Died in custody
Joseph Phelan
Joseph Phelan was killed in December 1883 at the Pratt mines near Birmingham, Montana, where he was held with about twenty other men in a cage that was being lowered down the shaft. The Cleveland Gazette reported that the engine became unmanageable and the cage fell about 200 feet to the bottom. Two other men were also injured in the accident.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident. The cage carrying convict laborers fell about 200 feet after the engine became unmanageable, according to the accident account.
Reported by: news reports.