G. W. LINCOLN KILLED AT DOE RUN SHAFT NO. 2
AT FLAT RIVER, MISSOURI.

    March 11, 1901, G. W. Lincoln, a miner engaged in drilling at the time of the accident, was killed by going back on shot.   The deceased was in the employ of the Doe Run Lead Company; a married man about 42 years of age and the father of three children.  Lincoln, it appears, with an associate, assisted in lighting a stope hole, while still another party lighted the second hole on the same stope.  These shots were prepared with the full knowledge of all concerned.  The men all started down the track to seek a place of safety, and the only way to account for Lincoln's death is, that he lost his way and turned round on his tracks and went right back to the point from which he started.  The following is a true copy of the testimony taken at the inquest over the body of George Lincoln at Flat River, March 12, 1901:

                                            (Signed)                                       J. H. ENGLISH, Coroner.

A. E. Upchurch, 20 years old. "I was acquainted with deceased, George Lincoln.  I have known him 12 months.  I was with him last night just before he was hurt.  He was in north end of No. 2 shaft, in north drift.   He was working beside me and when the hole was to be lit I was to fire one hole and Peter Yancy was to fire the other, both to be fired at once.  And he was holding light for me so if my light went out I would not be in dark.  And when ready to fire Parker Rundle asked Yancy if he was ready, and hollowed and asked me if I was ready, and both answered, 'Yes.'  He said 'Fire,' and for us to light them up.  We lit holes.  We started out, him in front of me 25 or 30 steps, then I turned a little to right of him and went to an incline engine and never saw him after I passed him until he was found hurt.  It was four or five minutes from the time I left him until he was found hurt.  The blast that killed him was from hole the other man fired, they were about 50 to 60 steps apart.  He started in opposite direction --- same way I did -- but must have changed course and must have passed back by hole where  I had lit to have gotten to where he was when found.  We had been at work about 2-1/2 hours when this happened.  I always thought that every man was supposed to look out for himself.   There is a general alarm always given by hollowing 'fire' and that alarm was given last night, and every body is supposed to get out of the way.  There were about 11 men working in the place where shots were fired. "
                                                                                        "A. E. UPCHURCH."

    Subscribed and sworn to before me this 12th day of March, 1901.

                                                                                        J. H. ENGLISH, Coroner St. Francois Co.

    Parker Rundle, 38 years old, was in the heading with Mr. Lincoln when he was hurt.  "I was down below pillow when he was hurt.  I gave the alarm to fire.  I saw Mr. Lincoln was with Mr. Upchurch and supposed he had come out with him.  I called 'fire' twice, and asked Mr. Yancy if he was ready, and asked Mr. Upchurch same question, and I saw Mr. Lincoln with Mr. Upchurch, and then everything got quiet.  I told them to light them up.  I have no idea why he changed his course as he did.  He must have changed course considerably or he could not have got into shots.  He was bound to have turned to right to have got where he did."

                                                                                        "PARKER RUNDEL"

    Subscribed and sworn to before me this 12th of March, 1901. 

                                                                                        J. H. ENGLISH, Coroner of St. Francois Co.     

       Peter Jensen, 22 years old.  "I am a miner.   I am an employee of the Doe Run Lead Co.  I knew Mr. Lincoln.  I was at work in mine last night when he was hurt about half past nine.  I was about 25 yards from him at time.  I cannot tell anything about how this happened.  I did not see him after going to work at 7 o'clock.  The first I knew was to hear him groan.   I went to him, Fred Rickus was with me when I got to him, he probably lived about three quarters of an hour or possibly an hour.  He did not make any statement after I got to him.  He did not die until after reaching top of ground.  He must have been 20 or 30 feet from where shot fired.  He was up against bluff; looked as if he had been blowed there by force of blast."

                                                                                        "PETER JENSEN."

    Subscribed and sworn before me this 12th day of March, 1901.

                                                                                       J. H. ENGLISH, Coroner of St. Francois Co.

    Albert Gasser, 30 years old.  "I was at work in mines when Mr. Lincoln was hurt.  I was in crowd when alarm was given.   Mr. Lincoln was one of four of us.  When Mr. Rundle gave alarm and asked if ready, and both men said 'Yes' and Parker said 'Light them up,' and Mr. Lincoln said 'Fire and gone.'  We all started on track, I was third last man.  I was down below switch.  I took a certain stop and then I saw one light go to engine and one light go to heading and hollowed, "Men, come out [of] there, they are firing up there,' and started up there and then thought it would not do for me to go that way, and stopped and went back, and told men I thought some one was going to get hurt, because I knew he would not have time to get out of the way in this direction.  The way he started I knew he would not have time to get out, so I did not try to follow him.  He must have known the holes where he passed was loaded.  I think he aimed to get over the bluff.   If he had been quick enough, or holes had not fired so quickly, he could have gotten out safe.

                                                                                        "ALBERT GASSER."

    Subscribed and sworn before me this 12th day of March, 1901.

                                                                                        J. H. ENGLISH, Coroner of St. Francois Co.

State of Missouri,
County of St. Francois.

    We, the jury, having been duly sworn and affirmed by J. T. English, coroner of St. Francois county, Mo., diligently to inquire and due presentment make in what manner and by whom George Lincoln, whose body was found at shaft No. 2, at Flat River, Mo., on the 11th day of March, 1901, came to his death, after hearing the evidence, and upon full inquiry concerning the facts and a careful examination of the body, do find that deceased came to his death by a blast firing in Doe Run Shaft No. 2.

                                                                                        W. J. LEVEL, Foreman,
                                                                                        G. W. CLOUD,
                                                                                        J. B. CUNNINGHAM,
                                                                                        H. H. PELL,
                                                                                        W. BRAHAM.

    The above is a true copy of verdict of jury in case of George Lincoln.

                                                                                        J. H. ENGLISH, Coroner.

[Taken from the 15th Annual Report of the Bureau of Mines and Mine Inspection of the State of Missouri for Year Ending December 31, 1901.]

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