* Obituary in Newton Press, March 3, 1903.
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DEATH IN A COAL MINE.

Bert Jourdan Killed by Falling Slate.
Life Crushed Out in an Instant.

Telephone Message for the 12:45 Edition.
KINSEL COAL MINE, Southeast of Newton, 1 ½ miles. – 12.30 P.M., Feb. 27. – Bert Jourdan was crushed to death at 11:45 a.m. today by the caving in of the roof of the Kinsel coal mine.
He is a young married man and leaves a wife and two children, and is a Modern Woodman.
The foregoing, telephoned to the PRESS at noon Friday and placed in type for the last half of our edition of that day, told as briefly as words could the central facts of a lamentable tragedy.
Mr. Jourdan was one of several men who were working in the Kinsel mine, digging coal, his companions being Andy Kinika, Will McQuillen, James Lytle, Charles Ward and Wm. Dodson, below, and Doug McCullough and Gabe Peelman above ground.
Those mining occupy separate rooms, each of which are 20 or more feet in width, from 2 to 3 feet high, and fashioned according to the "drift" to be followed; the roof is held up by coal pillars left near the center, and is also supported by props or posts set where needed.
Jourdan had been warned that his apartment was getting to be dangerous and needed propping, but not realizing the actual condition neglected to heed the admonition; a few minutes before 12 o'clock some of the workmen went to him and asked if he was ready to make a "shot;" he replied in the negative, saying he'd wait until evening; four of the miners thereupon fired their powder blasts and went to dinner, expecting him to join them; they had started to eat their meal, when McQuillen remarked that Bert hadn't come up, and that maybe something had happened to him; at that maybe something had happened to him; at that McQuillen and Kinika started down to see and discovered Jourdan's body under the weight of a section of slate. In a moment or so it was found that he was dead, an alarm was given accordingly.
Deceased was probably in a sitting posture at work when struck, a "bell pot" mineral, about 4 x 6 x 2 feet, shaped somewhat like a cone, and weighing a ton or more falling on his shoulders, crushing him down so that the life was smothered out instantly.
Elbert Jourdan was in his 26th year. He served in Co. B during the Spanish-American war in Cuba, and was an excellent citizen. Surviving him are his widow, formerly Miss Maud Musgrove; two daughters, both small, Irene and Opal; a father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. William L. Jourdan; and numerous other relatives.
The remains were laid to rest, Saturday, Rev. C.M. Chamblin conducting the religious services, and the Modern Woodmen, in which order he was a social member, officiating at the Interment.