Charles Andrew Abbott age 61, was killed in the Swalley mine, a hard rock lead and zinc mine, Baxter Springs Kansas, June 8, 1945. [Note: Several newspaper articles are included and the same information may appear in each article, but are displayed to show the full scope of the tragedy] Four men were killed and two injured in the worst mine accident in the Tri-State District in six years, when they were caught under two slabs which fell at the Swailey Mine of the Beck Mining Company, a mile and a half west of Baxter, at 10:30 this morning.
Charles Andrew Abbott, 61 years old, of Crestline Kansas, a machine man, was killed outright. Arthur Pryor, age 53, of Miami Oklahoma, a roof trimmer, died shortly before noon, and William Archer, 33, of Baxter Springs Kansas, route 1, a machine man, and Henry Pendleton, 125 North Washington street, Joplin Missouri, a machine helper died this afternoon. All of them died in Picher hospital, Picher Oklahoma.
Caught by Second Slab Abbott and his helper, Pendleton, were caught by the first slab, about 13 inches thick and 30 feet long, while at work in a drift heading. Four other men rushed immediately to their aid and were working to extricate them when a second slab, about five inches thick and some 20 feet long, fell on them. Two of the four, Pryor and Archer, were fatally injured. The other two were William Whittenbach, age 47, of 315 South Netta street, Picher Oklahoma, a machine man, and Clifford Skidmore, age 29, of 609 West Second street, Picher, a rope rider. Whittenbach suffered a fractured spine and his condition was considered serious by attendants at Picher hospital.
Others Join in Rescue Work Other miners including men from nearby mines, joined in the rescue work. It required about an hour to free all of the victims. They were rushed to Picher hospital in Durnil ambulance from Picher, and Hoskins-Wene ambulance. Today's accident claimed the largest number of victims since January, 1939, when five men lost their lives in an accident at the Southern Mine, northwest of Treece Kansas. The accident is being investigated by Dal Downing, Kansas state mine inspector, and Coroner Victor Winter.
Abbott, who was unmarried, lived with his mother, Mrs. Rosa Abbott, at Crestline Kansas. He had lived in that vicinity 50 years. He also is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Mamie Turner of Badger Kansas, Mrs. Hattie Ludwig and Mrs. Nellie Scruger of Crestline.
Miami Oklahoma Resident, Pryor, who lived at 117 C street, SE, Miami, had lived there 18 years. Surviving are his widow, three daughters, Mrs. Clarence Moore of Little Rock Arkansas, Mrs. D. W. Griffith of Lincoln Nebraska, and Phyllis Pryor of the home; five sons, Virgil Pryor of Vinita Oklahoma, Arthur Pryor, Jr., Willard Pryor and Duaine Pryor, all of the home, and Buford Pryor, serving with the United States Marine Corps on Okinawa. His body is at the Cooper funeral home at Miami.
Archer lived north of Baxter Springs Kansas and had lived in that area several years. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Bessie Archer; his mother, Mrs. Ruth Archer of Blackjack Oklahoma and a brother, Shelley Archer of Baxter Springs. His body is at the Allison funeral home at Galena Kansas.
Pendleton, 43, is survived by two brothers, George T. Pendleton and Charles Pendleton, of Baxter Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Huston of Pryor Oklahoma and Mrs. Lydia Green of Joplin and three half-brothers.
Abbott's and Pendleton's bodies are at the Hoskins-Wene funeral home.
Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO
Jun 08 1945
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Two men, one a Miamian, lost their lives and four other miners were seriously injured during a double-slab fall at the Beck-Smalley Mine lease, approximately one-half mile south of Baxter Springs Kansas. The dead: Arthur T. Pryor, 53, and Charles Andrew Abbott, about 60, Riverton Kansas. The injured include: William Archer of Baxter Springs Kansas; Henry Pendleton of Joplin Missouri, and Clifford Skidmore and William Whittenbeck of Picher Oklahoma.
While no report as to three of the men's conditions were available, at 2 pm word from the Picher hospital at Picher, indicated that Archer's injuries were considered "critical." The tragedy occurred, it was said, when Abbott, a machine man, and Pendleton, his helper, were pinned under the first falling slab while they were working in a drift heading. Abbott was killed instantly.
