Osborne, Charles G.

Last Fatal Underground Accident in the Tri-state Mining Field

Picher Oklahoma. a Texas man was killed Wednesday morning when he was struck on the head by a falling rock while inspecting the old Brewster Mine, one and one-half miles northeast of Picher. The victim was Charles G. Osborne, 76, of Corpus Christi, Texas. Osborne, a former resident of Miami, and his brother, William Osborne of St. Louis, had purchased the mine near the Kansas border recently and planned to prepare it for operation. Investigating officers said Osborne was struck on the head by a rock about the size of a baseball. The rock fell out of the roof of the mine. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Miami Oklahoma Baptist hospital. Osborne was a resident of Miami several years, moving to Texas about four years ago. He was employed by the Commerce Mining and Royalty Company for more than 25 years. Survivors include a son, Joe Osborne, Corpus Christi Texas, and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be announced by the Jim Thomas funeral home of Miami.

Last rites for Charles G. Osborne, 76, of Corpus Christi, formerly of Miami, will be held at 10 am Saturday in the Jim Thomas funeral home chapel of Miami with Dr. Russell Martin of the First Christian church officiating. Burial will be in the Lowell Kansas cemetery. Mrs. Osborne was buried there in May 1966. Mr. Osborne, a mine operator in the area many years, was killed Wednesday by a falling slab of rock in the old Brewster Mine, 1 northeast of Picher Oklahoma. Nephews will be pallbearers. Note: In three different articles the size of the rock is described as "the size of a baseball," "a small rock no larger than a half-dollar" and "a falling slab of rock."

"To the old timer, mining was more than a job or a way of life, it was a compulsion. Once acclimated to the underground, he was hooked for life or til death, sometimes underground." Charles G. Osborne, age 76 had worked in the mines since a teenager, in fact was one of the first to be employed in the Tri-State Mining district - and the last one killed underground in the field. Osborne went from a "pick and shovel" operator to working for the Commerce Royalty, then Eagle Picher as a mining superintendent.

During the 50's most of the big mines had closed, and slowly the mines flooded forcing small operators to close. Osborne, who had moved to Texas became consumed with the desire to return to his beloved mining. In 1967 he leased the Brewster Mine at Zincville Oklahoma, which was not part of the flooded area. To those who questioned his determination, he said, "I've spent my life underground. I can't think of a better place to die." As he and his brother went underground to check out the mine, and make plans to set up a mining operation, he removed his hard hat for a few minutes and a small rock no larger than a half dollar fell from the roof of the mine and struck him killing him instantly.