Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-30

Expert Testimony from deputy inspec-
tors on the district police force was the
fea ture of Wednesdays inquest at the
Brock;on court house to determine. if
possible. the cause and responsibility of
the boiler explosion March 20 at the r. B.
Grover Co. shoe factory. by which IS
lives were sacrificed.
The 5Sth victim, Andrew G.. Lundel
died at Ito Wednesday morning at the
Brockton hospital. A fractured hip and
| Internal injuries were the cause of death
Fred NJ. BiXby presided at the inquest,
District Attorney Asa =. French con-
Quoted the inquiry, and evidence was
given by the police, surviving employees
| of the firm. members of the firm, repre-
scntativcS of the Hartford Boiler and
insurance Co. by the wife Of the late
engineer. David w. Rockwell. Asa
Friend. Clarence Anglim who is ac-
quaintcd with certain merchanical de-
vices in which the engineer was said Il"
he Interested and with which he is said
to have done some experimenting. The
inquest was public. nmited only by the
seating capacity. An immense crowd as
Sembled at the building early. only {,
comparatively small portion of it being
able to get in
The inquiry. which is designed to show
whether any responsibility for the ex-
plosion attached to the state. the city
the boiler insurance company. the own
ers of the factory. or employees.
There was some intcres: in The ex-
pected testimony of Hiram Pierce, one
of the injured shoe operatives who is at
the Brockton hospital. Since the cxplo-
sion statements have been made that
Pierce knew something concerning the
steam pressure in the boiler on the
moning of the disa or. Previous to the
inquest. however. no authentic state
ment made by Pierce has been given to
the public. District Attorney French. who
has given much Of his thine to the prepa-
ration Of the investigation. has deter
mined to carry on the inquiry so as to
embrace the following points.
The history of the boiler its appli-
anccs. the extent of its use and its in
sIeotion and repairs. the details of the
last inspection and what report was
made thereon: the amount of pressure
on the boiler just previous to the explo-
sion and it's condition as to water
The boiler was not one Of those which
dlS IusTttttu ny eTlpi'StS oi
the state police department as under tho
statutes the district inspectors are not
required to examine boiler which is in
sured.
The inquest was called on the death
Of Richard w. Sprigings. fated en-
ploye of the firm and through this for
B1ality the whole situation was opened
up. Medical Examiner A. E. Paine de-
clared that Sprigings died of excessive
hnrns.
Edwin Kendall of the Charles River
Iron Works. Cambridge. which construct
cd the Grover boiler in 1891 stated on the
witness stand that after the explosion
he discovered that there was a crack
at the tapping Of the seams. the boiler
was of tapped seam construction a kind
not much used now because Of the de-
ma nd for high pressure. The normal pres
sure of this boiler was so pounds he
said. The crack was hidden from the in
side by the lower lap he continued, it
having been between the outer edge and
a rivet on the under side of the upper
lap The boiler was two-thirds or more
bricked up and the rest covered with
asbestos He could not tell ahe age of
the crack In response to Mr.. French he
said it might have been there a consid-
era BILE time.
Mr.. Kendall said there was nothing TO
Indicate that there was an original
crack.
Treasurer c. o. Emerson of the Grover |
Company said he knew of repairs hav-
ing been made but once on the boiler |
since the firm bought it IA years ago.
That was TO the manhole. The boiler was |
by the Hartford Boiler In
spection and Insurance Co. and was in
'pected by 1t. He had never heard any
hing indicating that the boiler was not
n entirely proper condition The last
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