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JOHN FITZWATER KILLED IN MINE.
John Fitzwater, a well known operator in the mining district here,
was found dead in the drift at No. 12 shaft, Leadwood, Sunday night [April 23, 1916].
Coroner English was notified and went out and held an inquest Monday morning.
From the evidence adduced at the inquest, it seems that Fitzwater was
engaged in doing some draft work; he was a drift contractor; he started to his work Sunday
morning about 8 o'clock and when he failed to return home that evening the family became
uneasy about him and began an investigation resulting in finding the body within 8 or 8
feet of the bottom of the shaft.
The body was badly mangled but from the trail of blood it was apparent
that the wounded man had crawled some 40 or 50 feet after being injured and before death
ensued.
The deceased was well and favorably known among mining people here,
having been in the district abou sixteen years. Burial was in the K. of P. cemetery of
which order deceased was an honored member.
[The St. Francois County Record, Elvins, Missouri, Friday, April 28, 1916, Page 1]