Ledbetter, Melvin Lee

Baxter Springs Kansas, Aug. 25 Melvin Lee Ledbetter, 32 years old, was fatally injured, and Norman G. Edwards, 24, also of Galena Kansas, was critically hurt at 10:30 this morning in a delay explosion at the Lisa Jane Mine of the Lula Bell Mining Company, a mile west of Baxter. Ledbetter died at 2:30 this afternoon at Picher hospital of Picher Oklahoma, where both men were taken following the accident. He suffered injuries and burns to his head and body. One arm was virtually torn off. Edwards received burns about the eyes and a mangled arm. He also is suffering from shock. It was reported that Edwards' eyes will not be lost, and that if he lived through the night he had a chance to recover. According to Dow Downing of Baxter Springs Kansas, a deputy state mine inspector, the accident was caused when a drill bit of a machine the men were operating struck a loaded hole of dynamite which the two had tamped Friday. Both men employed as machinists, were working directly in front of the loaded hole. They were taken to the hospital in Hoskins-Wene ambulance. Ledbetter was born at Little Rock Arkansas, moving to Joplin Missouri when he was a small boy. He had resided at Galena Heights for the last four years. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Veta Ledbetter; two children, Beverly Rose Ledbetter and Tommie Lee Ledbetter of the home, and a half-sister, Miss Ethel Crawley of Joplin. The body was removed to the Allison funeral home at Galena Kansas.

Melvin L. Ledbetter, 31, of Galena Kansas, died at about 2:30 pm Saturday of injuries received four hours earlier in a delayed explosion at the Liza Jane Mine of the Lula Bell Mining Company, a mile west of Baxter Springs Kansas. Meanwhile, Norman G. Edwards, 24, also of Galena Kansas, was reported in a serious condition at the Picher hospital, Picher Oklahoma. Occurring at about 10:30 Saturday morning, the accident was said to have been caused when the bit of a drill machine the two men were operating struck a loaded hole of dynamite, which was tamped for shooting but failed to go off Friday. Ledbetter is survived by his wife, Veta Ledbetter; one daughter, Beverly Rose Ledbetter; a son, Tommy Lee Ledbetter, and a halfsister, Miss Ethel Crowley of Joplin. The Allison funeral home of Galena Kansas will announce funeral arrangements.

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