, 1860-01-19
The Lawrence Calamity,

LAWRENCE, Jan. 1s.-At the inquest to-day,
Chas. Il. Btgeiow, who constructed Pembertou
epsioccf. Was formerly in the army with rank
Of Captain, aud constructed Fl. Independence
graduated at West Point in 1885. The nature Of
agreement between the Essex Company and
Pemberton Company WAS such rs to leave the
parties free. 40 that the Pemberton Company
cnuld make the contract and employ forces.
Never Saw any disposition on the part Of Ar.
Putnam to sacrifce strength Of building to
cheapness. On tho other hand, re tried to
make the strongest structure We couid, with due
regard 10 economy. I Wss much burthened
with Re responsibility at the time, haylng to con.
.struct the Pacific and pemberton mills simulta-
neously, and l placed Benz. Coolidge il iuamedi'
work with IN intelligence and fidelity that
sas uutirins. The contractors were YIN. Sui
iran for earth work, Isaac Fletcher for stone
work aud foundation, Dodge l. Knowles for
carpenter aud wood work, and Tultle & Co., for
mason work. think there was not better
| foundation in Lawrence 60 far Us soil is
concerned. 1twas wster bearing soil. There
was head on all times except in warm weati.
! er, when it dried up as usual in such soil The
stones were OF the largest character our quar-
ries ever produced, aud know them to Lave
been put together well. They we're large
| square. stratifed granite, amply wide at bot
tom, . feet, thinE. lie examined plans, ant
found South wall feet and North teet thicl
on the bottom, brick walls having been starteda
two walls with hollow space. This is an error
1t was one vail with air tubes in it less thai
two feet By four inches in horizontal arrear
were four Of these fues every seventy fee
from centre to centre Of windows. Were eigh
inches solid brick externally. then four inches
taking cross section Of air lue, and then eigt
inches of Interior wall, SO that where tler
w.rc no fues, walls we're two inches sotid.
think part Of the walls were solid, without a1
tubes, but don't remember what part. Thicl
ness Of walls was amply sufficient 10 bear an
: vertical pressure that could be brought. upo
them in ibis mill. The fluors we're constructe
| with beams, each beam made Of two posts, ii
!; Ring little from six inches, n1akiog then
When pat in. sixteen inches square. Timb,
| very good. No objection, that am aware &
, | WIS ever made shen the mill was built. Iht
!, ! pillars were made ten-fo]d stronger than requi
Z cd, :ccurding to sustain the weight which 1h'
held. hare no doubt they we're bought
e good fuith by Mr.. Putnam. The only error
can see is buying them so much per colupn,
. stead Of per pound. In regard 10 these pilla
we accidentally let one fall and it broke. T
only test usually applied to castings is to Il
them externally perfect. We never mistrust
q | them to be iu such condition TINT bf'
y ! from nail hammer would hare sunk throu
g Them. Specimens which have seen indicat
=. most careless manipulation in casting. hs
no doubt the By developments Of this accid,
d that there were deficits in the pillars, but th
were not visible when they came from
:. foundry. There was ono circumstance wh
t. points 10 the defects in pillars us cause Of
accident. Wooden pillurs would hare gi'
b. away more gradually. Had The defect been
walls or foundations they would have ii
r way more gradually. Castings give OUT
RI | denly, giving no warning. Dir. BlGeloW c
GUIDED Ills testimony by describing the mil
Ee | n mndef one