Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-15

raE FAIRFIELD EXPLOSION.
WAIERvILLE. Feb. Il.

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| VAUDEVILLE. Feb. IA.
At an adjourned meeting of the coroner's
inquest of the boiler explosion at Fairfield
TUESDAY W. F. Bacon. expert. testified
that he told John Smith when repairing the
boiler in 1873, the boiler was unsafe, that
the examination showed the boiler to be crys-
tsfized, brittle and rotten.
| w. W. Rice testified that he knew nothing
of the unsafeiy Of the boiler.
Manassah Smith deposed that he was in
Fairfield in July, 1881, with view to run
the boilers and engine. and examined the
boilers and deemed them unsafe to carry
eighty pounds Of steam; not safe for over
sixty pounds; came away without accepting
a position do not deem the repairs since
made sufficient to render the boilers safe.
| j. W Philbrick. ex master mechanic Of
the NJ. c. r. r., considered the explosion
the iron shows the boiler was over heated in
spots saw no Indications that the boiler was
unsafe for ordinary use.
| Hyatt Minor, a boiler maker, Of Water
vile. made repairs on the boiler four years
ago, and told Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Stafford that
the boiler was unsafe. Smith said he should
have il repaired; the burned condition of the
iron had destroyed its life think the cause of
the explosion, the iron, for one thing.
! winsIow Titcomb boiler maker, of Wat
ervilIe, examined the boiler and thought il
badly burned. brittle and rotten; assisted in
the repairs last August; had some talk then
Of large amount Of scale on the boiler.
Frank A. Rice. former engineer for the
Kennebec Framing Co. at the time Of
the repairs in August discovered
cracks in the boiler; filled them and had the
boiler cleaned and scraped; repairs made
then left the boiler poor; attempted 10 test
the boiler but could get only IS pounds pres
sure; no brick on the top and the fire drew
over the bare iron directly across the high
water mark.
| The evidence closed at a late hour last
night.
THE VERDICT.
FAIRFIELD, Feb. IA.
The coroner's inquest on the boiler explo-
sion at Fairfield, was continued Monday
night, and the following verdict was found ::
An inquisition held at Fairfield, within the
county of Somerset. State of Maine. the
twenty-eighth day of January. A. ID. 1882,
and continuing until the thirteenth day Of
February, 1882. before John Hammond and
+. Z. Mayo, coroners of said county, upon
view OF the bodies of Noah Rice, John Avery
and Charles I.amier here living dead ty the
oaths of J. W. Channing. II. C. Hail. Henry
Fogg Albert II. nuren, s. c. Mullen and G.
NJ. Twitcheli, good and lawful men, who be-
ing charged and sworn to inquire for the
State when. how, and by what means said
Noah Rice, John Avery and Charles Lamier
came To- their death, on the 2Sth day of JAN
uary, A. ID. 1882, at Fairfield. on account of
the exploding of one of the boilers situated
in the mill of the Kennebec Framing Co To-
Gated in Fairfield, Maine. The boiler was
tubular boiler of eighty FIVE horse power,
had been used about nine years. An exam
iDation since the explosion shows the iron to
be badly crystaiized on the inside, porous
and brittle.
We find that at the time of the explosion
the water was low in the boiler, there not be-
| '"S ~ "''o""' s""htieo' w hhs"ie saieN ANU
very hot fire was under the boiler. We find
that the water used to supply the boiler was
very hard and full OF lime deposits. which
being precipitated formed a hard scale cover
ing the tubes and bottom of the boilers, rem
dering more fuel necessary to maintain the
requisite heat, thereby overheating and burn
my the IRON We find that in order to do the
immense amount OF work required it has
been necessary to force the boilers beyond
their capacity. We find that the explosion
TOOK place Just at the instant when the en-
giheer was starting the machinery, and that
the steam guaye Indicated eighty pounds, the
amount usually carried.
We fail to find any criminal neglect or
carelessness on the part of any person or
persons, but we feel to censure the manage
ment for knowingly putting more work upon
the boilers than they could safely perform;
tor knowingly using water unfit for such
uses. and for requiring OF an engineer du-
ties which toos HIM away from the immedi-