Cunningham, Hugh Melvin

T. R. Thompson, administrator of the estate of Joe Cunningham, who died June 16, from mine injuries received in the Underwriters Mine No. 2 of the Underwriters Land Company near Picher Oklahoma, yesterday brought a damage suit for $30,000 against the land company for the benefit of the heirs of Cunningham. The petition alleges that Cunningham, only 15 years old, was working in the mine in violation of the state law and at a dangerous task, and that carelessness of mine officials was responsible for his death. Cunningham was the support of this age parents who live in Missouri, the petition states.

Hugh Cunningham, 18 years old, died at 4 yesterday afternoon in a Fort Scott Kansas hospital from injuries received in a lead mine explosion near Pleasanton Kansas. Monday afternoon. Harold Cole, a brother-in-law was killed outright at the time of the blast. William Cunningham, the boy's father, and Frank Howard were severely burned, but are expected to recover. All four men were formerly miners in the Oklahoma lead and zinc fields and were well- known at Commerce Oklahoma and Miami.

William Cunningham, who shares ownership of the mine with E. E. Simpson, sheriff of Ottawa county Oklahoma, said positively yesterday that he saw a flying pebble strike an electric light bulb at the moment of the explosion. The heated wires of the bulb are believed to have ignited gas in the mine. Cunningham and his associates had been working the property only three weeks and very little drifting had been done. The shaft on the property was sunk, 25 years ago, but three other explosions similar to Monday's blast kept the mine idle. The ground is said to be rich in lead. Double Funeral Held. A double funeral for the two men killed in the explosion was held at 4 this afternoon at the North Miami Oklahoma Christian church. The Rev. R. E. Alspaugh of Commerce Oklahoma spoke. Burial was in the G.A.R. cemetery at Miami under direction of the Mitchelson undertaking company of Commerce. Rufus Harold Cole is survived by his wife, Audrey Cole, and two children, Maxine Cole and Billy Cole, of Pleasanton Kansas, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Cole of North Miami.

Hugh Melvin Cunningham is survived by his wife, Opal Cunningham, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Cunningham of Pleasanton; three sisters, Mrs. Venona Dobson of Cardin Oklahoma, Mrs. Audrey Cole of Pleasanton and Virginia of the home, and one brother, Lawrence Cunningham, at home. Mr. Cole's wife was Hugh Cunningham's sister.