| At 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, December 2d, Hiram Hood, president of
the Local Union 264, U.M.W. of A., was almost
instantly killed when at work cleaning up some
fallen slate at mine No. 17 of the Consolidated
Coal Company. Mr. Hood was a machine runner, but
owing to a shortage of cars there was no work
when the men reported on this day, and Mr. Hood
asked the pit boss for a days company work and
was sent to clean slate. When at work it was
realized that the roof was dangerous and the men
prepared to set some props to prevent a fall. Mr.
Hood had warned his fellow workman of the danger
and told him to step back while he cleared a
place for the placing of the foot of the prop,
and while stooped over to pick up some rubbish
from the floor, the roof slate fell and Mr. Hood
was crushed about the back and loins. Fellow
employees assisted in removing the fallen slate
and the man was sent to the top to be given
medical attention, but died just after the top
was reached, and was sent to an undertaking
establishment to be prepared for burial. Mr. Hood was aged 40 years,
2 months and 22 days, and was married, and a
father of five children, three girls and two
boys, the eldest child being about thirteen years
of age. He came to this city from Glen Carbon
about eight years ago and has worked at No. 17
mine since that time. For nearly all of the time
of his residence in this city he has been either
member of the pit committee for the union or
other officer of that organization. His family
resides at 913 Prospect street. Mr. Hood was also
a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose and last
spring completed a term as dictator of that lodge
in this city, and the funeral Tuesday afternoon
from his residence was conducted under the
auspices of the Moose order, and was attended by
members of that order, and members of the local
and the interment was at Glenwood cemetery. It
was one of the most extensively attended funerals
ever held in this city, Mr. Hood having been a
man who had a large circle of friends. The
bereaved family have the most sincere sympathy of
the community in the loss which they have been
called to bear.
(Photos
Contributed by Gene Beals)
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