S.L. Contractor Dies in Mishap at Gravel Pit
Efforts Prove Futile to Save Man Buried in Wall Collapse
Despite frantic efforts to save him, Charles W. Atkinson, 49, Salt Lake City general contractor, succumbed at 8:30 p.m Thursday to injuries and shock received when he was buried under several feet of gravel by the collapse of a gravel pit wall at 7:45 p.m.
With his son-in-law, Lowell Jennings, 3028 Ninth East street, Mr. Atkinson had gone to a gravel pit at Thirtieth East and thirty-third South streets to fill a trailer. Shortly after they had started work, the wall collapsed, pinning Mr. Atkinson beneath the wet gravel and dirt.
Attempts to Rescue
Mr Jennings went to the rescue of his father-in-law and uncovered his head, which was more than a foot below the surface. After several minutes feverish work, the younger man was able to extricate his father in law and get him to the car. He drove him to the Atkinson residence, 3390 Ninth East street, and summoned a doctor and the Salt lake City fire department rescue car.
Death was caused by a ruptured lung and shock.
Charles William Atkinson was born in Lancashire, England, August 10, 1886, a son of Charles and Mary Draisey Atkinson. he moved to Australia in 1889, where he lived until 1901, when he came to Salt lake city.
Widow Survives
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Emma Henrietta Vogal Atkinson; four sons, Charles, Bernard, marvin, John and Howard Atkinson; six daughters, Mrs. June Jennings, Winnefred, Meril, Bernice, Martha, and Emma V. Atkinson, all of Salt lake City; three sisters, Mrs. Annie Wardell and Mrs. Nellie Debinham Salt Lake City, and Mrs. Lillie Bell, Ogden.
