Maloy Books

Craig, John


Funeral Home Data

Deceased:Craig, John
Died:Sep 18 1917
Age:35
Remarks:called Jim Craig in first items appearing in the newspaper. Later corrected to John Craig. Died Sep 18, 1917, age 35 years 4 months. Cause of death was bad air. Burial at Columbus Kansas.
Record Source:Mitchelson Funeral Home
(Funeral Record)Commerce, Ottawa County, OK

Abstract Data

Jim Craig, 35 years old, of Commerce, and Luther Worthington, 30, were killed Tuesday when they were overcome at the Goodeagle Mine. Craig and Worthington had been lowered into the ground after the dynamite was fired. The hoisterman waited some time and when no signals were given, an investigation was made, and both men were found near the bottom of the shaft. It is believed that a gas pocket was opened by the shots, causing the death of the men when they went into the ground. Miners who formed a rescue part said the air was foul when the rescue was made. Worthington had worked only one day in the mines. Craig lived in the north part of Commerce, and is survived by a wife and six children. Worthington had come to the mining district Monday in search of work. He is survived by a wife and one child. The bodies were taken to the morgue of the Mitchelson undertaking company in Commerce. Funeral of Worthington was held at the home at 2:30 pm today. The services of Craig will be held in Columbus Kansas, at 10 o'clock Friday morning.

Miami District Daily News — Miami, OK

Sep 20 1917 · p.3 · col.1

John Craig, 35 years old, of Commerce, and Luther Worthington, 30, of Melrose Kansas, were killed Tuesday night when they were overcome by gas in the Goodeagle Mine, near Tar River Oklahoma [now Cardin Oklahoma]. Craig and Worthington had been lowered into the ground after the shots had been fired. The hoisterman waited for some time and when no signals were given to hoist, an investigation was made, and both men were found near the bottom of the shaft, dead. It is believed that a gas pocket was broken into by the shots, causing the death of the men when they were lowered into the ground. Miners who formed a rescue party said the air was foul when the rescue was made. Worthington had worked only one day in the mines. Craig lived in the north part of Commerce and is survived by a wife and six children. Worthington had come to the mining district Monday in search of work. He is survived by a wife and one child. The bodies were taken to the morgue of the Mitchelson undertaking company in Commerce.

Joplin Globe — Joplin, MO

Sep 20 1917 · p.7 · col.3

Funeral services for John Craig, who was killed in the Goodeagle Mine near Tar River Tuesday night when he was overcome by gas, was held at 10 o'clock yesterday morning in the home of E. C. Fuller in Columbus. Burial was in the Columbus Cemetery. Craig had moved to the mining district only a short time ago and was killed on the second night that he worked at the Goodeagle Mine. Craig was born near Mineral, May 4, 1882, and had spent the greater part of his life in Cherokee county Kansas. He is survived by a wife and one child; a sister, Mrs. E. G. Fuller; four brothers, Hiram Craig, Twin Falls Idaho; Samuel Craig, Bray California, and Charles Craig of Joplin Missouri. The Rev. Ralph A. Wagoner, pastor of the first Presbyterian Church, officiated. Funeral services for Luther Worthington were held in the residence near Melrose Kansas yesterday afternoon. Burial was in Melrose Cemetery. Worthington is survived by a wife and one child. Warbington left his home near Melrose Monday morning to look for work in the mining district. He accepted a job with the Goodeagle Mine and had started to work his first shift when he was killed. Craig and Warbington were lowered into the mine at 7 o'clock Tuesday night after several shots had been fired. It is believed that a gas pocket was broken into when the shots were fired which suffocated the two men when they entered a drift. Note: Two different spellings of Worthington and Warbington.

Joplin News Herald — Joplin, MO

Sep 22 1917 · p.5 · col.3

Book: Mitchelson Funeral Home, Commerce, Oklahoma July 1916 - August 1957 — S J Mahurin

ISBN: 1-892744-93-7