Stanley (known as Stany) Copinsky's grave in Chariton's Calvary Cemetery has been unmarked now for 106 years although not for lack of mourning. A brother and two sisters who lived elsewhere in Iowa were on hand for his funeral Mass during late January of 1914 and 300 or so of his fellow miners at Inland Coal Company No. 1, just northeast of town, marched to St. Mary's Church and attended as a group.
But Stany was young, age 22, and single and his family had priorities that must have seemed more pressing than investment in a tombstone. So the Carrara marble altar pieces placed at Calvary during 1965 by the Knights of Columbus will serve this morning instead.
The Chariton Herald reported the young man's death on Jan. 24, 1914, as follows in its edition of Thursday, Jan. 29:
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Stanley Copinsky, a young man who had been employed as driver at the Central mine only a few weeks, met instant death last Saturday about noon. He was making the last trip for the day, as the men quit work at noon on Saturday, when in some manner he fell from a loaded car --- one of a string of three --- and the first car passed over his body and crushed his neck, causing instant death. The remains were brought to Chariton and taken to the undertaking parlors of the Baylor Furniture Co.
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The Chariton Leader of Jan. 29 also reported the death and Henry Gittinger, editor and publisher, watched the funeral procession pass from his office window on North Main Street, then wrote:
It was an impressive procession which passed up Main street, by the Leader office, early Tuesday morning, on its way to attend the funeral of a fellow worker whose life had passed out owing to one of fate's accidents at the mine. There was a line on either side of the street, near three hundred in all, and their solemn march caused reflection.
There is perhaps no fraternal tie stronger than that which binds together the mine workers, forged through common dangers with a consideration and respect worthy of emulation. On occasions like this, the work of the day is suspended and all pay tribute by their presence. Creed and cult and national trait --- the things over which men differ and too often become estranged --- are cast aside and the common brotherhood predominates. Here is one that has prematurely fallen. Who can tell whose turn will come next in view of the hazards which beset the craft.
The remains of Stany Copinsky were taken to St. Mary's Catholic church where Rev. Father James McGillan held requiem, after which the mortal remains were sealed away in Calvary cemetery.
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The men gathered for Stany's funeral had been reminded again of their vulnerability on the Monday afternoon preceding his funeral when the second serious serious accident occurred at Inland No. 1 in under a week.
A young miner named Fred Plows, waiting at the bottom of the shaft, was crushed when a careless attendant up top sent the cage crashing down on top him without sounding the signal that operating protocol demanded.
Although critically injured, Plows eventually recovered --- and collected a settlement from the mining company after filing suit against it.
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Here's Mr. Copinsky's brief obituary, also from The Herald-Patriot of Jan. 29:
Stanley Copinsky was born in Poland on May 16th, 1891. When but an infant he came to the United States with his parents and located in Michigan. He was employed in Mystic for several years, coming from that place to Chariton early in January. This would have been his first full pay envelope. He was a member of the K. of P. lodge at Mystic. He was a quiet, unobtrusive young man, industrious and of good habits, and was well liked by his associates. He is survived by one brother and four sisters, Toney Copinsky of Chicago, Mrs. Ben Stonesh of Zookspur, Mrs. Carrie Mitchell of Foster, Mrs. Symiracki and Mrs. Bertha Cobacki of Strong, Texas. These sorrowing ones will have the sympathy of the community.
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