Abbott, Charles Andrew

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 Kansas, 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. Note: Also see Arthur Pryor, William Archer and Henry Pendleton.