Pryor was fatally injured a few minutes later when he and three fellow workmen, while trying to extricate Abbott and Pendleton, were struck by the second boulder. While the injured were rushed to the Picher hospital in a Durnil ambulance, Pryor's body was received by the Cooper funeral home at Miami. Abbott's body was taken to the Hoskins-Wene funeral home in Baxter Springs.
Pryor, a resident of Miami for the past 18 years, is survived by his wife, Mrs. A. T. Pryor of the home; three daughters, Mrs. Clarence Moore of Little Rock Arkansas, Mrs. D. W. Griffin of Lincoln, and Phyllis Jean Pryor of the home, and five sons, Virgil Pryor of Vinita Oklahoma, Arthur Pryor, Duaine Pryor and Willard Pryor of Miami and Beauford Pryor with the U.S. Marines on Okinawa. Funeral services are incomplete.
Miami News Record, Miami, OK
Jun 08 1945
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Two survivors of Friday's mine tragedy, which cost the lives of four men, were reported Saturday to be "getting along nicely at the Picher hospital." They are William Whittenbeck, 47, a machine man, 315 South Netta street, and Clifford Skidmore, 29, 609 West Second street, a rope rider, both of Picher Oklahoma. Whittenbeck suffered a fractured spine while Skidmore received numerous cuts and bruises when they were caught under the second slab which fell at the Swalley Mine of the Beck Mining Company, a mile and a half west of Baxter Springs Kansas, shortly after 10:30 am Friday.
The death toll in what is reported to be the worst mining accident in the Tri-State Mining District in six years, was increased to four when William Archer, 33, of Baxter Springs Kansas, Route 1, a machine man, and Henry Pendleton, 43, of Joplin Missouri, a machine helper, died Friday evening. Charles Andrew Abbott, 61, of Crestline Kansas, a machine man was killed outright under the first slab fall. Arthur Pryor, 53, of Miami, a roof trimmer, crushed by the second slab, died about two hours following the double-mishap. According to Dal Downing, Kansas district mining inspector, Abbott and his helper, Pendleton, were caught by the first slab, about eight inches thick and 30 feet long, while working in a drift heading.
Rushing immediately to their aid, Pryor, Archer, Whittenbeck and Skidmore were struck by a second slab measuring about five inches thick and some 20 feet long. Pryor and Archer were fatally injured in their rescue attempts. Men from nearby mines worked about an hour before all victims were extricated and removed to the Picher hospital at Picher in Durnil and Hoskins-Wene ambulances. Saturday's accident, it is reported, claimed the largest number of lives since the January, 1939, tragedy at the Southern Mine northwest of Treece Kansas in which five men were killed.
Mine Inspector Downing said the accident was "apparently caused from the rotten nature of the sheet ground layers." The accident occurred, he said, 300 feet or more underground. Estimating the height of both dirt falls at approximately 14 feet, Downing said he believed about 15 tons of rock and earth trapped the miners. The mine, owned by the Beck Mining and Royalty Company of Miami, owned an excellent safety record at this property prior to the accidents. Sheet ground, Downing explained, is composed of flat seams extending horizontally in layers measuring from a few inches to a foot. A mine operator Saturday said sheet ground somewhat resembles earth formations from which coal is mined.
Funeral services for Pryor, a resident of Miami for the part 18 years and who lived at 117 C street southeast, Miami will be conducted at 2:30 pm Monday at the Cooper funeral home chapel. The Rev. Coral D. Walker, pastor of the First Christian church, will officiate. Pallbearers will be J. J. Smith, Bert Howard, Lottie Long, John Nott, Clarence Caskey and Peck Sogsdill. Burial will be in G.A.R. cemetery at Miami
Abbott, who was unmarried, lived with his mother, Mrs. Rosa Abbott at Crestline Kansas. He had resided in that vicinity for 50 years. He is also survived by three sisters. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon, at the Friends church in Riverton Kansas. Burial will be in the Oakhill cemetery there under direction of the Hoskins-Wene funeral home of Baxter Springs Kansas.
Pendleton is survived by two brothers, George T. Pendleton and Charles Pendleton of Baxter Springs Kansas; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Huston of Pryor Oklahoma and Mrs. Lydia Green of Joplin Missouri, and three half-brothers. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 pm Monday at the First Methodist church in Joplin. Burial will be in Memorial cemetery at Joplin.
