Seattle,
March 24. —The coroner's jury which investigated the Wellington
disaster, arrived at a verdict last evening in which the following
conclusions were set forth: That the death of eighty-eight or more
persons in the avalanche, March 1, was caused by an agency beyond human
control. That the railroad officials believed from experience that the
location of the trains on the siding west of Wellington staton was safe
from snowslides. Should Have Moved Trains. That the Great Northern
Railway company had other siding east of Wellington station which were
safe and that the trains should have been placed there. Tha f the
railroad company did not have sufficient coal at Wellington to cope
with possible emergencies. That by reason of the small wages paid by
the railroad, thirty-five laborers left Wellington who should have been
retained for the purpose of providing for the safety and welfare of the
passengers. Thought Sidings Safe. The inquest into the Wellington
disaster occupied five days, during which time thirty-four witnesses
were called. The jury visited the scene of the avalanche and went
deeply into the history of snowslides in the vicinity of Wellington.
That the railroad officials who were in charge of the situation at
Wellington believed that the sidings west of the station were safe, the
jury was convinced. Aside from the testimony of witnesses, the fact
that Trainmaster A. R. Blackburn slept in a car on the siding and was
killed, indicated to the jury that he had faith in his judgment and
that of other officials. The case investigated by the jury is
officially known as that of "John Brockman and eighty-seven or more
others." Mr. Brockman was a wealthy farmer of Waterville. The Jury *
-verdict. The verdict follows: "John Brockman and eighty-seven or -more
others came to their deaths March 1, 1910, by reason of a snowslide at
Wellington, King county, Washington, the cause of which was beyond
human control; that said John Brockman and eighty-seven or more others
were upon two trains of the Great Northern Railway company which
trains, being snowbound, stood upon the siding west of the Wellington
depot. "The railway officials in placing the trains where they did
believed from past experience that the location of said trains was
safe. Not in Safest Place. "We find that the trains were not in the
safest place to avert a possible accident, as the company had other
siding east of said depot on which the trains should have heen placed,
that are safe from any snowslides. "The evidence shows that the Great
Northern Railway company did not have sufficient coal at Wellington to
cope with all possible emergencies. "The evidence also shows that by
reason of the small wages of only 15 cents an hour for shoveling snow,
out of which wages the laborers have to pay $4.50 a week for board,
about thirty-five laborers left Wellington who should have been
retained regardless of wages for the purpose of providing for tse
safety and welfare of the passengers. "C. L. WILSON. "JOHN E. DAVIS.
"GRANT SWEET. "A. J. CALDWELL. "J. C. SNYDER, Coroner." "JAMES HOPKIRK.
"DAN HARRIS.