Hammond, John

Picher Oklahoma, Sept. 13--John Hammond, 65 years old, of Picher Oklahoma, died a the American hospital at Picher, at 3 o'clock this morning as a result of injuries received at 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon when he drilled into an unexploded shot. Mr. Hammond's chest, arms and face were badly mutilated by bits of flying rock. The shock was so great that the injured man lost consciousness at 10 o'clock last night, after which he gradually grew weaker until death resulted five hours later. No information is available here regarding relatives of Mr. Hammond. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body is at the parlors of the Hurlbut undertaking company of Joplin.

W. C. Wyatt of Joplin, Mr. Hammond's helper, was also injured, but not seriously. He was attended by a Baxter Springs Kansas physician.

John Hammond, 2432 Maiden Lane, Joplin, a hard rock lead and zinc machine man at the Bruegger Mine northwest of Joplin Missouri, is in a serious condition in American hospital at Picher Oklahoma as the result of a dynamite explosion which occurred about 3:30 this afternoon when he drilled into a "failed shot" hole. W. C. Wyatt, his helper, also of Joplin, was injured by flying rock. Attending physician said Hammond probably would lose his eye sight. His entire face is covered with powder burns, and there are a large number of holes in his chest and arms, although neither lung was punctured. Physicians entertained hope for his recovery unless pneumonia sets in. Wyatt was attended by Dr. W. H. McKinley. His condition is not believed to be serious.

The mine is owned by the Century Zinc Company. The dynamite was in a hole where it had been placed sometime before to blast out a portion of rock. The charge had failed to go off, and employees apparently were ignorant of the fact that the "failed shot" was still in the ground.