The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-29
INQUIRY INTO
THE ACCIDENT.
Coroner Investigating the
BOurn Mill Fatality.
AN INCREASE OF SPEED.
Four Men Describe the Bursting of
the FIywheel.
AN INCREASE OF SPEED.
MORE TESTIMONY TO BE GIVEN.

The inquiry into the cause of the
bursting of the fly wheel OF tho Bourne
mill on Westiield street by which two
lives were lost was commenced py
Coroner Eugene ii. Lincoln yesterday
afternoon.
Lewis w. Taft. the first witness. said
that at the time of the accident he was on
the floor on which the engins is located.
He said that the rolls were travelling very
fast and when he saw the speed of the fly
wheel he yelled, Look out every body. ="
de saw both the engineer and helper
when the wheel burst. After the accident
he began TO shovel coal ana bank the
fires lie discovered the engineer. Ben
ner. ana bourn dead in the pit after the
fires were banked.
James O'Connor, who first noticed the
accident when pieces OF the wheel began
Co fly through the air. saw the engineer
Just before the accident The witness
rushed out at the time hut went back
again, Just previous TO the bursting Of
the wheel he saw Nil. Bourn walking
toward the engine.
Edward Mcmahon a machinist, noticed
that the engine was going faster than
usual. The engineer was at the north
side OF the engine and Bourn was at the
valve The steam then came out of the
main pipe and he could not Sc the men
again.
The wheel seemed to fly apart as the
steam was shut off. Both the men
were dead when taken out of the pit.
The last of the workmeD To testify was
Frederick w. Foote. who has been super
intendent OF the factory for the past
year and half. He was in the yard
previous to the explosion and noticed
that tho engine speeded. lie at once
started for the engine room but the wheel
burst before he reached It.
As superintendent he has the employ
ing Of the help. and hired Benner. the
engineer, one week before the accident;
Superintendent hoote knew nothing of
the man before he was hired. BeDDer
aid not apply for the place Mr.. Be1ell
of the Office brought him In, and Footo
hired him, after speaking TO ex-Gov.
Bourn about making chsnge. The
engineer was on trial but had not been
hired.
The Superintendent declares that Mr.
BedelJ diu not recommend Benner as a
competent engineer and he was not
recommended by anyone else. SuperiD-
tendent Eoote made no inquiries as To his
competency rs an enigneer before taking
Benner on trial. His desire for change
of engineers resulted. he said. from his
discharge of the previous engineer. The
day previous TO the hiring OF
Benner Mr.. Handy. the former engineer.
went TO the Superintendent a1d
asked for day of on business.
He got IL. but did not come back next
day. Mr.. Bourn ran tie engine that day
and In the meantime Bedell brought Ben
ner ana Superintendent Foote promised
him trial. after making Inquiries con.
A. Esnnpr
said he had worked at the Corliss Engine
Works among other places and MIR. Foote
considered that he was worth trial.
Supt Foote said that wneD his atten-
tion was attracted by the speed Of tho
engine he thought it must have got be-
yond the control Of the engineer and was
running away.
This concluded the testimony for { ne
day aud the hearing was continued till
tomorrow.