The Portland daily press., 1897-03-29
THE VOTERS VANISHED.
Two Hundred Sanford Men In a
Hole.
HALL FLOOR GAVE WAY DURING A
TOWN MEETING.

One Man Cracked a Couple of Ribs But No
One Else Was Seriously Injured-Citi-
zens Meet In More Stable Quarters and
Vote To Build a Railroad.
EspECLAI TO THE PREss.l
| Springvale. March 27.-The two thriv-
ing villages of Springvale and Sanford
barely missed frightful catastrophe
this afternoon. While the town hall at
springvale was densely packed with oiti
zsns, who had assem- bled to vote on al
important municipal question, section
of the floor gave way, precipitating about
90 men into the opening. Conditions
were right for general breaking of
bones and bruising of bodies, but to the
great surprise of everybody only one
man was seriously injured.
| Fortunately there was no cellar under
tho building. A drop of only four or
five feet and the struggling, shouting,
frightened macs Of townsmen brought
up in a bed of soft sand. They were
packed in SO solidly when the floor gaze
way that they nearly all landed on their
feet and there was such general en-
twining of arms that hardly anybody
had chance to be trampled upon.
| 1t was scene of wild excitement that
prevailed for about 10 minutes. The
chief question before the meeting was
whether the town raise should SIS. 900 and
subscribe tnat amount for preferred stock
in the Monsam River electric road, which
is to be extended from San ford village,
distance of q miles to the sea. The
attendance was the largest seen at San
ford town meeting liz years. The belief
that the dwellers in the outlying districts
were to vigorously Oppose the measure.
brought out the village and the mill
operatives in full force. Fully 1000 peo-
pie, all standing, were packed in the
main room of the hall, which couldn't
comfortably seat more than half that
number.
| The oratory on the main question at
Issue had been exhausted and they had
just begun to ballot when the accident
occurred. Moderator Charles F. Moul-
ton had cautioned them to approach the
ballot box slowly, and selsctman George
W. Hanson had requested them to call
out their names as they came up so as
to aid In checking the voting list. Three
or four ballots had been dropped into
| the bog. Suddenly above the din of
voices was heard. rumbling, cracking
sound and the men who were punched
| together just west of the centre of the
hall felt the floor settling beneath their
feet. A loud cry of horror was followed
by heavier cracking, and half hun
| dred men dropped nearly out OF sight.
A rtnmpede followed. Egress by the
main door was too slow, and an hundred
or more made their escape by the win
dows. One man didn't even stop to
raise the nearest window, but threw him
! self against the sash and carried that
along with him. Those ON the edge of
the chasm strove to escape falling onto
TIE heads of the struggling crowd in the
pit, while others crowded forward to
look for their missing brothers and sons
and to lend a helping hand.
| 1t was expected every moment that the
rest of the floor would give way. The
moderator ordered the constables to keep
| the crowd back, and advisad that every
body remaining in the hall promptly
vacate it. SO as not to further endanger
the liyss of those who. one BY one, were
being lifted out of the pit. The modera-
tors orders fell ON deaf ears. Those who
had braved the first outbreak did not In
tend to miss the excitement. Scores who
made their escape when the crash came
remained at the windows, Watching the
work Of rescue, which Was being vigorous
ly prosecuted.
A number of citizens emerged from the
pit with bruised hands, but only three
were sufficiently injured to need atten-
ton after they were once extricated.
Edward q. Murray, u real estate agent,
and dealer in horses and carriages, was
the most seriously injured. He was taken
to his home near the town house, and it
was found that two ribs were broken.
George Brearey had his right leg in
jured. Elihu Perkins was also injured,
but not seriously.
81 don't know what the meeting may
decide to do" said the moderator, after
to me the best thing We can do is to ad-
Journ this nesting. 1t won't be safe to
pack this hall again; the rest of the door
IL likely to give way under the strain"
But the leaders Of the faction that
wanted to see the railroad extended in
sisted on continuing sthe ballot that was
In progress when the accident occurred
Their will prevailed and the baIlotipR
proceeded. the voters filing in few at |
time. The vote resulted in a victory for |
the railroad measure.
THE PROS AND CONS.
Register of Deeds Frank Wilson opened |
tho debate in behalf of the railroad ex-
tension, as soon as the moderator was
chosen. He presented motion to the |
effect that the town raise SIS, 900 to be |
invested in preferred stock of the Mou-
sam River railroad, that sum to be used |
solely in extending the road from Sanford |
- s+O oily @c ~