Clogston, Frank

Picher Oklahoma, April 25 Frank Blair Clogston, 25 year old Baxter Springs Kansas Route 2, miner, was almost decapitated Saturday when a falling ore can struck and killed him instantly at the old Dobson No. 7 lease, about three miles east of here. Joe Hobson, assistant mine inspector, said after a preliminary investigation that Clogston was standing at the bottom of the 225 foot shaft when the ore-loaded can which was being hoisted to the surface fell back down and struck the hooker at about 11 am. Hobson said he would complete his investigation early next week. The mine is being operated a mile west of Hockerville Oklahoma as a gouge by the Mangus Mining Company of which Russell Prince of Joplin Missouri is the principal owner.

Clogston's death marked the first mining fatality in Ottawa county in about a year. The miner is survived by his wife, Mrs. Betty Jo Clogston, and a small son, Michael Lynn Clogston, both of the home; his mother, Mrs. Lula Clogston, and a brother, Wayne Clogston, both of Baxter Springs; a sister, Mrs. Betty Gaither; paternal grandmother, Mrs. Hattie Clogston, and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Brandon, all of Hockerville. Arrangements for services and burial will be announced by the Thomas funeral home of Picher.

Funeral services for Frank Blair Clogston, Jr., 25 year old Baxter Springs Kansas Route 2, miner, will be conducted in the Cherry Grove Full Gospel church, southeast of Baxter, at 2 pm Tuesday. The Rev. Harry Shallenbarger of Galena Kansas will officiate. Burial will be in the Baxter Springs cemetery under direction of the Thomas funeral home of Picher Oklahoma. The body will be taken to the family home Tuesday morning where it will remain until the funeral hour. Clogston, who was superintendent of the Cherry Grove Full Gospel church Sunday school, was killed instantly Saturday by a falling ore can at the old Dobson Mine No. 7 lease, three miles east of Picher Oklahoma.

There was only one fatal mine accident in Ottawa county during the fiscal year ending last June 30, according to an annual report by John M. Malloy, a state mine inspector, to Gov. Johnston Murray. Malloy's report for district No. 4, compiled by Joe Hobson of Cardin Oklahoma, assistant state mine inspector, listed the county's lone fatality as that of Frank B. Clogston, Jr., 25 year old Baxter Springs Kansas resident, who was killed at the Mangas Mining Company's property at Hockerville Oklahoma on April 24. Clogston was killed when an ore can fell down the mine shaft.

The report also shows that there were 14 non-fatality mishaps in Ottawa county lead and zinc mines during the fiscal year. 677 men were employed in Ottawa county mines. Most of the 37 mining properties in operation are located in the Picher Oklahoma area.