Archer had lived in the area of Baxter Springs for several years. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Bessie Archer; his mother, Mrs. Ruth Archer of Blackjack, district west of Galena Kansas, and a brother, Shelley Archer of Baxter Springs. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 this afternoon at the Allison funeral home chapel in Galena Kansas. Burial will be in the Lowell Kansas cemetery.
Miami News Record, Miami, OK
Jun 10 1945
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Accident Occurs in Swalley Mine; Is Worst in Tri-State District In Six Years. One man, Charles Andrew Abbott age 61 years, a machine man, was killed outright, and five others injured about 10:30 am Friday at the Swalley Mine of the Beck Mining Company, a mile and a half west of Baxter Springs, by two rock slabs falling. Three of the men were injured so severely that they died soon after reaching the hospital; Arthur Pryor, age 53, of Miami, a roof trimmer, dying shortly before noon; and William Archer, age 33 of Baxter Springs Kansas, Route 1, a machine man and Henry Pendleton, 125 North Washington street in Joplin Missouri, a machine helper, died in the afternoon.
Abbott and Pendleton, were caught while at work in a drift heading when the first slab, about 10 inches thick and 30 feet long, fell. The four other men, who were working near by, rushed to their aid and were caught when a second slab fell on them. Two of the four, Pryor and Archer, were injured so severely that they died after being taken to the hospital. The other two were William Whittenbach, age 47, of 315 South Netta street, Picher Oklahoma, a machine man, and Clifford Skidmore, age 29, of 609 West Second street, Picher, a rope rider. Whittenbach suffered a fractured spine and other injuries. Skidmore suffered cuts and bruises. Both men are reported recovering.
Many other miners, including men from nearby mines, joined in the rescue work and it required about an hour to free all of the victims who were rushed to the Picher hospital in Durnil ambulances. The accident was investigated by Dow Downing, Kansas state mine inspector, and Coroner Victor Winter.
Abbott, who was unmarried, lived with his mother, Mrs. Rosa Abbott, at Crestline. He had lived in that vicinity 50 years. He is also survived by three sisters.
Pryor, who lived at 117 C street southeast, Miami, had lived there 18 years. Surviving are his widow, three daughters and five sons, one of whom is the husband of the former Imogene Smithson.
Archer lived north of Baxter and had been a resident in that area for several years. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Bessie Archer; his mother, Mrs. Ruth Archer of Blackjack, and a brother Shelley Archer of Baxter Springs. His body was taken to the Allison funeral home in Galena Kansas.
Pendleton, age 43, is survived by two brothers, George T. Pendleton and Charles Pendleton, both of Baxter, and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Huston of Pryor Oklahoma, and Mrs. Lydia Green of Joplin and three half-brothers.
Abbott's and Pendleton's bodies were taken to the Hoskins-Wene funeral home in Baxter. The accident was termed unavoidable by Dow Downing, Kansas metal mining inspector and John Delplace of Pittsburg Kansas, chief mining inspector. The two inspected the ground at the mine Saturday and stated the rock fall was due to formation of layers of the slabs, which safety engineers could not have detected.
Miami News Record, Miami, OK
Jun 14 1945
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The worst mine disaster in the district since 1939, occurred about 10:30 am Friday, when four men lost their lives when two slabs fell at the Swalley Beck Mine Number 3, three miles west of Baxter Springs Kansas. The four victims were Charles Andrew Abbott, 61, of Route 1, Galena Kansas; Henry Pendleton, 43, of 215 North Main street, Joplin; Arthur Pryor, 53, of Miami; and William Archer, 33, of north of Baxter Springs.
William Whittenbach, 47, and Clifford Skidmore, 29, both of Picher, were injured, and are in a Picher hospital. The former suffered a fractured spine, and the latter received cuts and bruises. The tragedy happened when Mr. Abbott and Mr. Pendleton were caught when the first slab fell, about 10 inches thick and 30 feet long, while working in a drift heading.
