William Houston Scott Killed
Houston Scott, familiarly known as Hugh, was instantly
killed Wednesday morning [Nov. 13, 1940] as he began his day's work for St. Joseph Lead
Company at the Leadwood mine.
According to evidence given at the inquest, held by Coroner Diemer at
the Boyer Funeral Home in Leadwood later that day, Mr. Scott, a day shift foreman, was
starting his rounds underground when the tragedy occurred at about 7:30 o'clock.
While there were no actual eye witnesses, it is presumed that he was
walking down the track when a train of empty cars came along. He stepped aside to let the
train pass him and when the last car had gone by he stepped back on the tracks, neither
Mr. Scott nor the motorman knowing that the train had broken its couplings. The five empty
cars, running wild, just a few feet behind, ran over him, breaking his back and neck. The
force of the impact threw his hat into the first car.
Workmen that Mr. Scott had passed on his way down the track, seeing the
loose cars coming, attempted to outdistance the cars and warn him but the noise from the
longer train evidently prevented him from hearing their cries of warning.
Mr. Scott had a service record of 43 years with the St. Joseph Lead
Company having filled, some time during his employment, all underground jobs.
The coroner's jury returned the verdict that he came to his death by
being struck by four underground moving cars which had broken loose from a string of cars
which were attached to a motor.
William Houston Scott was 59 years 10 months 7 days of age at the time
of his death. He leaves his widow and ten children to mourn his death. They are Thelma
(Mrs. James) Roux of Flat River, Lillie, Armon, James, George, Juanita, Virginia, Sarah
Jane, Doris June and Iva Mae of Leadwood.
Funeral services will be held at the Leadwood Baptist Church conducted
by his pastor, Rev. W. C. Polson, at two o'clock today. Interment will be at Bonne Terre
with Masonic rites, Boyer Service.
LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. Nov. 15, 1940
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