M. PITTS KILLED IN LEADWOOD MINES
~Old Employee of Company Victim Of Falling Back Monday~
[THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO,
Fri. Jan. 27, 1928]
M. Pitts, 44 years of age, was so seriously injured by falling rock in the Leadwood
mines of the St. Joseph Lead Company last Monday afternoon at one o'clock that he died in
Bonne Terre Hospital that same evening about nine. The injury which caused death was a
fracture at the base of the skull. The body was removed to Leadwood where it was prepared
for burial. Interment was in a cemetery near that city.
Coroner J. R. Horne was notified of the accident following death of Pitts and an
inquest returned a verdict of death due to falling rock.
The victim of this, the first fatal accident of 1928 in any of the local mines, was
killed by a fall of rock from the back, or roof, of the heading in which he was employed
as a driller. At this particular point the back had been condemned the Saturday preceding
the accident and efforts had been made to remove the loose rock. However, these efforts
had not been completely successful and Pitts was warned of the condition again Monday
morning and instructed by a foreman to bar down the loose rock. He brought down a portion
of the rock, and it is not known whether or not he thought he had removed all danger as he
was unable to make any statement following the accident. The main body of the rock fell
upon Pitts about one o'clock, while he was walking across the bluff upon which he was
working, striking him a glancing blow upon the side of the head. However the force of the
falling body of rock knocked him from the bluff and he rolled down an embankment some
twenty feet, with the loose rock rolling with him. It is thought that one of the rolling
stones struck him and caused his fatal injury.
Pitts was married and leaves his wife and six children. He had been employed by the St.
Joseph Lead Company at Leadwood for about twenty years and was considered one of their
best workmen. He was a contract driller.
*****************
Note: According to Leadwood Cemetery listing, David Monroe Pitts was born Jan.
18, 1884 and died January 23, 1928. He was son of Marion Reed. His wife was
Margaret E. (Reed), daughter of James A. & Rebecca (Cooksey) Reed. After death
of her husband, Margaret married Albert McFarland. According to Leadwood Cemetery
listing, Margaret was born Dec. 3, 1883 and died Apr. 13, 1964. |