The other four men rushed to their aid and were trying to extricate them when they were caught by the fall of a second slab, about five inches thick and 20 feet long. Mr. Abbott was killed outright, and his helper died later in the Picher hospital, as did the other two victims of the accident. Abbott was a machine man, Pryor was a roof trimmer, Archer was a machine man and Pendleton a machine helper. Whittenbach is a machine man and Skidmore is a rope rider.
Ambulances of the Durnil funeral home of Picher Oklahoma, and the Hoskins-Wene funeral home of Baxter Springs Kansas were rushed to the scene and took the injured men to the Picher hospital. Men from nearby mines also went to the scene to help remove the victims. All six men were extricated within an hour. The accident was the worst in the district since January, 1939, when five men died as a result of an accident at the Southern Mine.
An investigation was conducted of the accident by Dow Downing, Kansas metal mining inspector and John Deplace of Pittsburg, chief mining inspector. The former said the rock fall was caused by a formation of layers of the slabs, which could not have been detected by safety engineers, Coroner Victor Winter of Columbus Kansas, also helped with the investigation.
Mr. Abbott lived with his mother, Mrs. Rosa Abbott, one and one-half miles north of Riverton Kansas. He had lived in the district about 50 years. He was born in Kansas on January 20, 1884. Besides his mother, he is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Mamie Turner of Badger, Mrs. Hattie Ludwig of Route 1, Galena Kansas, and Mrs. Nellie Kreiger of Crestline Kansas.
Funeral services were held at the Riverton Kansas Friends church at 2:30 pm Tuesday. The Rev. Roy Wade officiated, and burial was in Oak Hill cemetery under the direction of the Hoskins-Wene funeral home. Pallbearers were Lee Livingston, James Livingston, Morton Livingston, Woody Coyle, John Coyle and Ed Neely.
Mr. Pendleton made his home with a niece, Mrs. Nina Sills, of the Joplin address. He was born in Aurora Missouri, March 1903. Survivors are: Three sisters, Mrs. Anna Houston of Pryor Oklahoma, Mrs. Lydia Green of Joplin Missouri, and Mrs. Fannie Cantrall of Duenwig Missouri.
Miami News Record, Miami, OK
Jun 14 1945
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Charles Andrew Abbott age 61, was killed in the Swalley mine, a hard rock lead and zinc mine, Baxter Springs Kansas, June 8, 1945. [Note: Several newspaper articles are included and the same information may appear in each article, but are displayed to show the full scope of the tragedy] Four men were killed and two injured in the worst mine accident in the Tri-State District in six years, when they were caught under two slabs which fell at the Swailey Mine of the Beck Mining Company, a mile and a half west of Baxter, at 10:30 this morning.
Charles Andrew Abbott, 61 years old, of Crestline Kansas, a machine man, was killed outright. Arthur Pryor, age 53, of Miami Oklahoma, a roof trimmer, died shortly before noon, and William Archer, 33, of Baxter Springs Kansas, route 1, a machine man, and Henry Pendleton, 125 North Washington street, Joplin Missouri, a machine helper died this afternoon. All of them died in Picher hospital, Picher Oklahoma.
Caught by Second Slab Abbott and his helper, Pendleton, were caught by the first slab, about 13 inches thick and 30 feet long, while at work in a drift heading. Four other men rushed immediately to their aid and were working to extricate them when a second slab, about five inches thick and some 20 feet long, fell on them. Two of the four, Pryor and Archer, were fatally injured. The other two were William Whittenbach, age 47, of 315 South Netta street, Picher Oklahoma, a machine man, and Clifford Skidmore, age 29, of 609 West Second street, Picher, a rope rider. Whittenbach suffered a fractured spine and his condition was considered serious by attendants at Picher hospital.
Others Join in Rescue Work Other miners including men from nearby mines, joined in the rescue work. It required about an hour to free all of the victims. They were rushed to Picher hospital in Durnil ambulance from Picher, and Hoskins-Wene ambulance. Today's accident claimed the largest number of victims since January, 1939, when five men lost their lives in an accident at the Southern Mine, northwest of Treece Kansas. The accident is being investigated by Dal Downing, Kansas state mine inspector, and Coroner Victor Winter.
Abbott, who was unmarried, lived with his mother, Mrs. Rosa Abbott, at Crestline Kansas. He had lived in that vicinity 50 years. He also is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Mamie Turner of Badger Kansas, Mrs. Hattie Ludwig and Mrs. Nellie Scruger of Crestline.
