom and recovered the body.  The following is the verdict of the coroner's jury:

State of Missouri,
County of St. Francois.
    We, the jury, having been duly sworn and affirmed by J. H. English, coroner of St. Francois County, Mo., diligently to inquire and due presentment make in what manner and by whom Charles Carver, whose body was found at Derby Mines, Elvins, Mo., on the 25th day of June, 1901, came to his death, after having heard the evidence, and upon full inquiry concerning the facts and a careful examination of said body, do find that deceased came to his death by falling off the tub in shaft one at the Derby Lead Mines.

                                                                                         R. BYINGTON, Foreman.
                                                                                         JOHN G. LAYNE,
                                                                                         WILLIAM A. WANN,
                                                                                         J. H. ROLLINS,
                                                                                         A. J. DIXON,
                                                                                         DAN TERRY.

    I hereby certify that the above is a correct copy of verdict rendered by jury in inquest held over the body of Charles Carver, June 25, 1901.
                                                                                        J. H. ENGLISH, Coroner, St. Francois Co.

[Taken from the 15th Annual Report of the Bureau of Mines and Mine Inspection of the State of Missouri for Year Ending December 31, 1901.]

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