Alexander Don |
| Posted 2018-02-08 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Prescott Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Friday, August 13, 1909, page 5, column 3 Alexander Don Fell 505 Feet To Bottom of the Main Working Shaft Alexander Don, hoisting engineer of the Mt. Elliott Mining company, was accidently killed yesterday afternoon at the Divided mine of that company. Don had raised a bucket of water and the same had been emptied. While placing the bucket in position to lower, Don had evidently stepped to a beam at the collar of the shaft, and the heel of his shoe had caught on a chunk of ore which turned on his foot as he was placing the bucket. He lost his foothold for an instant, and fell into the main working shaft to the bottom, a distance of 505 feet. Another theory is that the bucket became fastened to a piece of iron at the collar of the shaft and in the exertion Don made to right it, he lost his balance and was forced into the shaft. His body was immediately brought to the surface and found to be frightfully mangled, especially about the head. Death must have been instantaneous for when he was picked up in the drift a few seconds after the fall life was extinct. Universal regret is felt over his sudden and horrible death. Don was a very popular miner in the eastern part of the county, where he had been employed for over 13 years at various times. Deceased arrived in this section of Arizona over 18 years ago, coming to Arizona with Jack Coker. He was a native of Wales, and was about 43 years of age. He was preparing to return to his native country, and had intended to leave about the middle of September. He also intended to enlist English capitol to work some of his claims on Big Bug. Surviving him is a brother in Dawson City, who is engaged in mining and who was to have met him at Seattle, where both were to proceed by the Canadian Pacific railroad across the continent and then over the Atlantic to their home. It was the brother's intention to surprise their relatives by arriving without any previous warning. The body of Mr. Don will be brought to Prescott for interment, Lester Ruffner leaving yesterday afternoon for the purpose of bringing it here. Judge Foley of McCabe held an inquest at the Dividend mine in the afternoon, but nothing further could be learned as to the cause of the accident. See Also: Arizona Gravestone Photo Project |
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