Mining Accident - December 26, 1932

PERRY

Posted By: Bill Hansen (email)
Date: 7/15/2006 at 12:36:48

From the Ottumwa Courier dated December 27, 1932

ELDON MINER IS KILLED BY FALL OF DIRT

Eldon - Charles Perry, 61 years old, died Monday afternoon of injuries received when a one-ton chunk of frozen dirt rolled down a 14-foot bank and pinned him against machinery at the George Gonterman strip coal mine three-fourths mile north of Eldon about 1:30 p.m. He was cleanup man shoveling up loose dirt left by the gasoline shovel and was working in front of the shovel when the accident occurred witnesses said.

A coroner's jury composed of J.A. Baldwin, J.C. Henderson and Charles Stroud, impaneled about 3 p.m. Monday at the Campbell funeral home in Eldon, declared after hearing testimony of the five men who were at the mine that, "Charles Perry suffered a fractured left leg, a compound fracture of the left hip and internal injuries all caused by a sudden and unawares fall of a frozen chunk of dirt weighing about one ton while he was doing his routine duties at the George Gonterman coal mine."

Dr. L.R. Wellstead, county coroner, said today no cause for the fall of the dirt, except the effects of frost, could be discovered. The chunk fell silently, as the first notice the shovel operator had of the accident, as he worked about three feet from Perry, was a sudden groan from Perry. Two or three men rolled the chunk away from Perry and rushed him to his home. He died on the way.

Perry lived in Eldon at the home of his brother-in-law, operator of the mine. He was experienced in mine work. Coroner Wellstead said. He is survived by his sisters, Mrs. John Green of Ottumwa, Mrs. George Gonterman of Eldon, Mrs. Clara Campbell of Belgrade, Minn., and Mrs. George Black of Eldon. Funeral arrangements were in charge of the Campbell funeral home. Burial was in the Eldon Cemetery.