Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-26
WORK CONTINUED
10 the Search for the Bodies Of the
Drowned Young Men.
Diver Works lust Below Five Mile Island
will Resume, Today.

| INV souiiS men OF UAiS city, VINO Were
drowned in the Kennebec river, sun
day, need not necessarily be accepted
as discouraging, for the day was
Iabout as unsuited for the work, as far
as the diver is concerned, as it possibly
could have been.
Like the hearts of the people, the day
| was gloomy. For the loss of the men.
| which so fell like a blow that sturs
when it was first learned, is now be-
| coming thing more real; and the
pain of their death is becoming more
real with it. On every hand, and from
every one that knew the unfortunate
men, come words of regret born of a
sincere regard ard respect for them
And to their parents and the immeli-
ate members of the families to which
they belonged, and to those who were
specially dear to them, gees out &
sympathy from every heart that, help
less if it is. it at least shows itself in
the Willingness with which the work of
searching for the bodies has been taken
up.
And. what hope there may be left in
finding them, is, the searchers say, no
vague one Further information re-
Garding the movements of the three
on that day, lead to the thought that
the bodies must be between the lower
end of Five-Mile island and Paines
brook, so-called. which runs into the
Kennebec river about one-half a mile
below the island. The finding of the
boat some two miles below the island,
near where Hamilton's boom is now
fastened to the western bank of the
river, by no means locates the place
where the beat capsized. for the tide
eff the river could easily have carried
her in the time given, that distance
from the place, which is now thought to
be the location of the disaster. DESPITE
the wind. which violent as it was,
would have had comparatively little
effect on the bottom of craft the
sides Of which were submerged deep be-
low the surface of the water The
finding Of the cap. near the boat, it is
thought, has equally less bearing on the
overturning, as it is believed that pcs
small air bubble confined in the cen
cave of the craft, as she foated up
side down, and was not dislodged until
the man towing her ashore had righted
her.
Moreover, a woman has been found
who says she saw the beat with three
in it, not very far below Five-Mile
is land \ man named Kicker, Who
works for the Cushnoc Paper Co, was
They were about a mile below the
island They saw what is thought to
have been the unfortunate men be-
tween them and the island, some dis
lance away That they did not see
them pass, is accounted for by the fact
that they had retired to secluded
place to eat their dinner, being out Of
view about the time that the three
would have gone by where they We're.
A mast-board belonging to the boat
was found above Paine's brook. 1t is
not satisfactorily explained how that
could have gotten there, unless the beat
capsized somewhere near that place.
These features of the case give the
searchers hope. Mr.. c. l.. Marstcn,
who has for 80 years in time past,
been a log driver along that part OF the
river. has charge of the search, and,
with some bright weather, thinks there
is fair grounds for hoping for the re-
covery of the bodies. The diver started.
Tuesday morning, at point close by
tho lower end of the island near the
east side of the river. that being on the
course which, it is believed, the party
would have taken, had they proceedea
Itbus far At a distance of perhaps one
third of the width OF tlie ii'ei - e4'i
that eastern shore, the work OF search
ing over the bottom was commenced
From the scow, the diver, clad in SUD
marine suit followed over the bottom
dark from the heavy skies above, Gov
ering nearly every square yard care
fully feeling along, for it was 'co
dark to see anything. The rig permits
his going 100 feet either way thus Gov
erine, a circle of that radius he au-
vanced about 900 feet. The water there
is % feet deep, but. further down. Mr.
Marston says, it is shaiio"er'
conrsa will be followed from that point
down. today. Six trips were made yes
+oreav each one taking from one-haii
to an hour.
The bottom is mostly rocky thus a.
hut below piece of bottom VIII 'e
encountered where logs nave 9uii'>'7N'
These will be carefully examined es-
pecially ON the side on which the current
aox,e hedv which has SUNK VIII .