Miami Oklahoma Resident, Pryor, who lived at 117 C street, SE, Miami, had lived there 18 years. Surviving are his widow, three daughters, Mrs. Clarence Moore of Little Rock Arkansas, Mrs. D. W. Griffith of Lincoln Nebraska, and Phyllis Pryor of the home; five sons, Virgil Pryor of Vinita Oklahoma, Arthur Pryor, Jr., Willard Pryor and Duaine Pryor, all of the home, and Buford Pryor, serving with the United States Marine Corps on Okinawa. His body is at the Cooper funeral home at Miami.
Archer lived north of Baxter Springs Kansas and had lived in that area several years. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Bessie Archer; his mother, Mrs. Ruth Archer of Blackjack Oklahoma and a brother, Shelley Archer of Baxter Springs. His body is at the Allison funeral home at Galena Kansas.
Pendleton, 43, is survived by two brothers, George T. Pendleton and Charles Pendleton, of Baxter Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Huston of Pryor Oklahoma and Mrs. Lydia Green of Joplin and three half-brothers.
Abbott's and Pendleton's bodies are at the Hoskins-Wene funeral home.
Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO
Jun 08 1945
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Two men, one a Miamian, lost their lives and four other miners were seriously injured during a double-slab fall at the Beck-Smalley Mine lease, approximately one-half mile south of Baxter Springs Kansas. The dead: Arthur T. Pryor, 53, and Charles Andrew Abbott, about 60, Riverton Kansas. The injured include: William Archer of Baxter Springs Kansas; Henry Pendleton of Joplin Missouri, and Clifford Skidmore and William Whittenbeck of Picher Oklahoma.
While no report as to three of the men's conditions were available, at 2 pm word from the Picher hospital at Picher, indicated that Archer's injuries were considered "critical." The tragedy occurred, it was said, when Abbott, a machine man, and Pendleton, his helper, were pinned under the first falling slab while they were working in a drift heading. Abbott was killed instantly.
Pryor was fatally injured a few minutes later when he and three fellow workmen, while trying to extricate Abbott and Pendleton, were struck by the second boulder. While the injured were rushed to the Picher hospital in a Durnil ambulance, Pryor's body was received by the Cooper funeral home at Miami. Abbott's body was taken to the Hoskins-Wene funeral home in Baxter Springs.
Pryor, a resident of Miami for the past 18 years, is survived by his wife, Mrs. A. T. Pryor of the home; three daughters, Mrs. Clarence Moore of Little Rock Arkansas, Mrs. D. W. Griffin of Lincoln, and Phyllis Jean Pryor of the home, and five sons, Virgil Pryor of Vinita Oklahoma, Arthur Pryor, Duaine Pryor and Willard Pryor of Miami and Beauford Pryor with the U.S. Marines on Okinawa. Funeral services are incomplete.
Miami News Record, Miami, OK
Jun 08 1945
Page: 1 Column: 5
Two survivors of Friday's mine tragedy, which cost the lives of four men, were reported Saturday to be "getting along nicely at the Picher hospital." They are William Whittenbeck, 47, a machine man, 315 South Netta street, and Clifford Skidmore, 29, 609 West Second street, a rope rider, both of Picher Oklahoma. Whittenbeck suffered a fractured spine while Skidmore received numerous cuts and bruises when they were caught under the second slab which fell at the Swalley Mine of the Beck Mining Company, a mile and a half west of Baxter Springs Kansas, shortly after 10:30 am Friday.
The death toll in what is reported to be the worst mining accident in the Tri-State Mining District in six years, was increased to four when William Archer, 33, of Baxter Springs Kansas, Route 1, a machine man, and Henry Pendleton, 43, of Joplin Missouri, a machine helper, died Friday evening. Charles Andrew Abbott, 61, of Crestline Kansas, a machine man was killed outright under the first slab fall. Arthur Pryor, 53, of Miami, a roof trimmer, crushed by the second slab, died about two hours following the double-mishap. According to Dal Downing, Kansas district mining inspector, Abbott and his helper, Pendleton, were caught by the first slab, about eight inches thick and 30 feet long, while working in a drift heading.
