Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-01-31
he Enqwisiason ON the Lexington.

John Bradenburg examised-I am an engineer
and have been so employed for the last 10 wears /
was hrst employed on board the Lexington in the
TALL OF 1887. She had good and perfect engine,
which underwent thorough repair last fall. quit
led her ON the 81 day of November last.
Coroner-Why did you leave?
Wi,ness-Through Captain Vanderbilt. He got
dissatisfied with my services A day OF so after 1
lett the boat asked him the cause, when he gave
me to understand that il waa something about the
discipline ct the men. He did not think kept suf-
helent control over them. ! did not deem this
sufficient reason after being til long. He said
nothing about my Icing unacquainted with burning
coal. rot $50 per month, but do not know what
my successor WAS TO have. never knew of the
Lexington being on fire while was on board. I
considered her good, safe boat, and extraordinary
as il regards the engine.
by juror have made no different state nts
to this nor have had any conversation with the
owners or agent OF the Lexington. 1 have seen
communications in the public prints regarding my
leaving the boat, which are untrue
Cor hat were tteya
WYNN regard to my leaving the boat because
was afraid Of her
Frederick Hampstead exapined--I have been en-
Sineer Of several steamers among others, of the
David brown which W, at from here TO Charles
ton We burnt coal on board Of that boat, with nat
urai blast. We used the Anthracite. The furnaces
were not like those of the Lexington. We had
three different furnaces. They were cut up in the
front The fire bars were below the furnace, down
SO that We could run an extra bar in to stir it, and
Keep the furnace clean The door OF the furnace
%
cast iron put in the furnace door, keep the sparks
and fakes If ceshfrom coming out This was about
four inches square, ana eighteen inches long
Cor-Vhics did you consider the safest the
Lexington. or the Da id Brownl
Wn.-Why, looked upon the RIG Of the David
Brown as the best as IL regarded the fitting of the
furnaces. They used no blowers.
Question Do you deem blowers dangerousl
hns'-fes. never liked them, unless put up
very strsng, with brick work and sheet iron sufi.
c'ent went one trip in the Lex ngton. IL was
the TIM but one before she was lost.
Odd you apprehend any danger from fire,
Ans i did.
Q-Why'
Ans--nIy brother told me that must be cautious
as The beat had been on hIe the previous trip.
Q.-What precaurion did he tell you to take9
Ans Why, TO keep good look out for fire along
side the boiler, because the blowers would give mo
a good deal # ,souble.
Odd they make any alteration in the boilerl
A.-Why Understood they put on a pully to
the blower the trip she was lost My brother order
ed pully, and that increased the number Of re-
violations which the blower made This was in con-
sequence Of the old pully breaking.
Q-Did you have any fculty during your trip ?
Ayes, sir, with the blowers.
q Did she catch fire
Ayes. Some OF the fire wood caught w hoh had
stood alongside the boiler. When there was a light
body OF coal on the fire some 81 would get out and
by over the wood. My ether has said ihot he SON
side red the Lexington To be dangerous boat, and
cautioned me before l went up. He said he could
not stand 1t long, the work was so hard. at the
BY Juror-Wo ud increasing the speed OF the
blowers make the boat mere or less dangerous
Witnsss-More in my opinion.
Q-Under whose directions were these alterations
made
A-Why, IL was contract work done by Sccor
They wished TO make 500 turns up.
By the Coroner--I went in her b, cause NV bro
iher was sick. The brick wall on the corner Of the
bridge wall fell in several times on the trip that
went in
Q-What occa STONED d1
A-Why the force Of the blowers.
Juror-Aas u fire brick
Witness-No, common brick. II was the Gre first
displaced the mortar, ard the wind blew down the
brick.
Coroner-Did the boat take fire.
Witness-Na. took great care, and never closed
my eyes the whole night had 20 stop the blowers
several time, and coming down we did without them.
Q-Was there any difficulty in getting the FIRE
out
A-No, 90 long as the water IN the tank held out,
Q-How much did that bold
Alive OF six pals, sufficient TO cool the slice
Q-well, did ysu consider her safe after the al,s.
ratisnsf
Al weuld have considered myseIf safe. n royided
was there 20 keep good look out. The David
Brown was rugged exclusively for burning coal, and
she uevertook ire. was on board the Sandusky
when she took Gre from the saying in Of the bridge
wall
Odd you ever hear of any boat with boiler
built expressly for the burning Of coal taking ire
A-No.
p-Shoul1 you Rave considered the b0tler o. TIE
Lexington as II was, without the Blower pertsctiy
safe 7
Al shsaid, sir
Q-Then you consider the blower the cause Of this
calamity ?
Al DO; although I was not there On the night
when the wheel broke we carried only D inches OF
steam after the mishap. We bad previously used
from no 20 " up 10 ~ inches OF steam coming down
GLOW macy inches did you use with the blow
k-why less IN my opinion, because believe that
,be .Fset cfthc blower is TO carry The fire up the
49, n;ne away from the boiler. l have seen u ,
~ 20 on, At tke top Of the PIPE I've SIX feet hi~
Iuror-IIow near the promenade Deck did
ever see the smoke pipe red hotl
Ni,ucss-Why, down 10 The steam chimney. l
..nnot ,ay how far that was TO the deck.
Juror Have you had any difficulty with any Of
'Wuncss-Nc, sir. know none or them except
MIR Comstoek. Twas SRgagsd by Mr. seeor, and
vas last in hrs employ.
Juror-Did YOU see any carpenters at work be.
fore YOU went in the Lex ngton
wnness-yss, they were repairing the beams
near the steam chimney, aud was told that she had
be- N on fire there the previous trip.
Charles Smith, tNamined--I belong ~ Norwich,
Connecticut. was irem man on board the Lexington
when she was destroyed. About half past Z, Il. Nj,
FIRST heard &c the alarm board was then in
on the guard, asleep Som one came in ard
sung out that the boa call frc:' IL was Harry
Reeds, one Of The hands--hs was coal hssver-hs