Messer, Virgil

Picher Oklahoma, March 10.--Virgil Messer, 22 years old, was killed in the Big Jim Mine about 8 o'clock Sunday morning and Frank Roland, Otto Messer and Ace Sisson narrowly escaped death, when the four were overcome by gas while being lowered in a can to the bottom of the shaft. Grover Todd, Robert Carpenter and Bert Carpenter also had a narrow escape from death while working to rescue the miners.

Young Messer and Roland were the first men lowered into the shaft. Walter Smith, hoisterman, first became fearful for their safety fifteen minutes later when he failed to see their lights at the bottom of the shaft, where they were supposed to be working. Otto Messer, ground foreman and father of young Messer, and Sissons, were then lowered into the shaft to make an investigation. After waiting a few minutes and not hearing from these men, Smith hoisted the can to the top of the shaft and both were in the can in an unconscious condition. Sisson would have fallen from the can and doubtless would have been dashed to his death if Messer had not been lying unconscious across him. Sisson was seriously cut and bruised about his head and shoulders in striking against the side of the shaft when hoisted to the top. After about twenty minutes these two men were restored to consciousness by the vigorous work of several fellow-workmen.

Grover Todd, proprietor of the Todd undertaking establishment, and his brother, Robert Todd, an assistant, who had been summoned to assist in the rescue work, arrived soon afterward with gas masks. Robert Todd and Bert Carpenter were at once lowered into the shaft and after much difficulty succeeded in recovering Roland's apparently lifeless body which was found lying in water at the bottom of the shaft. After being brought on top, where he could get fresh air, he began to show signs of life in about 15 minutes. Bert Carpenter had become exhausted from his work in assisting to rescue Roland and was unable to resume the work. Grover Todd and Robert Todd were then lowered into the shaft and in about fifteen minutes were returned to the top, almost overcome, but they had been successful in recovering the body of young Messer. After an examination Messer's body, it was found that life was extinct. Several bones had been broken and his body was badly bruised and cut, indicating that he had been overcome a short distance below the top of the shaft, had fallen from the can and had been dashed to death.

Roland, it was decided, had not fallen from the can until a short distance from the bottom. He had no bones broken, but his condition was considered critical. He was taken to a local hospital where his condition was said to be somewhat improved today. The funeral of Virgil Messer will be held from the Little Mission church at Galena Kansas Heights, tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery at Galena Kansas.

Picher Oklahoma, Mar 11.--The funeral of Virgil Messer, 22 years old, who was killed at the Big Jim Mine Sunday morning as the result of being overcome by gas, was held from the Little Mission church at Galena Kansas this afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial was in the Oak Hill cemetery. The dead man was the son of Otto Messer, employed as ground foreman at the Big Jim Mine and who had a narrow escape from death in attempt to rescue his son. The young man fell from a can as he and a companion were being lowered into the mine shaft. The condition of Frank Roland, who was almost asphyxiated at the same time young Messer was killed, is reported by local hospital attendants as being somewhat involved.

The Kanok Metals Company was named defendant in a suit for $25,000 damages Thursday in district court by Mrs. Eileen Wagoner, administratrix of the estate of Virgil Messer, who was killed March 9, at the Big Jim Mine when he was overcome by gas and fell from the "can" to the bottom of the shaft. Messer was employed as a machine man by the Kanok Company at the time, according to the petition.