A Mining Town Mourns
Community lodges unite to lay a fallen miner to rest in Franklin after a fatal accident at the Cokedale mine.
Undertaker John T. Rogers of Everett went to Franklin to remove the remains of John T. Howells, who was killed at the Cokedale mine on Tuesday morning. Arrangements had already been made for the funeral services and burial of Mr. Howells at Franklin by the I.O.O.F. and K. of P. lodges. The funeral was in charge of Cascade lodge No. 39, I.O.O.F. of Franklin. Wildey lodge No. 54 of Black Diamond and the Knights of Pythias were invited to join in the service. Mr. Howells was a fine musician, and had been an active church worker. He had many friends in Franklin, but no relatives who are known except a sister in Wales.
“Mr. Howells was a fine musician, and had been an active church worker. He had many friends in Franklin.”
Mining deaths were a frequent and tragic occurrence in the history of King County’s coal towns. These lodges served as essential social safety nets for immigrant workers who often died far from their families.
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