The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-05
From the Crescent Gin.


Inspector of boilers of the State of Louisiana,
for the United States, at this port under the
act on which this prosecution is instituted On the
18th of June last inspected the boilers of the Lou
isia,a; and gave 10 the captain and owners a cert
icae, in the due form of law, that they sound
and fit for use, which was the case at that time.
steamboat is required to have this certificate re-
newed every six months. have seen and exam
ined particularly, since the explosion, the frag-
ments of the boilers upon the evee. This after
noon with particular reference to my evidence,
made thorough examination, in company with
several engineers, of the large piece at the
of Canal street In only one or two slight places
found the thickness less than one-f fourth of inch
now pronounce them good; and if had inspected
them the evening before the explosion would have
given certificate Of their soundness.
Cross eraninedby Mr. Price.-Three of the boilers
were originally in the Dallas. | inspected them in
her The inspector above gave his certificate at the
time (in the fall OF lS43) that they new. do
not know whether the boiler measured from
the Memphis or not. H7hsn Igape the certificate, the
captain and engineer told that the boiler from the
Memphis good, not better than be Others;
gaze a certificate that they all in good order
Sometimes one boiler is defective and not another
| only saw the fragments on shore, md cannot
explosion have known boilers 10 be burnt out in
trip; others, in twelve years service, still re-
main good
1t is the duty Of this officer bylaw to ex-
anime thoroughly the boilers of steam-ves-
sells in his district, and state his opinion
whether or not they are sound and fit for
use, and state their age in his certificate.
Instead of possessing any of the know
ledge which the law requires him to have
on the subject, it appears, from his own
testimony, that he has no information in
the premises, and has given his certificate
on the authority of the "inspector above"
and on what the captain and engineer told
him.
Such, we have reason to believe, is too
frequently the manner in which these Off
cial certificates are given, without involv-
ing the least personal examination, know
ledge, or responsibility. The certificates
issue pretty much as a matter Of course,
every six months; for the law which visits
the captain and engineers with pains and
penalties for their misconduct, negligence,
or inattention, even to the guilt of man.
slaughter, suffers the negligent, irrespon-
,ible, or conniving inspector to 90 scot
free.
Since the foregoing article was written,
we have received the following report Of
the third days proceedings in this case,
before commissioner BALDWIN We would
ask attention TO the remarks of Mr.. Hun
TON in regard to the existing laws
The United States W. John Cannon and John l.. j.
SB,tth, master and engineer Of The Louisiana.
THIRD DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
At the opening Of the court yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Hunton stated that, nasInuch a. the testimony
in relation 70 John l.. Smith, the first engineer was
wholly inadequate ~ obtain his conviction before
jury, he should move for the discharge Of the
prisoner II was evident that deep guilt lay some
whcrcbut the proceedings elected in the case only
showed how impOtent the act Of Congress was in
irthering the ends Of justice in matters like the
present. he proposed, however, in discharging
him, 70 have him brought 10 the stand there 20 tes-
tfy 10 his knowledge Of the affair
had no hesitation whatever in saying that 81 far ~
| the proceedings against Smith were concerned the
| case should BE- dismissed.
John H. smith, stc0n.I was first engineer Of the
Louisiana, but not on board At the time Of the
| explosion. There were three other engineers en-
gagged on the boat; Clinton Smith, Richards and
Tucker. have reason 10 believe that Clinton Smith
must have been killed. I have heard nothing If
him. Richards has gone TO St. Louis, and Tucker
| believe Il engaged now on the towbOat Swan !
have been engaged on the Louisiana since the Let
October. have never expressed opinion that
the boilers Of the Louisiana were unsafe never
had any conversation with the captain on the cub
ject excepting 10 dissent from what some people
had said about the boilers being bad told the cap
tain that wanted metallic pac king line the en-
gine-this was the only suggestion made in rela-
ton 20 laying up for trip This had nothing to
do with the boilers and was only a matter Of con.
veniencc TO make the berth easier for myself II
could not affect the condition Of the boilers The
wages Of an engineer, in the St. Louis trade vary
from S1S0 10 S200-that is, for running the bat
defrsying the expenses Of the whole engineering
department. Second engineers DO not get over 8 %
month. Clinton Smith was employed at the same
time that was left the Louisiana between three
and he aft If tb4 affa bav