The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-28

100 ne boiler of this boat exploded in the summer
1907, white she stopping the wharf at Grass,
I'm vn, on The Hudson river 10 take in passengers
nc poiier was situated under the forward deck and
from y; mIs ne Immense Exploding force that i eaped
ron ~ bed twenty feet high passed within twenty lee,
stern on the starboard side and struck the edge
oItne quarter deck il went overheard. Upon the
examination Of the boiler and the wreck, after they
~eis brought down to the city Of New York the wri-
ef discovered that the boiler which made Of quar-
ter inch thick sheets of sound iron was rent asundcr
a. ~ shattercd by magazine of gunpowder The
nun was horrible wreck. The forward deck blown
gu ,h'o tagments-one OF the wheel-gnards forced
yseipoard and the other nearly gonc-the bottom Of
e 1oa' Tor thirty or forty feet eDgthwise, near the
yenas three feet under water abreast ofthe boiler
we iarpoard side forced open fifteen inches
'eanhg asunder sound tnbers six or eight inches
squh'e, and very close together. The whole scene,
ron stern 10 stern exhibited an evidence of an irresis
uble and exploding power
AHer careful inspection into all the circumstances
connected with this appalling disaster The inevitable
conclusion was, that il was entirely owing to want
~ water IN the boiler. The ues uncovered and
req not above the water line while the boat was living
mo.onless at the wharf; then either by opening the
sany valve, or by putting the engine in motion to
woik on the steam and thereby suIgng the over
perhaps 10 or 10 square feet OF red hot metal all fash
ing into steam the same instant producing an ex-
panding power almost incredibly desolating. This
case Is sufficient TO prove that safety valves could
nave guarded against this shocking accident
~ chemical philosophy il is supposed that the boil
ers when the fines are red hot, filled with in6au,-
mapie gas and are exploded but thai is not SO demon
sfrdbie cause of the explosion the flash steam
above alluded to.
After all the various ingenious contrivances thought
OF for ascertainng the scarcity Of in the boiler
Dy IT'S own inherent powers operating upon telltale
indicator, there seems ellectua as the float
resting ON the surface OF the inside of the boiler
attached TO perpendicular rod at the top of which is
concal head, fitting hole through the top of the
boiler, answering as valve, opening nwards. When
the water falls below its standard the float falls with
and opens the valve sounding the alarm by its dis
charge Ibis plan has been recommended to he at
hched 10 the boiler the outside being small up-
night pipe having two communications with the boil
u, the one below TO the water and the upper one to
The steam chamber OF the boiler The writer can see
no reasonable objection why this float should not be
introduced into the biler, having guides for the
rod to traverse through for keeping steady the float
70 rise aud fall inside Of perforated sheetron pipe
or lis guide and protection from the surging of the
ter. Steam boilers should always have number of
transverse perforated partitions in them prevent the
waters surgng by the motion of the vessel As a
check upon the carelessness n the officers OF the boat
there should be machine like locked up gasomeer
that secretly registers the quantity of gas consumed
every night, connected with this float and valve
united, by rod chain TO it, which should secretly
register by an index every delinquency that should
ocrur by neggenily letting the fall below its
proper standard The key of this little cltae should
be only kept by duly authorized inspecting officer Of
Government, acting under oath requiring periodical
Inspection and faithful report to such convenient
place shall be established ny law and the report to
be published without delay that travellers may be put
on their guard how they trust themselves with careless
navigators. Upon the same plan, there should be at
tached te-tae indicator TO the safety to show
delinquency of duty in snrcharging the boiler with
steam beyond the established standard. This might
easily be connected with the safety vale such as
has recently been adopted in England, and which is
put beyond the control Of the officers of the boat
Heat and moisture, when combined are powerful
eccentric agents Of destruction, and often much EN-
barrass the ingenuity Of man, how to contrve ade-
quae preventive remedies against their frightfnl ra
wages.
After every precautionary measure in mechanical
scienceis used to prevent explosions still there will be
deadly risks from careessness unless the Government
licenses those officers upon whom the responsibility
rests, after they found, upon due examination, to
be competent, and in every respect trustworthy and
threatening them with penalties case of cul
pable negligence.
ROBERT LAWRENCE
Washington, Dec. %, 1888.