"SECOND FATAL MINE ACCIDENT FOR THE WEEK
FRANK THOMAS, PROMINENT MINER, IS KILLED BY FALL OF ROCK
The second fatal mine accident in the Danville district this week occurred Thursday morning when Frank Thomas, 723 Commercial street, a veteran miner, and for many years prominent in union labor and lodge circles at Westville, was crushed to death by a fall of rock. The accident occurred in the Peabody mine, southwest of Westville, shortly after 11 o'clock. It was similar in many respects to the accident that cost the life of Charles J. Stuebe, a veteran miner of Danville, at the Kelly No. 4 mine, of the United States Fuel Company, Wednesday morning.
Chest Was Crushed
Thomas was alone at the time the rock, weighing in the neighborhood of one and one-half ton, fell and crushed him. He was unconscious and barely breathing when fellow miners, attracted to the room by the noise made by the rock reached him, and expired as he was being removed from the mine. The unfortunate man's chest was crushed, there were a number of cuts and abrasions on his face and head, and it is believed his back was broken.
Lawrence Pakearz, of Westville, the dead man's "buddy," had just stepped out of the room when the rock dropped from the roof. Pakearz stated after the accident that the roof had been sounded only a short time before and was found to be solid and apparently in good condition. In the accident that resulted in the death of Stuebe, Wednesday morning, the victim's "buddy" had just left the room when the rock fell.
Body Taken Home
The body of Mr. Thomas was removed from the mine to the Callahan and Callahan undertaking establishment and prepared for burial, and last evening was taken to the home, where the funeral will be held at an hour to be announced later. In the absence of Coroner John D. Cole, who was in Springfield yesterday on business in connection with the state armory, Deputy Coroner, John Gilmore, was notified, but made no arrangements for the inquest, as the coroner was expected home last night.
Former Westvillean
The Thomas family removed to this city only a few months ago from Westville, where the deceased had lived for many years. He was 54 years old, and had been a coal miner for the past 37 years.
The deceased was prominent in union labor circles at Westville for many years, and served several terms as secretary of the Trades and Labor Council. He was an odd Fellow, a Pythian and a Red Man, and was prominent in these lodges at Westville for a number of years.
The widow and four children survive him. The latter are Reuben, who recently received his discharge from the United States navy, and now resides at home; Mrs. Odessa Sandlin, wife of Hobart Sandlin, of Catlin; Mrs. Mae Cowan, of Westville; and William, living at home.
Were Close Friends
Mr. Thomas was a close friend of Charles Stuebe, who was killed by a fall of rock Wednesday morning, and had worked in the same mines with the latter. Stuebe had been a coal miner for 41 years and Thomas had mined coal for 37 years." - Danville Morning Press, October 28, 1921 (Obituary provided by Jeff Thomas)
FRANK THOMAS, PROMINENT MINER, IS KILLED BY FALL OF ROCK
The second fatal mine accident in the Danville district this week occurred Thursday morning when Frank Thomas, 723 Commercial street, a veteran miner, and for many years prominent in union labor and lodge circles at Westville, was crushed to death by a fall of rock. The accident occurred in the Peabody mine, southwest of Westville, shortly after 11 o'clock. It was similar in many respects to the accident that cost the life of Charles J. Stuebe, a veteran miner of Danville, at the Kelly No. 4 mine, of the United States Fuel Company, Wednesday morning.
Chest Was Crushed
Thomas was alone at the time the rock, weighing in the neighborhood of one and one-half ton, fell and crushed him. He was unconscious and barely breathing when fellow miners, attracted to the room by the noise made by the rock reached him, and expired as he was being removed from the mine. The unfortunate man's chest was crushed, there were a number of cuts and abrasions on his face and head, and it is believed his back was broken.
Lawrence Pakearz, of Westville, the dead man's "buddy," had just stepped out of the room when the rock dropped from the roof. Pakearz stated after the accident that the roof had been sounded only a short time before and was found to be solid and apparently in good condition. In the accident that resulted in the death of Stuebe, Wednesday morning, the victim's "buddy" had just left the room when the rock fell.
Body Taken Home
The body of Mr. Thomas was removed from the mine to the Callahan and Callahan undertaking establishment and prepared for burial, and last evening was taken to the home, where the funeral will be held at an hour to be announced later. In the absence of Coroner John D. Cole, who was in Springfield yesterday on business in connection with the state armory, Deputy Coroner, John Gilmore, was notified, but made no arrangements for the inquest, as the coroner was expected home last night.
Former Westvillean
The Thomas family removed to this city only a few months ago from Westville, where the deceased had lived for many years. He was 54 years old, and had been a coal miner for the past 37 years.
The deceased was prominent in union labor circles at Westville for many years, and served several terms as secretary of the Trades and Labor Council. He was an odd Fellow, a Pythian and a Red Man, and was prominent in these lodges at Westville for a number of years.
The widow and four children survive him. The latter are Reuben, who recently received his discharge from the United States navy, and now resides at home; Mrs. Odessa Sandlin, wife of Hobart Sandlin, of Catlin; Mrs. Mae Cowan, of Westville; and William, living at home.
