Michael J. Franklin helped to save Sylvester W. McKeon and Robert E. Fear from a mine cave-in, Pittston, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1917. Sylvester, 12, and Robert, 13, descended the slope of a hole that had caved in the ground and entered the chamber of an old mine to gather coal. They were caught by a fall of earth overhanging the entrance to the chamber. Sylvester was buried to his hips, and Robert was buried to his chest. Cracks at the top of the hole and the dropping of clay earth overhanging the chamber indicated another cave-in was imminent. Franklin, 37, mine track layer, descended the hole to Sylvester and, using a shovel, assisted another man in extricating the boy. The other man carried Sylvester to the top of the hole, and Franklin then assisted a third man in extricating Robert, whom they then took to the top of the hole. During the night there was another fall of earth that filled the entrance to the chamber. 17969-1489
17969 – 1489
17969-1489