Virgil Poncin Injured in Steam Shovel Blast

Explosion In Mine, James Ball Is Killed

Accident Occurred Near Windsor Early This Morning

James Ball, about 40 years old, a fireman on a shovel at Spangler and Parks coal mine, near Windsor, was fatally injured shortly after 5 o’clock this morning when a boiler on the shovel exploded. Ball died, in Sedalia, enroute to the Bothwell hospital, in the Huston ambulance, from Windsor.

According to information received here the shovel, operated by its crew was in a strip mine which is located in Johnson county, three miles west, and a mile north of Windsor. On the shovel at the time of the accident were Ball and Virgil Poncin, engineer.

Ball was blown from the machine, receiving burns, cuts on his head and his right leg was fractured in three places. He was taken in a car from the mine to Windsor, and from there was brought to Sedalia in the ambulance accompanies by Dr. H. M. Wall.

Poncin Injured Slightly

Engineer Poncin received slight injuries. Other members of the shovel crew there at the time not injured are Theodore Frail, oiler, Hubert Lincoln, teamster and E. J. Sierks, ground man.

E. L. Spangler, 1313 West Broadway, is one of the owners of the mine, and was called from his home to the scene. Although he could not be reached for a statement, it was understood that inspectors had arrived there to make an examination and conduct and investigation. It was said the boiler had been examined only a short time ago by a boiler inspector and check as “O. K.”.

Ball’s body was taken to the Huston funeral home in Windsor. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon.

Mr. Ball was a widower, his wife having preceded him in death several years ago.

Surviving is a son, Dorman Ball, and his mother, Mrs. Molly Ball with whom they made their home. A sister also survives.

SEDALIA, Mo., May 27 (AP).— James Ball was fatally injured by the explosion of a steam shovel’s boiler yesterday at a strip mine near Windsor, Mo. Virgil Poncin suffered minor injuries.

BOILER EXPLOSION AT STEAM SHOVEL TAKES LIFE OF JAMES BALL

Terrific Explosion Sent Huge Boiler High Into Air and Out Of Pit—Others Escape Injury

An explosion of the boiler at the Spangler and Parks shovel early Wednesday morning, too the life of James Ball, fireman. Virgil Poncin, engineer, escaped with only a few minor injuries. He was the only other member of the crew on the shovel at the tragic moment. Ball died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital at Sedalia.
The explosion of astounding force, occurred at about 5:15 in the morning without the slightest warning as the crew went about their regular routine work of running the shovel. The third member of the shovel crew, Theodore Frala, oiler, had gone to the loader some distance from the shovel, to get it ready for the next shift, which was due in an hour or so. Hubert Lincoln, teamster, and E. J. Siercks, groundman, were also near the loader when the explosion came.
The force of the explosion blew the boiler, weighing several tons over the high wall (the normal level of the ground) which was about 45 feet above the bottom of the pit, and it dropped in the field about 50 feet from the edge of the pit.
Mr. Poncin, who was at his seat at the front of the shovel and with his back to the engine and boiler, said that he heard a terrific noise and things began to fall about him. He had the dipper up at the time with a load of dirt and realized that it had to be gotten down to prevent further damage. He then called to Ball but received no reply.
With the help of the other crewmen, Ball was located in the “cellar,” or a place below the floor of the shovel, where he had been blown by the force of the explosion. After getting him out, the men started to town with the injured man, while Poncin ran to the office and called a doctors and an ambulance to meet the car which had started to town.
Ball died in the ambulance as a result of burns, cuts and other injuries he had received. He is survived by a son, Dorman, and his mother, Mrs. Molly Ball, with whom they made their home.
Funeral services will be held this (Thursday) afternoon.