Wolfenbarger, Al

Picher Oklahoma, Aug 10. Al Wolfenbarger, an employee in Picher Mine No. 7, was seriously, possibly fatally injured at 11:30 this morning, while at work breaking boulders in the mine which is located within the town limits of Picher. In doing this work a large "jack" hammer is used and in his work he struck a boulder which contained a small unexploded powder charge. The charge had been placed in the boulder for the purpose of breaking up the rock, ready for the crushers, but for some reason it had not discharged and the workmen were not aware of the fact. Wolfenbarger may lose his eyesight and his left leg was broken and badly injured otherwise as a result. His condition was stated as being very critical. The injured man was taken to the Picher hospital, Picher Oklahoma. Wolfenbarger, who lives in Picher Oklahoma, is about 33 years of age and has a wife and one child. Another brother, Pete Wolfenbarger works in the same mine and lives at Picher.

Picher Oklahoma, Aug. 11. Al Wolfenbarger died at the Picher hospital at 12:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon from injuries received in a powder explosion while working at the Eagle Picher Mine No. 7 at 11:30 o'clock the same day. Wolfenbarger was operating a jack hammer and was engaged in "popping" boulders when he drilled into a loaded hole. He is survived by a wife and child and a brother, Pete Wolfenbarger, all of Picher; his mother and two sisters, who reside in Aurora Missouri . The body was taken to the morgue of the Todd undertaking company, of Picher, to await funeral arrangements.

The Eagle-Picher Lead Company was named as defendants Monday in a damage suit for $10,000 filed by James Wolfinbarger, son of Al Wolfinbarger, who was killed in a mine near Picher Oklahoma. According to the petition, on August 10, Al Wolfinbarger was employed as a jack-hammer man and was cutting into a boulder when his chisel struck a large stick of dynamite, exploding it. He died within an hour following the explosion. The petition states that James Wolfinbarger is a cripple and is destitute without the aid of his father. Note: The name Wolfenbarger / Wolfinbarger is spelled two different ways in the articles.