Wallace, Walter

Picher Oklahoma, Nov. 6--Three miners are dead and a fourth is fighting for life in a hospital here as a result of the plunge of a "can" down a hard rock lead and zinc shaft at the Lucky Bill Mine in South Cardin Oklahoma at 7:20 this morning. The dead: Joseph Laws, 30 years old, Picher Oklahoma, a mule driver. Emmitt Gilliam, 35, west Picher Oklahoma, shoveler. Walter Wallace, 35, 514 McConnell Ave., Joplin Missouri, shoveler. The injured: Albert Marney, 30, Monarch Oklahoma, bruno man.

The exact cause of the accident, which occurred as the men were being lowered to begin their day's work, has not been determined. Indications are that it was caused by mechanical trouble in the hoisting apparatus, which was in charge of Walter Smith, an experienced hoister man.

When a rescue party descendent to the shaft the men were found wedged among splintered debris, a gruesome tangle of broken humanity. They were hurriedly removed to the Picher hospital at Picher, in the ambulance of the Todd undertaking company, also of Picher, but surgeons were unable to stave off death. Laws, Gilliam and Wallace died shortly after 9, all succumbed at almost the same time. Besides a mass of broken bones and body injuries, the men were undoubtedly injured internally, hospital attendants said.

Marney, who was still waging a desperate battle for life at noon today, also suffered internal injuries, according to the attending physicians, who expressed little hope for his recovery.

Laws is survived by a wife and four children living at Lincolnville Oklahoma; Gilliam by a wife and two children by a former marriage and Wallace by a wife and four children in Joplin Missouri. The latter's body probably will be taken to Joplin today.

An examination this noon revealed that an attempt had been made to set the emergency brakes on the "can," but the car apparently was traveling at such a speed that the brakes failed to work. The accident was the most serious of the year in the Tri-State mining field. The Lucky Bill Mine is operated by a partnership, G. L. Childers of Cardin Oklahoma is the agent.

Note: The headlines indicate that Marney died, but the article does not say that he died. A later paper declared Marney to be improved. Picher Oklahoma, Nov. 7. Albert Marney, injured in an accident at the Lucky Bill Mine in which his three companions lost their lives, was still alive at the Picher hospital at Picher, this morning. Both of Marney's legs are broken and he is suffering from internal injuries.

Funeral services for Joe Laws, 30, who was killed in the same accident when a can in which they were descending the shaft dropped about 180 feet, will be held from the residence at Lincolnville Oklahoma at 3:30 Thursday afternoon, after which his body will be sent to Springfield, Missouri, for burial. He is survived by his wife and four children.

The body of Walter Wallace, 32, was taken to his home, 524 McConnell avenue, Joplin Missouri by the Todd undertaking company, of Picher. Funeral arrangements are not complete.

Funeral services for Emmett Gilliam, 36, will be held at 10 Thursday morning at the residence, Sixth and River streets, Picher Oklahoma, with Rev. R. C. Cantrell in charge. Burial will be at Vinita Oklahoma. Note: Burial at the Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, Oklahoma. His name is spelled Emmett in the newspaper and his stone spelling Emmitt.

Laws, Wallace and Gilliam died about the same time at the Picher hospital about an hour and a half after having dropped to the bottom of the Lucky Bill Mine shaft in the fatal accident.

Picher Oklahoma, Nov. 8.--Several white robed members of the Ku Klux Klan entered the Gilliam home, Sixth and River streets, Picher, about midnight Wednesday and placed a large cross of fiery red roses on the bier of Emmett Gilliam, who lost his life in an accident at the Lucky Bill Mine Monday.

After a brief ceremony the visitors silently departed. Funeral services were held at the residence at 10 this morning. Burial was at Vinita Oklahoma.

Picher Oklahoma, Nov. 9--Albert Marney, the miner who was seriously injured last Monday in the accident at the Lucky Bill Mine in which his three companions were killed, was improving today in a local hospital, and his recovery is expected.

Funeral services for Joe Laws, 30 years old, who was killed at the Lucky Bill Mine at Cardin Oklahoma, Tuesday morning were held from the church Thursday at 3:30 with the Rev. Denton of Baxter Springs Kansas, officiating. Mr. Laws is survived by a wife and four children and a number of relatives. The body was shipped to Crocker Missouri, for burial. The entire community extend their sympathy to Mrs. Laws.