Rushing immediately to their aid, Pryor, Archer, Whittenbeck and Skidmore were struck by a second slab measuring about five inches thick and some 20 feet long. Pryor and Archer were fatally injured in their rescue attempts. Men from nearby mines worked about an hour before all victims were extricated and removed to the Picher hospital at Picher in Durnil and Hoskins-Wene ambulances. Saturday's accident, it is reported, claimed the largest number of lives since the January, 1939, tragedy at the Southern Mine northwest of Treece Kansas in which five men were killed.
Mine Inspector Downing said the accident was "apparently caused from the rotten nature of the sheet ground layers." The accident occurred, he said, 300 feet or more underground. Estimating the height of both dirt falls at approximately 14 feet, Downing said he believed about 15 tons of rock and earth trapped the miners. The mine, owned by the Beck Mining and Royalty Company of Miami, owned an excellent safety record at this property prior to the accidents. Sheet ground, Downing explained, is composed of flat seams extending horizontally in layers measuring from a few inches to a foot. A mine operator Saturday said sheet ground somewhat resembles earth formations from which coal is mined.
Funeral services for Pryor, a resident of Miami for the part 18 years and who lived at 117 C street southeast, Miami will be conducted at 2:30 pm Monday at the Cooper funeral home chapel. The Rev. Coral D. Walker, pastor of the First Christian church, will officiate. Pallbearers will be J. J. Smith, Bert Howard, Lottie Long, John Nott, Clarence Caskey and Peck Sogsdill. Burial will be in G.A.R. cemetery at Miami
Abbott, who was unmarried, lived with his mother, Mrs. Rosa Abbott at Crestline Kansas. He had resided in that vicinity for 50 years. He is also survived by three sisters. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon, at the Friends church in Riverton Kansas. Burial will be in the Oakhill cemetery there under direction of the Hoskins-Wene funeral home of Baxter Springs Kansas.
Pendleton is survived by two brothers, George T. Pendleton and Charles Pendleton of Baxter Springs Kansas; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Huston of Pryor Oklahoma and Mrs. Lydia Green of Joplin Missouri, and three half-brothers. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 pm Monday at the First Methodist church in Joplin. Burial will be in Memorial cemetery at Joplin.
Archer had lived in the area of Baxter Springs for several years. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Bessie Archer; his mother, Mrs. Ruth Archer of Blackjack, district west of Galena Kansas, and a brother, Shelley Archer of Baxter Springs. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 this afternoon at the Allison funeral home chapel in Galena Kansas. Burial will be in the Lowell Kansas cemetery.
Miami News Record, Miami, OK
Jun 10 1945
Page: 1 Column: 2-3
Accident Occurs in Swalley Mine; Is Worst in Tri-State District In Six Years. One man, Charles Andrew Abbott age 61 years, a machine man, was killed outright, and five others injured about 10:30 am Friday at the Swalley Mine of the Beck Mining Company, a mile and a half west of Baxter Springs, by two rock slabs falling. Three of the men were injured so severely that they died soon after reaching the hospital; Arthur Pryor, age 53, of Miami, a roof trimmer, dying shortly before noon; and William Archer, age 33 of Baxter Springs Kansas, Route 1, a machine man and Henry Pendleton, 125 North Washington street in Joplin Missouri, a machine helper, died in the afternoon.
Abbott and Pendleton, were caught while at work in a drift heading when the first slab, about 10 inches thick and 30 feet long, fell. The four other men, who were working near by, rushed to their aid and were caught when a second slab fell on them. Two of the four, Pryor and Archer, were injured so severely that they died after being taken to the hospital. The other two were William Whittenbach, age 47, of 315 South Netta street, Picher Oklahoma, a machine man, and Clifford Skidmore, age 29, of 609 West Second street, Picher, a rope rider. Whittenbach suffered a fractured spine and other injuries. Skidmore suffered cuts and bruises. Both men are reported recovering.
Many other miners, including men from nearby mines, joined in the rescue work and it required about an hour to free all of the victims who were rushed to the Picher hospital in Durnil ambulances. The accident was investigated by Dow Downing, Kansas state mine inspector, and Coroner Victor Winter.
