A crew of miners pose for a photograph taken in front of one of the large support pillars that held up the roof of the mine.

Old News

From the 3rd floor of the Webb City Public Library

Newspaper reports the dangerous side of mining in 1915

Webb City Area Genealogical Society

The American Davey Mine No. 3 was owned by the American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co. It was located outside of Carterville and was also known as the Big Shaft Mine.

Webb City Register, Sept. 29, 1915

Ansle Caps and F. C. Blankenship were both seriously injured by a squib shot at the American Davey Mine No. 3. The two men were firing the squib shots and thought that they had all exploded when they walked back into the drift in time to catch the full force of the explosion.  

Both men were frightfully burned and lacerated. Miners who assisted in taking the wounded men from the tub, expressed the opinion that Caps would lose one, if not both legs.

Blankenship was burned on the right hip, and both men were badly burned about the hands and arms.  They were brought to Jane Chinn Hospital in the ambulance of the Webb City Undertaking Company.  

Caps had only been in the district a short time, boarding at the Davey Hotel, but had recently sent for his wife and two little children two weeks before.

A group of miners in one of the shafts at American Davies Mine No. 3.

Blacksmith shop at the American Davies No. 3, 220 feet underground. These men would have made or repaired tools on site to help keep the mine operating. Notice the electric lights hanging from the ceiling.

Mill crew repairing the pond dam at the American Davey No. 3. Doc Riggs on the left, others unknown. Notice the Webb City High School sweater that one young man is wearing. 

Photo from the Harry Hood collection, courtesy of Missouri Southern State University

 

Sentinel bound volumes are now in the Genealogy Room

The WCAGS has accepted ownership of the complete collection of bound volumes of the Webb City Sentinel, from 1983 (after the fire) until the final issue on Dec. 30, 2020.

Those issues can also be viewed on microfilm, along with much older issues.

Webb City Area Genealogical Society

WCAGS members staff the Genealogy Room on the third floor of the Webb City Public Library. Current hours are noon to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Geadalogy Room.

Everything you want to know about Jasper County Missouri Schools is available at a site compiled by Webb City Area Genealogical Society member Kathy Sidenstricker.