The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-05-28
ACCIDENT AT ST. LOUIS
COLLEGE e.
II INQUEST.

DN the IdII OF JNe ScnOOI-rOOm OF Of. LOUIS SOI-
lege, on the previous day. The enquiry was held
at the office of Marshal Parke, who presided as
Coroner. MI. Z. Preston was present to repre-
sent the Acknowledgement and Mr.. H. L. Shell
don acted as clerk to the court and translator.
The jury empanelled, consisted of Messrs. W
W. Hall, W. Johnson, W. L. Austin, Samuel
Mahoe, A. kahaliOne, and S. D. Burrows. The
proceedings being formally opened, the Coroner
and the jury adjourned to the house of Henry
Long in Punchbowl Street, in order to view the
body of deceased. On their return, the first wit
ness examined was
Henry Long. He stated that he went to the
building about 1.25 PM. on Friday TO assist in
decorating 1t for the entertainment which was to
take place that evening. He was in the room
near the centre door talking TO Charles Clarke,
when he heard a loud noise and turning round
saw the plaster falling. He and Clarke ran out
of the building, and Sarah Dawson and keumi
also got out, but they would have been killed if
a tree had not stopped the wall. He Immediate
ly called out for his wife and the other girl who
had been in the room. Heard their cries and
went to assist them, they were damned right in
the centre of the house. by the oveThanginG
roof. He was first there, raised the timber as
much as he could until help came. Charles
Clarke, Father LarRin, and another foreigner
came and helped. Enquired of all the folks
about and found that only Paahao was missing.
A corporal arrived from the barracks, also a
number of men, and with their assistance.
started in breaking up the roof to see if he
could find Paahao. Father Larkin stopped them.
Ran to the police office to see the Marshal.
Meanwhile, others had been searching and found
the body. Was present when the boy was taken
out. Saw him. Know him to be David Paa-
hao. Helped to carry the body to Father Lark
ms. Went home, got clean things, returned
and waited for coffin, and then took him to his
house. Remembered seeing DR.. Emerson there
and he examined the body. In answer to ques-
tons he said The iron-rOds were Is in.
diameter, and ran across building, clamping on
the plates and having a buckle III the middle to
screw them up. Last Thursday a rod was taken
to their shop to weld and he saw the staging on
Thursday-night that had been used for buckling
1t up again. In answer to Father Larkin. There
was II screen of flags across the room which
could not be seen through. The body was found
on the other side of partition in the mauka-Wei-
XIX corner of the building.
Mrs. Henry Long, examined. Was present
at the building with her husband to help deco
rate the room. Whilst sitting, heard a crack and
started to run. The bar fell and caught her
clothes, she had to stoOp and got hurt ON face
and back of neck, holding the materials up. Does
not know what TRANSFERRED after. Called out as
well as she could and heard steps on the roof
above her, and her husband and others pulled
her out. Went over to the tap and turned it on her
head. She then missed the boy that is dead.
Quite a number ladies came about, and Father
Larkin came, and told her husband to stop
breaking the roof of the building. Heard Father
Larkin say he knew the boy had got out. Iasked
him if he knew his face-afterwards a number
of people began breaking up the roof and they
found the body.
DR.. n. Is. Emerson, physician and surgeon,
examined. Was at the scene of the accident
and saw deceased; asked his name of a person,
who said he was his brother. The body was
moved to the hall of the stone-house. Ex-
amined it there. 1t was not breathing and the
face was swollen and dark. The injury which
he esteemed sufficient to cause death, was the
crushing in of the chest, the Sternum1 being
separated from the cartilages, an injury which
would cause speedy-almost instantaneous
death. Felt the pulse and listened for the
heartbeat, and concluded he had been dead for
some minutes. Saw him taken from the ruins
he was at mauka end, a little on Waikiki
side. (In answer to an enquiry by Il juror, as to
a wound on the top of the head y He said that
when he found the body dead. did not particu-
larry examine further.
Sarah Dawson, examined. Was at the build
ing, helping to decorate the hall with Mrs. Hv.
dead. Heard Il report-thoUght it was from
Punchbowl. Looked up and saw the plaster
fall, but not much. Did not think of running
till she saw Charlie and Long run; followed them.
The plaster was so brittle, it fell all to pieces as
it fell on her and so she got clear and had Just
scrambled away from the building when it all
fell in. Saw Henry, Charlie Clarke, and Il boy
running away. Saw Mrs. Henry Long when she
was got out anu ran up l nelp neG. NO one
else was III building but them, but Father Larkin
was III the verandah.
By Father Larkin. 1t was quite Il while, l
think 10 minutes, after you spoke to me and
another girl about our decorations that 1 heard
the report. L do not know whether the boy
Moses was there then or not.
Charles Clarke, examined. Got there about
1.25 PM. He and Mr.. Long went behind the
curtain planning a dressing-roOm. They came
out again and were standing near a door when
the accident occurred. They were talking about
how to decorate the hall, when he heard the
noise. He did not fancy it was anything to do
with the building till he saw something falling.
He then ran TO the Eva side of the building and
his horse. Did not know that David was in the
building. Helped to get the women out. Went
away then to see foreman Lucas of his Company
body was got out before he returned. First
Assistant Mott shortly after ordered him to ring
the fire bell and bring up the hook and ladder
carriage.
Keumi, Ga boy examined. Was outside the
building and heard the crack of the iron break
ing. The air was quickly full of falling plaster
and he ran. Saw Mrs. Long and Kainuuwala
taken out but not the boy who is dead.
K~ainuuwala, (w.) They three women, Chas.
Clarke and Henry Long were all who were in the
house. Heard the crash and tried to get away.
Was caught under falling timbers :; called to Hy.
Long. He came and got them out. Saw him be-
fore the house fell when she was with Sarah.
Saw Father Larkin lifting up boards in company
with Hy. Long. Did not see deceased taken
out. In answer to Father Larkin said only Miss
Dawson, herself, and deceased were in the room
when Father Larkin spoke to them congratulate
ing them about the decorations.
The Marshal then, 11.40 A. NJ, adjourned the
proceedings to Monday at l P. NJ.
When the inquest was resumed on Monday,
Marshal Parke addressing the jury said that
their enquiry on Saturday had shown how
David Paahao had come by his death, that it
was caused by the fall Of the building, and they
had now to ascertain whether it was by careless
ness or through the negligence of any one, or by
any other cause the buildingfell. In the first place
they would proceed to examine the remains of
the building for themselves. The Marshal and
other jurors then adjourned to the College. On
their return the following testimony was taken.
James Hayselden examined. Is a builder.
Was on the premises, st. Louis College about
three weeks ago. Was passing and went in to
see if the opinion he had given long before that
the roof would spread had proved correct. He
found that the plate bulged at least 4 or ) inches.
In other words the pressure of the roof had
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