Abbott, who was unmarried, lived with his mother, Mrs. Rosa Abbott, at Crestline. He had lived in that vicinity 50 years. He is also survived by three sisters.
Pryor, who lived at 117 C street southeast, Miami, had lived there 18 years. Surviving are his widow, three daughters and five sons, one of whom is the husband of the former Imogene Smithson.
Archer lived north of Baxter and had been a resident in that area for several years. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Bessie Archer; his mother, Mrs. Ruth Archer of Blackjack, and a brother Shelley Archer of Baxter Springs. His body was taken to the Allison funeral home in Galena Kansas.
Pendleton, age 43, is survived by two brothers, George T. Pendleton and Charles Pendleton, both of Baxter, and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Huston of Pryor Oklahoma, and Mrs. Lydia Green of Joplin and three half-brothers.
Abbott's and Pendleton's bodies were taken to the Hoskins-Wene funeral home in Baxter. The accident was termed unavoidable by Dow Downing, Kansas metal mining inspector and John Delplace of Pittsburg Kansas, chief mining inspector. The two inspected the ground at the mine Saturday and stated the rock fall was due to formation of layers of the slabs, which safety engineers could not have detected.
Miami News Record, Miami, OK
Jun 14 1945
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The worst mine disaster in the district since 1939, occurred about 10:30 am Friday, when four men lost their lives when two slabs fell at the Swalley Beck Mine Number 3, three miles west of Baxter Springs Kansas. The four victims were Charles Andrew Abbott, 61, of Route 1, Galena Kansas; Henry Pendleton, 43, of 215 North Main street, Joplin; Arthur Pryor, 53, of Miami; and William Archer, 33, of north of Baxter Springs.
William Whittenbach, 47, and Clifford Skidmore, 29, both of Picher, were injured, and are in a Picher hospital. The former suffered a fractured spine, and the latter received cuts and bruises. The tragedy happened when Mr. Abbott and Mr. Pendleton were caught when the first slab fell, about 10 inches thick and 30 feet long, while working in a drift heading.
The other four men rushed to their aid and were trying to extricate them when they were caught by the fall of a second slab, about five inches thick and 20 feet long. Mr. Abbott was killed outright, and his helper died later in the Picher hospital, as did the other two victims of the accident. Abbott was a machine man, Pryor was a roof trimmer, Archer was a machine man and Pendleton a machine helper. Whittenbach is a machine man and Skidmore is a rope rider.
Ambulances of the Durnil funeral home of Picher Oklahoma, and the Hoskins-Wene funeral home of Baxter Springs Kansas were rushed to the scene and took the injured men to the Picher hospital. Men from nearby mines also went to the scene to help remove the victims. All six men were extricated within an hour. The accident was the worst in the district since January, 1939, when five men died as a result of an accident at the Southern Mine.
An investigation was conducted of the accident by Dow Downing, Kansas metal mining inspector and John Deplace of Pittsburg, chief mining inspector. The former said the rock fall was caused by a formation of layers of the slabs, which could not have been detected by safety engineers, Coroner Victor Winter of Columbus Kansas, also helped with the investigation.
Mr. Abbott lived with his mother, Mrs. Rosa Abbott, one and one-half miles north of Riverton Kansas. He had lived in the district about 50 years. He was born in Kansas on January 20, 1884. Besides his mother, he is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Mamie Turner of Badger, Mrs. Hattie Ludwig of Route 1, Galena Kansas, and Mrs. Nellie Kreiger of Crestline Kansas.
Funeral services were held at the Riverton Kansas Friends church at 2:30 pm Tuesday. The Rev. Roy Wade officiated, and burial was in Oak Hill cemetery under the direction of the Hoskins-Wene funeral home. Pallbearers were Lee Livingston, James Livingston, Morton Livingston, Woody Coyle, John Coyle and Ed Neely.
Mr. Pendleton made his home with a niece, Mrs. Nina Sills, of the Joplin address. He was born in Aurora Missouri, March 1903. Survivors are: Three sisters, Mrs. Anna Houston of Pryor Oklahoma, Mrs. Lydia Green of Joplin Missouri, and Mrs. Fannie Cantrall of Duenwig Missouri.
Miami News Record, Miami, OK
Jun 14 1945
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