Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-29
CARNEGIE AWARD
RECALLS TRAGEDY
HEROlSM OF HARRY BIGGS RE.
WARDED BY MEDAL AND FIN
ANCIAL HELP.
OTTUMWAN LENDS AID
Rev. w. n. Jones Brings Matter to
Ate ntion of Hero Fund Conn.,
mission-Tells Story Of
Happening.

} Because of the bravery of her for
mer husband who gave his life to save
: another, Mrs. Flora Nesmire of Sloan,
: Iowa, has been rendered by the
! Carnegie hero fund br~"Ze medal,
5000 to purchase household goods, $25
monthly death benefit for herself and
S. per month for each Of her children
| until they reach the age of 16 years.
. The action taken by the Carnegie COM
mission was brought about through
the efforts of Rev. William H. Jones,
;: 437 West Finley avenue who has just
been appraised Of the commissions
action in letter that is copy Of that
sent Mrs. Nesmire Mr.. Jones is as
sistant superintendent Of the Ameri-
= can Home Finding association Of o.
tumwa
Recalls the Happening.
| The story of the fatality that led to
the award being made by the Carnegie
commission is recalled by Rev. Mr..
Jones in the following:
Harry l.. Biggs.the first husband Of
Mrs. Nesmire, was engaged in COM
pany with Guy w. Dotson in sinking
shaft for a coal mine for A. Siemon
at Douds-Leando, June ~. 1909.
When the shaft had reached depth
Of some sixty feet, a strata of rock
was found. A hole was drilled In
this and charge Of dynamite placed
in it to break the stone SO that the
work might continue.
After firing the fuse the two men
retired from the shaft and remained
on the surface a reasonable length Of
time before returning and apparently
no explosion took place But as
afterward proved the charge had ex-
ploded forming cavity In the clay
under the stone which contained the
gases caused by the exploding dyna-
mite
When the men returned they found
no apparent signs of an explosion and
supposing the fuse failed they removed
the tamping from the drill hole. Upon
reaching the cavity, the gases were
| Immediately released and gushed
| forth into the shaft where the two
men worked.
Biggs Leaves Shaft.
Dotson told Biggs to go up first that
he would take the second chance.
Biggs did so and reached the top in
safety, but upon looking back saw his
partner, Dotson was overcome with
the fumes and was lying on the
ground.
! Mr.. Siemon tied small rope about
the body of Biggs who had determined
to go back to the rescue Of his fellow
worker The small rope was made
fast to the hosting cable so that Biggs
could be drawn UP if overcome.
Mr.. Biggs upon reaching Dotson
found him unable to get into the
bucket and removing the small rope
from about his body attempted to tie
it around Dotson. In trying to pass
the rope beneath the body of Dotson.
Biggs too was overcome and fell pros
trate across the body of his companion.
Both were asphyxiated by the gas be-
fore they could be removed from the
sh"- Biggs left a wife and three
children with no means of support,
Dotson left wife and one child
The following letter to Mrs. Mes
mire and received in duplicate by Rev.
w. H. Jones tells of the commissions
action:
Mrs Flora Nesmire,
! In care of Mr.. Daniel Hunter,
| H.. -. L,
Dear Madam:
Through the courtesy of the Rev.
erend William II. Jones, of 437 West
Finley avenue, Ottumwa, Iowa, the at
| tention of the Carnegie hero fund COM
mission has been called to an act per-
| formed by your former husband. Harry
| L. Biggs, by which, on June IL. 1909,
he attempted to save Guy w. Dotson
| from death by suffffocation in a mine
shaft, near Douds-Leando, Iowa, but
| in the performance of which act he
met death himself. His case, after a
thorough investigation, was considered
at meeting of the commission held
| this afternoon, and I have much
pleasure in informing you that, in
recognition of your husbands heroism
on that occasion, the commission
awarded you a bronze medal, and the
sum of 5000 to be applied to the pur-
chase of household goods, and death
benefits at the rate Of $25 month
during your life or until you remarry,
or until further notice, with IS a
month additional for each Of your
children under sixteen, while the child
is dependent upon you and until it
reaches the age of sixteen.
shall be obliged if you will kindly
advise me without delay, by letter
bearing your own signature, whether
or not you wish to accept the COM
missions awards. If your reply is
affirmative, the medal will be ordered,
and delivered TO you as soon as it has
been received from the manufacturers,
and 7 will send you the first payment
of the monthly allowance awarded you
promptly, and also the additional 5000
to be applied to the purchase of house
hold goods, if you signify your assent
to the conditions under which it is
granted.
Yours very truly,
| F. NJ. Wilmot, Manager.