WESLEY HALE
1913-1954
2 RED JACKET MINERS KILLED
The bodies of a mine foreman and a loader operator were
recovered from a slate fall in the Junio Mines of the Red
Jacket Coal Corp., yesterday afternoon during a search that
extended over a nine hour period.
The first victim's body, that of WESLEY HALE, 41 of New Town,
was found around noon, but the body of Grant Henson, 56, of
Red Jacket, the foreman, was not recovered until about 5 p.m.
Inspectors from the State mines Department were expected to
investigate the cause of the slate fall today. Frank Davis,
superintendent of the Red Jacket mines, said the men were
killed when the roof apparently caved in about 8 a.m.
yesterday. Mine employes had to remove tons of slate and
debris for a distance of 25 to 30 feet before they reached the
body of Hale. Not until five hours later was Henson's body
recovered from beneath slate measuring 30 to 40 inches in
thickness. The bodies were located about 10 feet apart. Both
men had large families.
Hale had eight children and Henson six. Supt. Davis said
Henson had been employed as a foreman for the past 10 years.
The bodies are at the Chambers Funeral Home where Arrangements
were incomplete today. The funerals probably will take place
on Saturday, a funeral home attendant said. Names of immediate
survivors of the two men were not complete today.
Among Hale's survivors are his wife and the following
children: Loretta, Dorothy, Raymond, Earl, Arettta, Thelma
Lee, Douglas and Lois. Mr. Hale was born March 13, 1913 in
Maagoffin County, KY., a son of Tandy Hale, of Manton, KY.,
and the late America Bailey Hale. He was married to the
former Madgie Music, Feb 11, 1937, and was a member of the
Blue Spring Free Will Baptist Church at Ransom, KY.
Funeral services for Hale will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
at the Mouth of Rush Free Will Baptist Church.
Burial will follow in the Sycamore Cemetery at Nippa, KY.
Paintsville Herald
10-1954
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