The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-08
THE BROKEN RES ERvolR.
1t Will Be Repaired at Once-The Vic tims
10 Be Buried To-Day. Herbert
Shedd Arrives.

bursting of the reservoir, yesterday.
The bodies of the victims were in the
hands of their friends, preparatory to
the funeral services, which will occur to-
day. Mrs. Conley and her two daugh-
tiers will be buried at 8 o'clock this fore
noon from the Cathedral, and James
Moseley will be buried this afternoon
from the Cathedral, probably at 2.30
o'clock.
Last evening Mr.. j. Herbert Shedd,
the engineer, arrived from Providence,
and will be present this afternoon at the
inquest.
President Wescott said yesterday that
the Portland Water Company, at di-
rectors meeting, had arranged to have
the break examined by board of the
most competent specialists in this branch
of engineering to be obtained. They
will give the matter thorough study and
make a report.
The Water Company had crew of
men at work all day clearing away the
debris at the break and along the route
of the torrent.
They will rebuild the wall as soon as
possible, under the direction of a skill
full engineer. .
The inquest, which will occur at 2
o'clock this afternoon, will probably not
be open to the public. The law leaves
the matter optional with the coroner, and
it has been the almost uniform custom in
this county to have the Investigations be-
hind closed doors. 1t is not at all prob
able that anything will be determined at
today's session. Mr.. Shedd will proba-
bly, be examined. and perhaps others.
James Moseley, who so nobly sought
to save others at the reservoir Sunday
morning. had the reputation among his
associates Of being quite courageous
youth It is said that at one time on
Washington street when some policemen
were having hard tussle to break up
row, he stepped in and rendered valua-
BILE assistance when others shrunk from
lending hand through fear of broken
bones or bruises. He was also a good
swimmer, and never hesitated to throw
off his coat and help anyone struggling
in the water, as he had upon more than
one occasion done. Such trait of char
acter can but prove a noble possession
for any man, and this in a measure ex-
plains the readiness with which he en-.
deavored to extend assistance to the
women in the Conley House, though it
in no degree lessons the unselfish hero
ism of the act.
There have been the usual crop of ru-
mors about the cause of the break, and
one of the most persistent related to a
spring said to have existed once near the
scene of the break. President Wescott
said yesterday that springs are almost
always encountered in building such res
ervoirs, and that they are carefully
drained, as was done in case of all the
springs found in the building of this one.
No notice of any suits has been served
on the water company, and there will be
none probably until after the inquest is
finished.
Mr. j. Herbert Shedd arrived on the
train from Boston at 7.30 p. M. yester-
day, and took up his quarters at the Fall
mouth Hotel, where he was seen
by a repre- sentative Of the PRESS,
who asked him if he had anything he
was willing to say as to the cause, in his
opinion, of the break in the reservoir.
Mr.. Shedd replied that he must say he
was very much surprised when he re-
ceived the intelligence of the accident.
The work had been done most thorough
ly and conscientiously from his own OBJ
servation and from the statements of his
assistants. Mr.. Shedd added, however,
that it would be impossible for him to
render any opinion as to the cause of the
accident until he had an opportunity to
visit the spot and examine the reservoir
and its surroundings for himself. This
he could not do last evening, but should
today, and then if there was anything he
could properly give to the PRESS he
should be glad to do SO.
Last night the Falmouth Court, Order
of Foresters, held meeting, at which
1 resolutions of respect to the memory Of
young James Moseley were passed, the
four chief officers of the Court chosen
as pail bearers for the funeral today, and
a floral tribute ordered to be purchased
for that occasion. If young Moseley hao
been a member one month longer, or six
months in all, his heirs would have beer
| entitled to benefit of 500.
In the accounts of the catastrophe
published in the papers, proper credit
has not been given the fire department
for their services. After they arrived or
the ground at the call of the fire alarm
Sunday morning, they ran out the ropes
with the police, that kept the crowd Out
of the way, and it was the members OF
the fire department, under Engineer Lor
| ing, who discovered and carefully ex.
humed the dead bodies, and not the Ital
ians.' The Italians did excellent work