Memorial for Those Killed at Refinery

Lawrence County News

November 14, 1928

IN HONOR OF COMRADES

Men of Indian Erect Monument to Memory of Those Who Died in Service

A monument to the memory of the men who have been killed in the service of the Indian Refining Company was unveiled with impressive ceremonies Monday afternoon, Company L and members of the American Legion participating in the ceremonies.

Fully one thousand people were present on the company grounds when a beautiful silk flag was placed at half mast by members of the American Legion at two:30. James Marshall, a refinery employee, made a short talk to his fellow employees in which he stressed the importance of every man doing his full duty in the most careful manner, there by doing away with accidents due to carelessness. he spoke of the sacrifice made by his comrades to whom the monument was dedicated and said that there for this time henceforth the flag would be in the keeping of men of the power house and would be displayed everyday from 7a.m. to 4 p.m. except the day following an accident that cost the life of one or more employees. when it would be placed at half mast.

Miss Gertrude Hansman, nurse at the refinery, the unveiled the monument and Rev. Father Comfort made a short talk. Taps by a bugler followed and the flag was run to full mast.

The monument is of Barre granite the dimensions of the base being three feet six inches by six feet by twelve feet. The monument itself is two feet six inches by five feet six feet. On the face is a bronze tablet two feet six inches by three feet on which will be placed the names of all the employees who have met accidental death while in the employ of the company. There are forty-two names on the tablet twenty-seven of them being the victims of the explosion last August, the most disastrous that has happened in the history of the company. The names at present are printed on cardboard but will be cast in bronze and fastened to the tablet. In the rush to have the monument ready to unveil on Armistice Day it was impossible to complete the work but this will be done in a short time.

The first man who met death while employed by the company was Jacob Helfrich, a brick mason employed the heavy construction of 1910. He had been working on one of the large brick stacks and was transferred to another part of the yard. All engaged in his work he slipped and fell, sustaining serious injuries which resulted in his death on July 6, 1910. The only woman employee who has met accidental death was Miss Edna Vandament, who was fatally injured in an automobile accident while going to work in the office.

The following is a list of the employees of the company who have met with accidental death since the plan was established in Lawrenceville. The names are arranged alphabetically and not in the order in which they met death.

J. M. Allen Arlington Jackman

George Bruce Claude Johnson

J. L. Berry Harrie Johnson

P. A. Boughhan Clyde King

H. E. Cuykenball Forest Lawson

E. F. Childress Lee Lynch

Harold Carrithers A. H. McCarter

John Fitch C. M. Moore

H. H. Freese John Mortz

George Green C. E. Pace

Curtis Goff Alva Pickett

Walter Gullic Sylvester Plough

C. F. Gaddy Clay Ridenour

James Graves Arthur South

J. C. Goff Jobe Shoulders

Jacob Helfrich Elmer Seitzinger

E. L. Hinton Edgar Spangler

W. E. Hinton W. R. Spragg

I. B. Heath Edna Vandament

Lewis Hensley E. O. Walcott

O. F. Judy Guy Watts

(Editor note the missing name is that of John Mortz)