Gipson, Lloyd C.

One man was killed instantly, and another died a few hours later in a Picher hospital at Picher Oklahoma as the result of an accident underground at the Bilharz Mine, northwest of Baxter Springs Kansas, at about 11:15 am Saturday. Lloyd C. Gipson, 40, who lived at 2216 Picher avenue in Joplin Missouri, died instantly, and Pleasant Hamilton, 45, of rural Scammon, succumbed at about 2:00 pm that afternoon in the Picher hospital, Picher. The two men were working alone in a drift when the roof 'slid' and caved in from the weight of the boulders. Mr. Gipson was completely covered by the rock fall, and the other man was buried to his thighs. O. W. Bilharz, owner of the mine, estimated that about 60 tons of dirt and rock fell. Mr. Hamilton was removed first and taken to the hospital, and the body of Mr. Gipson was recovered by rescue workers about an hour later. Mr. Gipson is survived by his wife, Mrs. Greta Gipson, of the home; a daughter, Mrs. John T. Bonner of Joplin; one son, Orval D. Ridgeway, who is in the navy; two brothers, Wesley Gipson and Fred Gipson of Joplin; and three sisters, Mrs. Alma Cofflin of Hutchinson Kansas, Mrs. Mae Greer of Joplin, Mrs. Irene Davis of Wyandotte Oklahoma. Mr. Hamilton is survived by his wife, Mrs. Alta Hamilton; six children, Emma Louise Hamilton, Orval Hamilton, Annabelle Hamilton, Ella Mae Hamilton, Madolyn Hamilton and Betty Jean Hamilton, all at home; his mother, Mrs. Martha Hamilton; two brothers, Chester Hamilton and Merle Hamilton, both of Kansas City; and two sisters, Mrs. Carrie Shinn and Mrs. Linnie Grantham of Kansas City. Funeral services for Mr. Gipson were held at 1:00 Tuesday at the Christian church in Joplin. Burial was in the Chetopa cemetery. Grave side rites were held at Chetopa at 4:30 that afternoon. Last rites for Mr. Hamilton were held at 2:30 Tuesday at the Church of God in Columbus Kansas. Burial was in the McKee cemetery, near Hallowell. The Durnil Funeral at Picher had charge of both services.

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