Wilbur Edmond McClune 1919-1940

MCCLUNE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/27/2014 at 00:47:19

Fall in Bin Kills Miner
Winnemucca, Dec. 31 – Wilbur McClune, unmarried employee of the Getchell mine 43 miles northeast of here, died today from injuries received when he fell into an ore bill in the 1000-ton mill.

He was completely buried under huge boulders of ore in the bin. Rescue workers worked for some time to recover his body. He was taken out at 10:30 a.m. and died at noon.

Deputy Mine Inspector Art Bernard left Ely enroute to the mine to investigate the accident. Coroner Abel was conducting an inquest. It was the second fatality at the Getchell mine since the mine opened in 1938.

Details of McClune’s life were not available here. (Nevada State Journal, Reno, NV, January 1, 1941)

Former All-Statre Grid Star Killed
Shenandoah, Ia., Jan. 2 – Word was received here Wednesday that Wilbur McClune, 21, of Shenandoah, all-state high school football guard in 1938, was killed in a New Year’s day gold mine accident at Redhouse, Nev., where he was employed.

Wilbur was the son of Mrs. Ethel McClune of Shenandoah. Three brothers and a sister also survive. (Atlantic News Telegraph, Atlantic, IA, January 2, 1941)

Athlete Who Died, Former Dolliver Boy
Wilbur McClune, former Shenandoah high school football and track ace, who died Dec. 31 in a mill accident at a gold mine near Red House, Nev., was born on a farm near Dolliver, June 14, 1919. McClune was given a place in the lines on the Iowa Daily Press association’s second all-state team as well as Jack North’s second all-state team. McClune played guard on offense and tackle on defense. He played under Wayne “Sugar” Hill, at present coach at Boone high school.

According to dispatches, McClune fell into an ore bin at the mill where gold is extracted from the ore and was crushed by tons of the ore. He is survived by his mother, three brothers, Harland, Charles, and Audrey, and a sister, Melba. His father died 18 years ago [institutionalized at Cherokee; died in 1956]. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 6, 1941)

Wilbur McClune
Word has been received here recently of the tragic death of Wilbur McClue [McClune], son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry McClune who lived for many years on the farm northwest of Dolliver now owned by George Holl.

Since leaving here the family has lived in Shenandoah. Wilber was graduated from the Shenandoah high school with the class of 1938 and was an outstanding football and track man.

Since his graduation he had been employed at Redhouse, Nev., and his death resulted when he fell into a mill where the gold is extracted from the ore. He was crushed by tons of the ore. His brother Charles was also employed at the same mine.

Surviving are his parents, brothers, Harlan, Audrey and Charles and a sister Melba who is a student at Peru, Nebraska State Teachers’ College. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, January 21, 1941)

Death of Wilbur Edward [Edmond] McClune

Deceased came to his death on December 31, 1940. Deputy A. E. Bernard investigated and reported as follows:

“On December 31, 1940, I made an investigation into the accident at the Getchell mine, Humboldt County, which resulted in the death of WILBUR EDWARD McCLUNE, 21 years old, single, native of Oliver [Dolliver], Emmet County, State of Iowa.

“I made a close, careful study of the situation and questioned the following witnesses: Fred Marshall Stanley, man who was supposed to be working with him at the time; Fred Wise, the Superintendent; Roger Del Vin Lynn, mill foreman; Thomas S. Gillespie, crusher foreman; Bartow White Van Voorhis, ball mill operator; and Lynn S. Felder, doctor. I then came to the following conclusions:

“I find the man died from the results of being buried in No. 2 tank bin. The man was sent into the bin to pick down the muck which was hanging up due to the cold, wet, weather. While picking down, the muck evidently slid down from under his foot, causing him to be buried and to die from suffocation. I came to the conclusion that the man had been buried at least twenty minutes before he was discovered missing, and that it took them at least half an hour to uncover him. When he was found he was given artificial respiration, and the doctor also gave him a shot of adrenolin (sic), but to no avail. According to the doctor’s testimony the man was dead when he was taken from the muck; the doctor pronounced death due to suffocation.

“It is my honest opinion that this accident could have been prevented if the company had had proper safety appliances on the job and had taken sufficient safety precautions, namely, a rope of sufficient length to be tied from a centrally located beam in either of the tanks that the man could tie around his waist and so work freely without danger, or that a rope be placed with a safety belt where the man could have tied it around his waist, and if the man had had safety instructions not to go in there without following the above instructions, and if the man had had a helper to call for help when the cave-in occurred, and if the management had used more discretion in sending a man in there, namely, an experienced man.”

Annual Report of the State Inspector of Mines
By Nevada. Office of the State Inspector of Mines
For the Period July 1, 1940, to June 30, 1942, Inclusive
Matt Murphy, State Inspector of Mines