Were Close Friends
Mr. Thomas was a close friend of Charles Stuebe, who was killed by a fall of rock Wednesday morning, and had worked in the same mines with the latter. Stuebe had been a coal miner for 41 years and Thomas had mined coal for 37 years." - Danville Morning Press, October 28, 1921 (Obituary provided by Jeff Thomas)
"SECOND FATAL MINE ACCIDENT FOR THE WEEK
FRANK THOMAS, PROMINENT MINER, IS KILLED BY FALL OF ROCK
The second fatal mine accident in the Danville district this week occurred Thursday morning when Frank Thomas, 723 Commercial street, a veteran miner, and for many years prominent in union labor and lodge circles at Westville, was crushed to death by a fall of rock. The accident occurred in the Peabody mine, southwest of Westville, shortly after 11 o'clock. It was similar in many respects to the accident that cost the life of Charles J. Stuebe, a veteran miner of Danville, at the Kelly No. 4 mine, of the United States Fuel Company, Wednesday morning.
Chest Was Crushed
Thomas was alone at the time the rock, weighing in the neighborhood of one and one-half ton, fell and crushed him. He was unconscious and barely breathing when fellow miners, attracted to the room by the noise made by the rock reached him, and expired as he was being removed from the mine. The unfortunate man's chest was crushed, there were a number of cuts and abrasions on his face and head, and it is believed his back was broken.
Lawrence Pakearz, of Westville, the dead man's "buddy," had just stepped out of the room when the rock dropped from the roof. Pakearz stated after the accident that the roof had been sounded only a short time before and was found to be solid and apparently in good condition. In the accident that resulted in the death of Stuebe, Wednesday morning, the victim's "buddy" had just left the room when the rock fell.
Body Taken Home
The body of Mr. Thomas was removed from the mine to the Callahan and Callahan undertaking establishment and prepared for burial, and last evening was taken to the home, where the funeral will be held at an hour to be announced later. In the absence of Coroner John D. Cole, who was in Springfield yesterday on business in connection with the state armory, Deputy Coroner, John Gilmore, was notified, but made no arrangements for the inquest, as the coroner was expected home last night.
Former Westvillean
The Thomas family removed to this city only a few months ago from Westville, where the deceased had lived for many years. He was 54 years old, and had been a coal miner for the past 37 years.
The deceased was prominent in union labor circles at Westville for many years, and served several terms as secretary of the Trades and Labor Council. He was an odd Fellow, a Pythian and a Red Man, and was prominent in these lodges at Westville for a number of years.
The widow and four children survive him. The latter are Reuben, who recently received his discharge from the United States navy, and now resides at home; Mrs. Odessa Sandlin, wife of Hobart Sandlin, of Catlin; Mrs. Mae Cowan, of Westville; and William, living at home.
Were Close Friends
Mr. Thomas was a close friend of Charles Stuebe, who was killed by a fall of rock Wednesday morning, and had worked in the same mines with the latter. Stuebe had been a coal miner for 41 years and Thomas had mined coal for 37 years." - Danville Morning Press, October 28, 1921 (Obituary provided by Jeff Thomas)
FRANK THOMAS, PROMINENT MINER, IS KILLED BY FALL OF ROCK
The second fatal mine accident in the Danville district this week occurred Thursday morning when Frank Thomas, 723 Commercial street, a veteran miner, and for many years prominent in union labor and lodge circles at Westville, was crushed to death by a fall of rock. The accident occurred in the Peabody mine, southwest of Westville, shortly after 11 o'clock. It was similar in many respects to the accident that cost the life of Charles J. Stuebe, a veteran miner of Danville, at the Kelly No. 4 mine, of the United States Fuel Company, Wednesday morning.
Chest Was Crushed
Thomas was alone at the time the rock, weighing in the neighborhood of one and one-half ton, fell and crushed him. He was unconscious and barely breathing when fellow miners, attracted to the room by the noise made by the rock reached him, and expired as he was being removed from the mine. The unfortunate man's chest was crushed, there were a number of cuts and abrasions on his face and head, and it is believed his back was broken.
Lawrence Pakearz, of Westville, the dead man's "buddy," had just stepped out of the room when the rock dropped from the roof. Pakearz stated after the accident that the roof had been sounded only a short time before and was found to be solid and apparently in good condition. In the accident that resulted in the death of Stuebe, Wednesday morning, the victim's "buddy" had just left the room when the rock fell.
Body Taken Home
The body of Mr. Thomas was removed from the mine to the Callahan and Callahan undertaking establishment and prepared for burial, and last evening was taken to the home, where the funeral will be held at an hour to be announced later. In the absence of Coroner John D. Cole, who was in Springfield yesterday on business in connection with the state armory, Deputy Coroner, John Gilmore, was notified, but made no arrangements for the inquest, as the coroner was expected home last night.
Former Westvillean
The Thomas family removed to this city only a few months ago from Westville, where the deceased had lived for many years. He was 54 years old, and had been a coal miner for the past 37 years.
The deceased was prominent in union labor circles at Westville for many years, and served several terms as secretary of the Trades and Labor Council. He was an odd Fellow, a Pythian and a Red Man, and was prominent in these lodges at Westville for a number of years.
The widow and four children survive him. The latter are Reuben, who recently received his discharge from the United States navy, and now resides at home; Mrs. Odessa Sandlin, wife of Hobart Sandlin, of Catlin; Mrs. Mae Cowan, of Westville; and William, living at home.
Were Close Friends
Mr. Thomas was a close friend of Charles Stuebe, who was killed by a fall of rock Wednesday morning, and had worked in the same mines with the latter. Stuebe had been a coal miner for 41 years and Thomas had mined coal for 37 years." - Danville Morning Press, October 28, 1921 (Obituary provided by Jeff Thomas)
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