Fillius, Lee L.

A prominent mining engineer, formerly connected with the lead and zinc industry in this area. He died Jan 9, 1944, age 62, when he was fatally burned Sunday morning after a butane gas explosion in a Harrison Arkansas hotel. Fillius had been in Arkansas for about three years where he was first active in mercury and management mining ... part of that state and later instrumental in lead and zinc development in the vicinity of Harrison, in northwest, Arkansas. He had formerly lived in Miami, Picher Oklahoma and Commerce Oklahoma. In a statement before he lost consciousness, Fillius said an explosion occurred when he turned on the water in his cabin and lit a cigaret. He was found sitting outside his cabin by a fellow guest who had been awakened by the blast. A graduate of the State Mining Institute of Golden, Colorado, Fillius was recognized as one of the nation's ablest mining engineers. During World War he was in charge of the entire operation of the Adams Mine or Anna Beaver Mine No. 2 located in the northeastern section of Ottawa county Oklahoma. He was also largely responsible for the successful operation of the Anne Beaver Mine No. 2, from which eight million dollars worth of ore was recovered from 1917 to 1929. He had been credited with erecting the first steel mill and steel hopper in this district. While associated with the mining industry in this district, Fillius developed many projects with R. H. Channing, Jr., nationally known mine operator who was a schoolmate and close friend of the late Goodrich, president of the Akron Ohio, rubber concern. Survivors include a son, George Fillius, of Climas Colorado, who will arrive in Harrison today to complete funeral arrangements, and a daughter, Annetta Fillius, living somewhere in the Canal Zone. Judge F. D. Adams, formerly associated with Fillius in district mine developments 25 years ago, said today: "Mr. Fillius was a great mining man, talented in any ways. Besides a very efficient mining engineer, he was a mathematical genius. An outstanding trait of his character was his sincere loyalty and generosity toward his fellow man."