Seattle Rallies for the Franklin Mine’s Widows and Orphans
A relief fund grows by small donations, Black Seattleites organize their own drive, and officials seal the burning mine to starve the fire.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The relief fund for the victims and orphans of the Franklin mine disaster continued to grow. By 11 o’clock last night $543 had been contributed in Seattle, with gifts ranging from 50 cents to $15. Organizers stressed that small sums were welcome, since many 50-cent gifts represented more sacrifice than large donations. Roslyn miners were expected to add a substantial sum, recalling the Post-Intelligencer’s earlier relief fund after the Roslyn disaster of May 1892.
At a meeting in the municipal court rooms, colored citizens organized to raise money for the Franklin sufferers. Dr. Samuel Burdette was elected chairman and F. L. Fortson secretary. A committee reported resolutions of condolence, favored paying all subscriptions into the Post-Intelligencer fund, and denounced J. E. Hawkins for drawing the color line. I. W. Evans arranged for a benefit performance by the “Underground Railroad” troupe, and a committee was appointed to complete the arrangements. The meeting declared that each person should give according to ability and expressed sympathy for the afflicted “whether black or white.” Manager Bruns also arranged a ten-cent comedy show at Madison Park for the fund.
Officials of the Oregon Improvement Company visited Franklin to inspect the sealed sixth level where the disaster occurred. Auditor John T. Campion disbursed $25,000 among miners at Franklin and Newcastle. The openings had been made airtight so the fire would burn itself out for lack of oxygen; Mining Superintendent T. R. Corey thought work might resume in three or four months. Many at Franklin believed the fire had been set by an incendiary who escaped, and the excitement was beginning to die down. The mine was expected to resume partial work tomorrow at 350 tons a day. Funerals continued in Seattle for the dead miners, including Peter Pam, Joseph Casale, E. J. Johnson and Frank E. Larson.
“The 50 cents given by the poor woman or man often involves a greater sacrifice than $50 donated by those who are in affluent circumstances.”
The Franklin mine fire of 1894 was one of Washington’s deadliest coal-mining disasters; this page shows the aftermath, when Seattleites turned to relief funds, benefit shows and church funerals. It also records Black Seattleites organizing on their own terms and refusing a relief effort that drew the color line—a reminder that disasters expose both mutual aid and inequality.
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