Putnam patriot., 1917-05-25
CAVE-IN KILLS
ISAI MARION
Was Working in Sewer Trench on
Church Street Wednesday Afternoon
When Landslide Broke His Back
Died in Few Minutes Without Regaining
Consciousness
City Officials Say Men Were Not Sup.
posed TO Be Working

Issi Marion, an empoye of the city
of Putnam, was almost instantly killed
shortly after O'Clock Wednesday af
ternoon when twelve feet of the side
wall of sewer trench on Church
street, in which he was shoveling, slid
in upon him breaking his back. He
had been in the employ of the city
only three weeks.
Mr.. Marion and six other lsborers
were engaged in digging trench for
sewer extension in front of the proper
ty of the Sisters of the Holy Ghost
Where Marion was shoveling the
trench was about six feet in depth and
was unsbored. Suddenly without
warning twelve feet of the east side.
wall of the trench caved in and Mar.
ion, who was stopped over, received
the full force of the slide upon his
back and he was buried to the should
ers.
Harold Boswell and Peter Lock wood,
to his assistance and worked frantieal-
ly removing the dirt that covered his
body. After they released him they
lifted him onto the side of the trench
and doctors were summoned.
Drs. Jehn J. Russell, Edward F.
Perry and F. A. Morrell, medical ex-
aminer, responded. DR.. Russell was
the first to arrive and made an exami-
nation that disclosed that Marion's
back was broken. The ambulance
was summoned but before it arrived
Marion was dead. The medical ex-
aminer gave permission for the re
moval of the body.
Marion never spoke after the ecci
dent happened. " hen taken out he
kept gasping and grooming. The soil
at the point where the trench is being
dug is of gravel and sand and just to
the east of The present trench the road
way had recently been dug up to lay
water pipe which may have loosened
the other portion of the roadbed.
Coroner A. G. Bill of Danieson came
to Putnam Thursday morning, viewed
the premises and asked a few questions.
The sewer construction is being done
by the city Il charge of Frank Dumas,
superinlt Adent of streets, and Thomas
p r.. N, city clerk, has been super
vising the work Both of these men
were in WiEmat - Wednesday at.
tending meeting concerning the mil
itary draft registration.
city officials say hat rs it rained
Wednesday morning work was not
carried on and that they did not know
the men would go to work in the q ter
noon as both men in charge were out
of town. III was also stated tlAt orders
had been given not to dig deeper than
a feet owing to a change of grade to be
made in the street.
Both Dumas and Ryan were shock.
ed TO learn of Marion's death when
they returned to Putnam and were the
more surprised MS they did not know
the men were working and did not ex-
peet that they would go to work in
their absence.
Isai Marion was born in Canada,
June 10Th, 1919, and would therefore
have been IS years old next month.
He obtained meagre education and
went to work at an early age. Forty
three years ago he married Exirme
Farley in Canada and thirteen chill
d rem were born to them, ten of whom
are now living in Putnam. Mrs. Mar
ion died in November, 1915.
Mr.. Marion removed from Canada TO
the United States ,apout thirty years
ago, locating in Holyoke, Mass. After
living two years in that city he came
to Putnam where he has lived ever
since. Although receiving small wages
as day laborer he managed to raise
his large family and his sons and
daughters are highly respected, sue
cessful citizens of this city.
Mr.. Marion worked for over twenty
wears as an outside man and teamster
for the Morse mills. He left them to
work for the Putnam Manufacturing
Company where he remained for three
wears. A few weeks ago he left that
position and began work for the city.
Mr.. Marion was a member Of Union
St. Jean Bapliste Society. He was one
of The best known men in the north
end of the city and had many friends.
He was highly respected by all who
knew him and was faithful worker.
Since his wife's death he had made
his home with his daughter, Mrs.
Henry Gsgne, Woodstock avenue.
Alr. Marion is survived by seven
sons: Eugene, Frank o., Adelard, Jo'
seph, Emery, Albert, Lionel, ail OF
Putnam; and three daughters, Mrs.
Henry Gagne, Mrs. John Cournoyer,
Mrs. Joseph Beaudreault, Putnam
The funeral will be from st. Mary $
church at 9 O'Clock Saturday morning
and burial will be in st. Mary's church.