The Gazette-Telegraph, 30 January 1903
(Colorado Springs, Colorado)

TIMBERMAN KILLED IN THE GOLD COIN
John Johns Lost His Footing While Ascending a Ladder
Victor, Jan. 29.—This afternoon at 4:45, while ascending from the tenth to the ninth level, John Johns, a timberman employed on the Gold Coin property, lost his footing on the ladder, and fell a distance of 40 feet to the bottom of the stope, killing him instantly. Deceased was wearing rubber boots at the time and as they were wet and muddy the only solution of the accident is that he slipped and fell, as no one witnessed it. A fellow miner, John Shea, who was working on the ladder above him, heard the miner’s body bumping on the ladder as it fell, when he immediately descended and called for the cage, which was lowered, and the body taken to the surface.
It was thought for some time that life was not extinct, and Doctor Elliott of Victor was called, when after a thorough examination, he announced that death had resulted instantly, as the man’s neck was broken by the fall.
Coroner Doran was summoned, and after examining the premises announced that he would hold no inquest unless especially urged to do so by relatives of the man, as it was very apparent to him that no liability could be attached to the company for the accident.
Deceased was 33 years old, and a native of Cornwall, England, having lived in the United States about four years, most of which time he has spent in this district, being in the employ of the Gold Coin people some three years or more, and was known as one of the most careful and trusted employees of the Woods people.
He resided in Goldfield with his wife and half sister, Miss Harriet Johns, also having a brother, David, living in Hollywood and another brother, William, who resides in Canada.
Since coming to this country from England, he spent a year in Johannesburg and was at the present time preparing to return there next spring. Deceased was a member of the Victor lodge of Masons, also of Miners union No. 32, as well as an active promoter of the Gold Coin band. Also a member of the lodge of Yeomen of Goldfield, in which he carried $2,000 insurance. No arrangements have been made as yet for the funeral but it is believed that the body will be shipped to England for burial.

Contributed by Bob Bolitho