New Britain herald., 1926-02-05
CITY OPENS PROBE
 OF CATASTROPHE
tContinued From First Page) )

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 The building official was on q pile Of debris assisting in keeping curious crowds away from the im- mediate area of heavy wire cables, he snapping of which might have caused serious injury. Just as he shouted q warning to other spectat- prs, the cable loosed heavy piece of concrete from its moorings and Rutherford was knocked violently against Chief Sonney, both falling into a hole. Souney's hip was in- jurod and he was taken home. Rutherford was taken to the New Britain General hospital where first ald treatments were given and he was then removed to his home.
 Today Rutherford was again taken to the hospital for X-ray pie lures. They disclosed the presence of water on the knee, but a feared knee-cap break was not found. Torn fragments caused the building inspector much pain. He returned 70 his home and this afternoon re- l'pIttu dI Nllg ldll lD dsSisl MdNOI Paonessa In his Investigation.
 Frank Andrews Of 14 Crown street, q workman engaged in re- moving debris, was slightly injured about 10 o'clock and was hurried 10 the New Britain General hospital on tho advice of Dr, Richard W. Pull len. He was later allowed to go to his home.
 Damage S350,0 900 Noble Says
 Fire Chief William J. Noble has placed on estimate of the material damage at sS50,OOo. Factory oifi- cals declined to venture guess as 10 the monetary losses though they agreed the present structure was a complete loss.
 Compensation insurance under which the dependents of workmen who were killed, and the injured employees will be compensated, was - carried in a private insurance com pany, President Holmes of the com pany asserted today. In many local factories compensation insurance is il IlCh bS lllC Ipl 'Vi "'iS'i' " l' 'i a possible maximum of sl0,0V0 for rach fatality and with the numerous injuries, tho company might have (aced an outlay of more than $lQ0.- O00 had it carried it's own risk.
 kranns Not Missing
 The report that Edward kranns was missing proved to be unfound- rd. Kranns was talking 10 Thomas Mullen, the gateman, when the building fell in. Mullen said at the hospital yesterday afternoon that he believed Kranns had been struck down by the bricks and was buried in the debris. It developed that kranns escaped without injury.
 VIII Not Affect Factory.
 The effects of the collapse will not bc felt in any other department of Inc North X Judd plant, Mir. Holmes told The Herald today.
 Foundry employees, many of whom vcre' engaged to work through the night, were notified 10 report for duty as usual Monday morning. The foundry proper will bo in operation at that time. The annealing depart mcnt will De out Of use until q new building is erected and in the in- tnrm it will be necessary 10 have that part of the work done else where. This can be conveniently handled in such way as to kccp Up nroductiom officials of the company assured, and the work of replacing the fallen building will be under taken without delaly.
 Annealing equipment, mainly a TOW of kilns, was damaged only sligtly. The superstructure, much Of which now hangs in a precarious condition, may yet couse damage. however, as J-bcams anl girders arc strained tc the utmost and difficulty is anticipated in removing them from directly over the liilns without causing breaks,
 sidewalk Still Covered.
 The debris is being hauled out of tue building and across the street where it is being dumped into va cant lot. Bricks. mortar, concrete, &nel mesh and window sashcs are on the sidewalks 10 depth of about five feet, but Inc roadway was clear ra al noon today. No traffic will be permitted to pass through. however, until the walks too have been clear ed.
 When Ii became definitely known ,ic t1,at oil 1T Tl lnNpC hDI been accounted for, the company be- gan a gradual reduction of ifs work ing force which at that time ran 70 ;nou' 900 men. This afternoon ;h' torco of laborers on duty has been reduced 10 ahout %. There arc no ircmcn on duty and four policemen re keeping a rapidly reducing gath ring of spectators out of the rath ut Workingmrn.
 Mayor Paoncssa. Fire Chief Noble Police Chief Hart and officials Of the concern today reiterated statements made yesterday afternoon .in which they declared there was no cXplo- sion prior to tho collapse.
 No Criminal Negligence
 Medical Examiner Waterman Lyon, delegated by Coroner J. G. Calhoun 10 conduct an investigation for the corornr's office said today h" found no indication of criminal nl Glgencc.
 Criticism of tho roof construction vas made by Chief Noble who said he heavy steel mesh into which ;hout five inches Of concrete had nncn set resulted in q roof weighing hundreds ot tons. entirely too heavy for the supports. Statement mad" hy an tmployc Of the concern that g. part of the roof was of recent con Structicn were contradicted today by officials at North X Judd'S. Chief Noble plans 10 investigate further into hlS informant'S knowledge of roof conditions at the plant.