WILLIAM M. BROWN
June 17, 1897
Arizona Silver Belt

A distressing accident happened in the shaft of the Globe Copper 
Mine Tuesday afternoon about 1:30 o'clock, resulting in the instant 
death of William M. Brown, a machinist's helper.  G.W. Hostetter, 
machinist and the deceased were at work changing the pipe in the 
north compartment of the shaft above the tenth station.  The pipe 
is in 9 foot sections an the men had taken out a section above the 
pump.  Brown was sitting on a timber nine feet above the top of 
the Cameron pump and preparing to descend when a piece of iron 
pipe, called a nipple, 18 inches long, 4 inches in diameter, and 
having a heavy flange at one end, falling from a height of 80 feet, 
struck him on top of the head and carried him down the shaft.

His body lodged on top of the pump, near where Hostetter was 
standing. Hosteter jumped forward and raised Brown's head and 
finding the body limp and lifeless, he signaled for assistance 
and the cage was lowered and Brown's body raised to the surface. 
Dr. John S. Collins was summoned from town and responded promptly, 
but it was evident from the first that Brown was dead.

Acting Coroner Harry Tmple had an inquest over the body before it 
was removed to town and from the testimony adduced it would appear 
that there is no one to blame for the deplorable accident unless it 
was the victim himself. About 90 feet above the tenth level and 10 
feet below the ninth, a horizontal pipe had formerly connected the 
vertical pipe in the north compartment with a tank in the south 
compartment of the shaft. This lateral pipe was taken out about 
two months ago but the section connecting  with the vertical pipe, 
comprising two nipples and a valve had not been removed.  They 
were apparently tightly fastened and secure.  During Tuesday 
forenoon Brown was at work in that part of the shaft and it is 
conjectured that he unscrewed the projecting nipple from the 
valve and laid it upon one of the cross timbers against the 
wall of the shaft, and the jarring caused by working on the 
pipe below dislodged the nipple and caused it to roll into the 
shaft.

James Richards was sitting upon a timber just below Brown when the 
accident happened and the piece of pipe in its descent brushed his 
hat and arm.  He almost immediately went below and recovered the 
piece of pipe and noted its condition.

William M. Brown was a native of North Carolina in the 25th year 
of his age.  His home was in San Diego, Cal. where his mother, Mrs.
S.J. Ray and a brother reside.  Another brother, Allen Brown, who 
lives on Salt River, this county arrived in time for the funeral.  
Deceased had worked for the Old Dominion Copper Company about a 
year and was highly thought of by Superintendent Parnall and his 
fellow workmen, he being industrious and of exemplary habits. He 
was a man of splendid physique, reputed to be one of the strongest 
men in the camp.

The Old Dominion copper Company defrayed the expenses of the funeral 
which took place yesterday afternoon from the M.E. Church, the 
services being conducted by Rev. L.L. Rogers.  There was much 
sympathy for the bereaved mother, who idolized her boy, ruthlessly 
separated from her by death.


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