Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-25
ELEVEN DEAD.
Continued from Page One.)

andrew Jensen, the contractor OF the
'uilding, at his home at Naticx. where
went Immediately after the accident,
allied Tuesday morning as it did Mon
lay night and in The absence OF any
by the state authorities
he cause Of the accident could not te
definitely learned Tuesday. LAS usual
n such cases there were many ru-
mors about the town such as slipping
orders, poor cement and faulty con-
struction. but none could be verified.
One Of the important developments
OF the day was that the town has no
building laws and that the local po-
lice are therefore powerless to arrest |
anyone for faulty construction.
Any such action will have to be
through state officials such the medi-
cal examiner and the district attorney.
Medical Examiner f. G. Hoitt of
Marlboro, who is taking the Framing
ham district in absence of the regular
official. has the power to make
report to District Attorney Sanderson
and he probably will do so within the
next few days, after which the district
attorney may order an inquest which
will be held by the judge of one of the
district courts.
While the town Is q busy one 1t has
never adopted laws regarding building
80 that all structures have gone up
without any restrictions whatever.
The conditions of the eight injured
| Workmen who were removed to the
| birmingham hospital son after the
accident was reported Tuesday morning
are favorable with the exception OF
Chester Nicholson. about whom the
hospital authorities were somewhat
anxious. All the others were resting
comfortably and there were strons
hopes for their recovery.
| At the home of Mr.. Amsden, the
owner of the building. who went down
in the crash with the others it was stat
| ed Tuesday mOrnind that while Mr..
Amsden was suffering much from his
injured leg and nervous shock, no Sc
rious consequences We're anticipated.
The assistance of the militia in clear
ing UP the ruins was missed Tuesday
the work having been assigned to a
. large number of street railway labor
| ers. During the forenoon, however, the
| sidewalks near the building were
| cleared.
Examination showed that it would
be unsafe to attempt to dig over tn:
debris enclosed by the partly wrecked
walls of the building until sections
weakened by Mondays collapse hat
been removed. To do this ropes wer,
run through the window opening
across which planks had been fastened
The ropes were tied to the planks an
a few men heaving on the lines wer
S able to pull down the topping ruins
| While this was necessary for safety
| hirdered the work of the search TO
$ bodies because it threw additions
: wreckage upon that already heaped u
n by the original accident. 1t was con
r sidered doubtful if much progress cOul
be made before noon.
1t was expected that if bodies wer
found they would be located in tn
Y section nearest the rear walls and
e was apparent they would be found on
ly after hours of hard digging. The pc
: culiar material used in the structur
made the work slow, there being larg
o amounts Of cement held together by tn
framework.
Much anxiety was felt by those 1
n charge CT the work of searching tn
n ruins. to reach the body of Henry L
:. Sawyer, who was the well-known mer
1. chant Of the town. All inquiries durin
: the night and Tuesday have failed t
It locate him. and it was considered Ger
tain that he would be found among tn
y dead.
e BY II o'clock practically the whole G
e; the rear wall had been levelled as a re
n suit of the efforts of crew of work
n ers. No more bodies We're found. TIL
Y | oanar of tho hnildinr however wa
filled with debris and the men quickl
6 turned their attention to clearing tn
IS wreckage from that place.
J.; In the absence of absolute informa
o, ton as to the cause Of the accident
B.. is generally believed that the collaps
lr of the building was due to the effect {
n, the recent excessive humid weathe
upon the material which was being pr
into the building. 1t is believed that tn
dampness softened the cement Of while
the blocks used in erecting the front {
le the building were made until they re
fused longer 20 support the cross giro
ers bearing the weight of the fran
- work of the roof.
- Three inspectors, representing III
Massachusetts district police. includ
H. ing Deputy Inspector Moore were ht
| today IN connection WIFI an lIiNesll6d
.. ton Of the accident. 1t is the inter
D ticn of the inspectors to determine eN
g actly. If that be possible. what tn
ie conditions were that led to the collaps
Of the building.
II. Deputy Chief Neal of the state polio
II. stated this afternoon that so far az Il
was aware the investigation was nc
d. being pursued particularly from III
point of view of criminal responsible
Iity but merely To find out from tn
standpoint of a builder just what caus
ed the disaster.
This evening the efforts of tn
searchers in the ruins were rewarde
- by the finding of one more body, tht
N of Henry l.. Sawyer, hardware mel
:, chant and plumber who was in tt
10 building inspecting the plumbing plar
Mt the time of the collapse. The bod
!, was wedged among heavy girders an
r. buried under n great mass of brick
- and concrete. Mr.. Sawyer was prom
inent citizen and well-known as
:. business man. His wife and four chi
:, dren survive him.
> | u,,S helioyai IN NIGHT that thrt