Bedford, Virgil

Virgil Bedford, 20 years old, 2410 Connor avenue, a shoveler at the White Shirt Mine, operated by the Lucky Bud Mining Company, one mile west and one mile north of Chitwood, was killed about 3 pm yesterday when a boulder was dislodged from a hoisting can and fell on his head, fracturing his skull. According to Frank Fenix, state mine inspector, who investigated the accident, the hoisting can apparently hit against the sides of the shaft shortly after Bedford had signaled to the hoisterman to raise it, causing a boulder to fall. The shaft is eighty feet deep and is cribbed only part of the way, Fenix said.

The miner was found lying face downward at the bottom of the shaft. He apparently had started to load an empty can on the mine car when he was struck. Bedford, who has resided in Joplin Missouri for ten or twelve years, had been working at the mine only about two weeks. He had been working on the surface as a shoveler, but several days ago a shoveler in the ground was discharged and Bedford was put in his place. The body was brought to Joplin by a Hurlbut ambulance. He apparently had been killed instantly, the ambulance driver said. An inquest will be held at 8 pm tomorrow at the Hurlbut chapel by Coroner R. M. Stormont.

Besides his widow, Bedford is survived by his mother, Mrs. J. S. Holmes, who lives at the residence; one brother, Arthur Bedford, 702 North Wall street and a sister, Mrs. Bertie Van Winkle, 1220 Moffet avenue. The funeral will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday morning at 2410 Connor avenue, with the Rev. E. W. Love officiating.