Hitchcock, Benny George

Cardin Oklahoma A rural Baxter Springs Kansas man was killed this morning by a shaft cave-in at the Rialto Mine No. 3, nearly a mile south of Cardin. Another man was severely injured. Killed outright when struck by debris, including dirt and timbers, was 54 year old Zack Hitchcock, Baxter Springs, Route 3. A mine hooker one who hooks buckets of ore to the shaft hoist Hitchcock was with Cecil Mahurin of Picher Oklahoma at the bottom of the shaft when the fall occurred about 8:30 o'clock.

Mahurin, 44, suffered a fractured hip, cuts and severe multiple bruises. An attendant at the Miami Baptist hospital reported, Mahurin, of South Alice street, Picher, was taken to the hospital in a Paul Thomas ambulance of Picher.

Hitchcock's body was taken to the Wene funeral home, Baxter Springs. The dead man, whose wife died only a few months ago, is survived by a son, Melvin Hitchcock, Baxter Springs. The Rialto Mine No. 3 is operated by Guymon Martin of Picher.

A rural Baxter Springs Kansas miner, was killed early Wednesday morning by a shaft cave-in at the Rialto Mine No. 3, about a mile south of Cardin Oklahoma. Benny George Hitchcock, 54, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Miami Baptist Hospital where he was taken by a Thomas ambulance. The tragedy occurred about 8:30 Wednesday morning. A second man, Cecil Mahurin, 44, of Picher was injured in the cave-in, and was reported to have received a broken hip and multiple bruises.

The two miners were reported working at the bottom of the shaft when the fall occurred. They were struck by the falling dirt and timbers. Mr. Hitchcock had started to work at the mine only that morning.

Funeral services for Benny G. "Red" Hitchcock will be conducted at 2 pm Friday at the Fellowship Baptist church in Baxter Springs. The Rev. Ellis Ogden and the Rev. O. L. Patterson will officiate. Burial will be in the Lowell Kansas cemetery. Pallbearers are Glenn Heavin, A. C. Spencer, Vernie Mears, Russell White, Claude Atkinson and Nelson Weaver, Sr. Hitchcock was killed in a mine shaft cave-in south of Cardin on Wednesday.