Two Dead at Franklin: A Foreman's Heroic Death and a Verdict That Cleared the Company

The two explosions in the Franklin coal mine, which resulted in the death of Pit Foreman Park Robinson and Charles Anderson, the latter dying yesterday morning at 2 o'clock, have been thoroughly investigated by Coroner Askam and a jury of six men. The evidence has established clearly that the first explosion was caused by the carelessness of three men, one of whom was Charles Anderson, in going into the mine with naked lights, in direct violation of the rules of the company. Park Robinson met a heroic death, but he did so voluntarily, thus relieving the company of any blame.

The remains of Anderson will be brought to this city this morning for interment. The details of the coroner's investigation are told in the following dispatch from the Post-Intelligencer correspondent:

Franklin, June 29. — Special. — Charles Anderson, who was burned in the explosion on Thursday, died this morning at 2 o'clock. All the others are progressing favorably and will recover.

The inquest on the bodies of Park Robinson and Charles Anderson was held today in the Masonic hall, with the following jurors: Foreman James A. Greene, James Chapman, J. C. Sackett, Zack Brown, Richard Payne and J. J. Smith.

About twenty witnesses were examined, who gave evidence to the effect that the company was in no way responsible for the accident, as it was the result of carelessness on the part of the men through violation of strict orders they had received not to go to work without safety lamps. The evidence showed that the first explosion was caused by three of the men going up the slope with naked lights. The first man had a safety lamp in his hand and a light on his head. The gas, being lighter than the air, naturally went to the top; hence the safety lamp would not show the gas.

Mine Inspector Edmunds testified that when he last examined the mine about three weeks ago he found it in better condition than he ever saw it since he first examined it. He said the air was a little sluggish now, but it was owing to the disturbance caused by the explosion.

Following was the verdict:

"We, the undersigned, coroner's jury of King county, Wash., duly empaneled and sworn the above day and date at Franklin, Wash., to inquire into the cause of death of P. B. Robinson and Charles Anderson who died June 27 and 28, respectively, from injuries received in the explosion which occurred in the main slope of the north seventh level of the Franklin mine, do find the following:

"That the said explosion happened on the afternoon of June 27, 1895; that the first explosion was plainly due to the fact that Charles Anderson, Charles Johnson and William Johnson entered the slope to go to work on the 3 o'clock shift with naked lamps, without first investigating the condition of the slope with a safety lamp, which is in direct violation of the rules of the mine. This makes the cause of the explosion the result of the act of carelessness on the part of the above named three men. The direct cause of Charles Anderson's death was inhaling flames. The injuries received by P. B. Robinson were the result of the second explosion, which succeeded the first by about thirty minutes. Said Robinson being inside foreman, voluntarily and knowingly, at the risk of his own life, attempted to put out the fire caused by the first explosion, and in doing so was caught in the explosion which was caused by a new accumulation of gas being ignited by the flames, in which he was struck across back and left side by falling timbers, breaking his left arm and several ribs. The direct cause of his death was the shock received.

"In view of the fact that the first explosion was due to the carelessness of the first named three men, one of whom, Charles Anderson, received injuries which proved fatal, and that the said Robinson's injuries were due to his own voluntary and brave acts in the interest of his employers which could have been avoided, we feel that the owners, curators and managers should be exonerated from any and all blame in the matter."

Charles Anderson's remains will be brought to Seattle in the morning for burial. The funeral of P. B. Robinson has been postponed, awaiting the arrival of his brother from Minneapolis.