The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-01
'llBOYS'DEATHS
. BEING PROBED
Lawrence City ,ials Say
Constructic 80 Walk
Was n S'aulty
GROVE q OF BOYS
CAUSED COLLAPSE
About Two Score Were Pre-
cipitated Into Is Feet
of Water

| Lawrence, Mass, July IA search for
possible additional victims of yesterdays
accident, when eleven boys were drowned
| in the Merrimac river as the result of
the collapse of runway leading to the
city bathhouse, was resumed to-day by
diver, who explored the river bottom,
and by boatmen dragging the stream.
1t was generally believed that no more
bodies would be found, as all the boys
| reported missing last night had been
| accounted for this mornings but a thor
ough search of the river was made to de-
termine beyond question the extent of
the calamity.
Before the search was concluded an in
vestigation of the cause was well under
way. The city council met in special
session this morning and preparations
for holding an inquest were made by
the county authorities. Both inquiries
have the same end in view to determine
the case and to place the responsibility
for the disaster. The deaths were due
to the collapse of the runway from the
bathhouse. About forty boys are said
to have been on the walk when it sud
htOpptl anu all were tHIONU liltp
the river. Only a few could swim.
The accident, the officials declare, was
not due to any defect in construction,
but was caused by too many boys crowd
ing onto the runway.
The boys, ranging in years from nine
to fifteen, had come down an incline
to a level stretch Of planking that led
to the bathhouse. There they waited for
William Blythe. the bathhouse keeper.
to open the door. No one knew how
many there were in the party that clam
ored for Blythe to open up but it is
thought that forty is a conservative
estimate.
Eight minutes before the appointed
hour for opening" the boys were let
ting loose their exuberanee by jumping
up and down and tumbling over each
other. Suddenly the supports at the
foot of the incline sank. A second later
the walk extension dropped like trap
door and the boys rolled into the river.
There is swift current at this point
drawn by the falls a quarter of a mile
below, and the lads were caught in this.
Many of them could not swim. Wit
nesses on the river bank say that all
disappeared in a flash but a moment
later there was a struggling mass on
the surface. The stronger ones, who
could swim, struck out bravely for the
boat house and score saved themselves.
Their cries brought aid and several 9TH
ers were pulled ashore. Five uncon-
scious forms were brought from the
water and two of these were finally re-
suscitated. Efforts to restore the 9TH
ers were futile.
1t was thought at first that only three
were drowned and it was not until two
hours later that the probable loss of life
was realized John Mooney, eight years
old. awoke the police to the true situa-
ton. In the crowd of distracted friends
on shore he missed his chum and set up
a cry: 81 don't see Rolhe. He must be
drowned"
Then boats and graphing irons were
brought and the river bed was dragged.
When the work ceased late last night,
eleven bodies had been recovered.
Most of the boys were from the mill
district and when word of the accident
reached their homes, thousands crowded
The river bank
The bodies recovered were identified as
'ollows William Balster, Joseph Hem
nessey. Michael Woitena Joseph Me
=
1ann, Joseph Cote, Armand Gaudette
William Thornton, Flower Pinta. Roland
Tones. Joseph Boulanger and Secunda
Allegro.
Commissioner of Public Property and
Parks Alfred Bradbury who has charge
# the city's bathhouse, said that he
ould make no statement as to the cause
II the accident, because the construction
II the bathhouse has been under the
Erection of John O. Batterhill. his SUI
Batterhill refused to say
nything until he had an opportunity to
xamine the collapsed structure, An IN
uest to determine responsibility for tie
ccident will be held in a day or two.
The victims were all local boys, rang
ng in age from q years, except
2ebaldo Gaudette, aged TO-, who be-
Dnged in Eitchhurg.