TOP SLIP KILLS
  S. C. ROBERTSON

Had Narrow Escape Several
Days Ago and Would Have
Left in Short Time to Spend
Vacation With Family

     S. C. Robertson, 37, of McComas, met a tragic death in the Pinnacle mine of the American Coal company early Wednesday afternoon when he was buried under two tons of slate as a result of a slip in the top. Louis Tiller, Robertson's helper, narrowly escaped being caught by the fall. One step closer to Robertson would have meant death to Tiller, according to reports of the accident received here yesterday.
     On Tuesday, Robertson had experienced a miraculous escape from death when the roof of the mine slipped and several tons of slate and earth came down within a few feet of him. Robertson was just completing his day's work Wednesday evening preparatory to leaving McComas yesterday for North Carolina where he was to join his family for vacation, when his tragic death occurred.
     He was employed as a machine runner and had been in the service of American Coal company for the past seventeen years. He was widely known in Rock district of Mercer county where he had lived for a number of years and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He was born and reared at Reedsville, N. C., and came to the West Virginia coalfields when just a youth. He had been a member of the Matoka lodge Knights of Pythias for a good many years and had taken an active part in the affairs of that fraternity.
     Besides his widow he is survived by three children, Wesley, 15, Sylvia, 13, and Agee, 6. His parents preceded him to the grave.
     Funeral arrangements had not been completed late yesterday.