Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-08-09

was no roughness. Captain Fairbanks
said that an instant before the crash he
heard a slight noise above the rush of
feet which he now believes was caused by
the bolts pulling through the head piece
OF the gangway. Then followed the crash
of the breaking timbers and the fatal
PLUNGE
Captain Fairbanks wife and daughter,
who were with him, testified substantially
the same, except that they did not hear
any noise before the great crash. Both
said no effort was made by any one to
keep back the crowd from the gangway.
All three of these witnesses believed that
all the dead were drowned, not crushed in
the fall, or by planks being thrown in
for their rescue. No one was pushed in
by the crowds on the pier, for after the
| crash all involuntarily drew back in
horror from the opening.
Miss Ethel f. Stratton, OF Bangor, testi-
| fled to The same effect.
| The most important witness was Will
liam A. Witham, Of Lis bon Falls, foreman
OF bridges for the Maine Central railroad
| "ho puhe tbS gang way ihSl JuH6 ne
| said the material for the gangway was
not ordered by him, but was landed on
the wharf for his use. His orders for the
building OF the bridge came from Supt
T. n. Watson, OF the bridge and building
department of the Maine Central The
| gangway was 37l% feet long and =, vide.
The timbers were 3x12 inches, set verti-
cally and crossed by two-inch pIanking.
There were five of these beams running
the length of the gangway.
These timbers were reinforced by three
one-inch iron truss rods set in hard
pine cross timber at the hinge OF the pier,
and a spruce timber at the outer end.
These rods were through holes made with
chisel, not augur, and were fastened on
the outside by 2b inch nuts, screwed
flush with the timbers. He was not an
expert on quality OF timber, but thought
the material was good, and supposed the
gangway was strong enough to bear all
strain that could be put upon it. He be-
leved the accident was caused by the
nuts on the iron pulling through the
outer cross piece, and then the tim bers
were not strong enough to stand the
extra strain thrown upon them. Asked
why washers or plates were not put under
the nuts, he said he built the slip as in
structed.
The railroads. attorney, Hugh Chap
man, OF Bangor, arrived late in the after
noon, and asked for adjournment for
another day, which was granted.
Tuesday morning two more witnesses
were administration Agent Wardwell,
and Baggage Master Jelison, OF Mt.
Desert Ferry.
THE VERDICT.
the dad and the usual legal form, is as
follows: "Ai came to their ceath by
Drowning near The slip of the Maine Gem
tai railroad compahy's wharf at Mt.
| d seft Ferry, town of Hancock, Hancock
county, State OF Maine, Oh sunday, the
| s h d-y OF aug ust, \. ID. 1899, ut about
1 20 10 Ia Tue fefrtoon, aud furl her say that
~ i drowning was caused t,v The break
/ ing ~ tnr sIlf, IN sand mari, which said
sip Whs lmpertectty aid de!ectlvely con
structcu "
ELLSWORTH ; DEAD
Etls VurtH Is ptuuget into deepest
mourning. THe ulu" fell more heavily
upon TIER than upon Bangor, for III
snml er cite, st.,t tuAu- the feeling OF
kir-hip ,,uons u.lS 1ors Is closer than
i'll larger cuia.
In Ellsworth four homes are made des-
olate-four useful lives have been snuffed
| out as a candle, and the homes which
they brig htened are dark. Others there
are " no are not yet without the shadow
| of death, and the prayers of a community
are " itn them that they may recover.
| 1t is need less to say hat the sympat by
OF the Whole community is with the
/ families from which loved ones have been
anst ched away.
Ye-te, day, when four bodies We're
carried to their last resti1g place, was one
OF the ssddest days in the history of Els
MuEtn.
" -. CAst.s T.. Slower was a beloved
m M er ottne CONN unity. rhougA re-
t firing by nature, her lovable qualities
net, n..uan ~ h.r friends, and bound
a.',. 20 uer. A,.- :; ever WAS forty
sevel s.. = o'=1-. r. caves d husband
u,e sic, Fred and