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Bill Henderson Lost Life In Mine Accident
Was Instantly Killed by Falling Rock in Desloge Mine Saturday

    William Robert Henderson, of Desloge, an electric shovel operator at the National Mine of the Desloge division of the St. Joseph Lead Company, was struck on the back of the head by falling rock on last Saturday afternoon while at work and killed instantly. A coroner's inquest was held Saturday evening at the Caldwell Funeral Home in Flat River with a jury verdict that the deceased came to his death as a result of being struck by falling rock in a mine accident which occurred in the National end of the Desloge Mine.

    It was brought out at the inquest that Mr. Henderson and his partner, Clarence Dane, of Desloge were walking back to their machine after having telephoned for repairs following a breakdown, when they heard a noise of falling rock. Mr. Dane ran calling to Henderson to look out. Hearing no response from Henderson, he looked around and not seeing him went back and found him lying face down with the broken rock around him. Nearby workmen were called and hurried to his aid but he evidently had been killed instantly by the falling rock which was reported to be approximately two feet square by three inches thick.

    Bill Henderson, as he was better known by his many friends in the Lead Belt, was born on April 13, 1902, the son of James and Martha Briley Henderson, and died Sept. 26, 1942 at the age of 40 years, 5 months and 13 days.

    He was married to Miss Pearl Miller, of Wortham, on Dec. 23, 1922, and to this union three children were born, Robert Adolph, Billy Dale and an infant daughter, Mary Edalene, all of whom are at the parental home in Desloge.

    Fourteen years ago he was converted and joined the Gumbo Church of God and remained a faithful follower of Christ until his death.

    Since young manhood he had been employed in the Lead Mines where he had proved himself to be a dependable and excellent worker. He has left a praise worthy record as husband, father, son, friend and citizen.

The above article was contributed by Esther Carroll who is the great-great niece of Bill Henderson.  Below is a scan of the original newspaper article which Esther Carroll provided to us.

DESLOGE MAN KILLED IN MINE BY 
FALLING ROCK SATURDAY. 

      William Robert Henderson, 40, of Desloge was instantly killed at National Mine, Desloge, division of the St. Joseph Lead Co., about two o'clock Saturday afternoon when a piece of loose back fell on him from a distance of about 50 feet.

     Henderson and his partner, Clarence Bane [Dane ?], were operating an electric shovel when a tension rod on the shovel broke.  They had gone to an underground repair shop to report the breakdown and were walking back to their work when the accident occurred.

     At the coroner's inquest, conducted Saturday night at the Caldwell Funeral Home in Flat River by Prosecuting Attorney McIlrath and Justice of the Peace Rentfro, as acting coroner, Bane testified that he heard a noise and called to Henderson to run but the rock, weighing between 20 and 25 pounds, struck Henderson on the head.  He was dead when nearby workers responded to Bane's appeal for help.  Bane was not injured.  The coroner's jury returned the verdict that Henderson came to his death by falling rock in a mine accident at the National mine of the Desloge division.

     Henderson was an electric shovel operator and had been employed in the mines for the past nineteen years.

     William Robert Henderson, son of James and Martha Henderson, was born on April 13, 1902, and departed this life on September 26, 1942, aged 40 years 5 months 13 days.

     On December 23, 1922, he was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Miller of Wortham, who survives.  He also leaves three children:  Robert, Adolph and Billy Dale and Edalene; also his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Henderson of Fredericktown and five sisters:  Mrs. Virgil Harris of St. Louis; Mrs. Mamie Harris of Wortham; Mrs. Cora Clayton of Fredericktown and Mrs. Bertie Martin of Farmington, other relatives and friends.

     Bill, as he was called by all his friends, was converted in the Church of God at Gumbo and kept his faith in God.  He was a kind and loving father.  He began working for the Lead Company at an early age and was a dependable worker.

     Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at four o'clock at the Assembly of God Church in Flat River, conducted by the pastor, Rev. K. H. Lawson, assisted by Rev. C. B. Dees, pastor of the Desloge Free Will Baptist Church and Rev. K. H. Ladman, pastor of the Flat River Esther Nazarene Church.  Interment was in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, St. Francois, Caldwell Service.

LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri, October 2, 1942.

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