Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-01-24

FURIHrR EXAMINATIONS INTO THE Loss or THE
LExISeroN.-The following testimony in relation to
this i'll fated craft, was elected yesterday:
Theodosius +. Secor examined - Lives nj 90
Avenue ID, and Is a steam engine bnider His place
Of business is in Ninth street. the East River
Did not make the engine for the Lexington, but has
repair ed IL several times. 1 not know how often
First repaired her boiler about two years ago this
month; II wanted a little patching, such as is gene
rally done TO boilers when boats Law up Since that
time we repaired the boilers twice; first was LAST
March, and then again in the fall do not reco lect
the time OF year, but think it was in November.
Patched II then, and put IN iron and brick worN
1t did not want much doing to- We also repaired
the CINE; put in set Of brakes and gave the
engine a regular overhauling. The bill was alb, ut
5000. l think II may have been as late as Decem-
The furnace also had ra set Of sheet iron
work and brick work for the furnaces. This is to
prevent the fire from getting out under the boiler
The iron used was about eighth of an inch thick;
had altered the furnace 20 enable them burn coal
We began 10 work on her in November; the altera-
tons consisted Of making fire bars, aad putting new
briekwork around her furnaces. We only contract
ed the furnace by raising the fire bars also nut
the blower To her; it was 81 inches in diameter and
rs inches wide. We calculated il would make 900
revolutions to IL strokes of the engine. consider
there is less danger in burning coal than wood
Juror-Nhyso, sirl
Wiiness-Because there is more danger Of catch.
ing from sparks Of wood than from coal, althou Oh
coal gives out the most Intense heat.
Coroner-Where was the engine Of the Lexin gton
constructed
" .,uess-At the West Point foundry, and l con.
slider II as good one AZ ever was built
Coroner want TO know ii the engine was capa.
bic Of sustaining all the steam which the eng Inc
would generated
Witnsss-Yes, / consider so.
Juror-Whst directions did you receive when the
| boat was sent TO you!
! witness-To repair her, without regard TO er.
pense.
What iron did you usel
Witness Pennsylvania iron: ] should say from
cutting into the boiler that It was made Of first
rate stuff do not know if the casing Of the steam
chimney was taken OF i did no repair her smoke
| pipe, but did put new set Of sheet iron "fanges
aroundit The covering Of the steam chimney did
not extend above the promenade deck. The carry
ing Of the cas- tx higher would depend en- where
the boiler was TO be placed, whether the guard or
amdships IL Is mere matter &C faHcy; but should
think there would be much chance for sparks of
fire To get between the casing Of the steam chimney
so as 60 ignite do not think any live Goals could be
carried ipto the smoke pipe BY the action Of the
boiler. on board the boat after the blower was
| put int created an unusual draft, which is the
purpose for which II is designed; she had damper
also When we FIRST started the engine. we had the
dsmper down. IL the dsmper was kept shut long
enough, am 81 the opinion the ere would come out
at the furnace doors, Tor ia must escape some here
| think the ire room of tnat boat was as safe "a
ethers.
Jurer-Are the fire rooms Of any steamboats, on
oar waters, as safe as they ought To be
Witness hats a question l not bound Co an
! swer think some OF them are safe; and pc rhaps
all are safe that have come under my observation
Juror-would not the FIRE rooms be more safe, IL
they were cated with shee iron
Witness-Perhaps they would be so.
by the Coroner-liempsted was the engineer
when I repaired the engine. The name Of M. pre-
decessor was Fly drnbury. do not know where be
lives or why he was discharged. ! have plan Of
the boiler aud engine "A plan or drawing was here
produced and handed TO the foreman. at si.ht Of
which all the loaers present huddled about the Jury
and a regular hubbub cnsued
The foreman remarked N at from the examination
of tn. plan tn were satisfied that more gues
tions need be put 10 the witness by them.
Examination res med by the Cororer-Neyer
heard % the Lexington catching fire before tbs /
have never been To Esrope. nor iave | seen The
steam engines in operation there belisvsthe l. a.
ington to have been safe a. any boat ever saw
The steering apparatus is out of my iiac noiced
| the iron rods ander the promenade deck; beyond
! that have no knowledge on the subject Sampson
was the ioincr that did he work Of The boat
Question You have seen some European boats,
are they not better provided against fire than those
that ran on the Snundl
Answer-l cannot say theT are; bat they GER
tainly have not cast iron hoors
Robert NJ Hoe, one Of the iarors, examined by the
Coroner-l live at COP East Broaaway; am OF the
hrm OF X. Hoe and On, machine makers. etcetera;
never was On beard the Lexington; bat have peen
I IN most Of the other boats on the Sound, anu