The Portland daily press., 1882-01-30
BY TELEGRAPH.
Bursting of the Boiler in the Ken
nebec Framing Mill at Fairfield.
SEVERAL PERSONS INSTANTLY KILL
And Others Buried in the Ruins.
BLOWN UP.
Special Despatch to the Press.l

FAIRFIELD, JAN 2S.-The boiler of the steam
framing mill here has just burst. The en-
gineer and fireman are killed and two other
bodies are buried in the ruins, besides four
men seriously injured and probably fatally.
Noah Rice, son of W. W. Rice, Treasurer of
the company, is among the missing. A large
force are at work digging into the boiler room,
and engines from Waterville are here to render
assistance. The fire is under control at the
present time. SETH
LATER.
About II o'clock today our inhabitants were
startled, by what, for moment seemed to be
an earthquake. Store doors were forced open,
windows rattled and buildings shook. The
alarm of ire ami call for physicians drew a
large crowd to the framing mill, where it was
found that the boiler had exploded, forcing
four men through wood partition into the
main building, and buryng three others in the
ruins of the boiler room. Willing hands COM
menced the labor of removing the wounded
and the four injured ones were soon being at
tended by physicians from this place and
Watervlle.
After half hours hard work in the steam
and heated bricks and mortar, the body OF
Noah Rice youngest son of the treasurer of the
company. W. w. Rice, ESQ.,, was discovered
and taken out. The young man was highly
respected by all and his untimely death is the
cause Of sincere regret from all who knew
him. His death was instantaneous, as were
those of the two fremen, one of which was not
found until nearly night. Aid was summoned
from Waterville and the flames were kept un-
der control, thus saving the large mill build
ings.
The loss will exceed ten thousand dollars,
and by the accident about one hundred men
are thrown out of employment.
1t will be some time before the property can
be put in condition to commence operations
again.
John Hammond, coroner, has called a jury
consisting of J. W. Charming, d. @. Hall, A
III. Duren, S. @. Mullen, Henry Fogg and G..
NJ Twitchell, who will thoroughly investigate
the cause or causes of the worst accident that
ever happened in our midst
The names of those injured are John Smith,
head carpenter, Thomas McComb, engineer
and two Frenchmen. SETH.
An Erroneous Report Corrected.
FAIRFIELD, Jan. 29.-Considerable excite
ment prevails over the report that press
dispatches severely criticising the managers OF
the mill blown up yesterday have been sent to
the leading papers. If SO, they are without
true foundation, as no investigation has yet
been held and no man knows the cause. The
boiler had been duly inspected and pronounc-
ed safe, and only seventy pounds of steam
were indicated at the time of the accident
The owners ask suspension of Judgment until
the facts are known and the blame attached
where it rightfully belongs. The injured men
are reported slightly improved. The engineer
is to weak to explain the cause, which was
probably low water.
(To the Associated Press.)
VAUDEVILLE, Jan. 28-The explosion at the
steam mill of the Kennebec Framing Co., Fair
field, was caused by a.patched and leaky
boiler and scarcity of water therein. The
bodies of two firemen and young Noah Rice
were recovered from the ruins badly mangle
and scalded. George McComb, the engineer,
will probably die from injuries, as will also
John Smith Many workmen received slight
injuries. The loss of property will probably be
$1,000.