Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-12-10

of the Cofoners jury en- the terrible explosion OF
the ili-fated Buckeye Belle. The jury is CONT
posed of men of high character and their statesI
ments can be fullyr relied upon. The facts make
out singular and perplexing case, one eminently
worthy the study of scientific and practical men.
We regard it of sufhrient general interest to be
worthy Of republication:
To the Public.
The undersigned have been engaged as OoIo-
nePs jury, for several days, in investigating the
causes that led to the explosion of the boilers on
the dictated steamboat Buckeye Belle, IN view, o.
the high stnte of excitement OF the pubic Fnino,
together with the many erroneous statements that
have found their way into the public prints; teeI II
their duty 10 place before the pubic such lnaIleIS
of facts as have come to their knowledge IN dif.
ferent shape from tier finding as jury in the
case We are also well aware of the many diff
cultieS thrown in the way OF obtaining correct IN
formation by so severe calamity, and are net at
all surprised that the public mind should be led
astray in haSty concluSlonS are also aware thai
for want Of properinvestgation, in many instances
the innocent are made TO suffer instead of the
guilty. During this Investigation, we have labored
diligently get at the facts i'll the case and TO x
the blame If any, whe'e it properly belonged.
We make no pretensious to scientific knowledge
of the power and application CT steam; yet, we
may be permitted 10 show the effect and assign our
reasons for the causes Of that elect.
In the first instance, we visited Tie wreck oil lie
boat and closely examined those portions OF her
machinery that were found, and from that examina
ton are of the opinion that the Aues gave way
first. Our reasons are that the boiler heads are IN
a convex form, which could not have been the case
had not the EueS given way first; for it is well
known fact that the fiues act as a chain to hold
the head of the boilers. The boilers were double
fueJ, sixteen inches in diameter; they were COM
pletely collapsed from end to within few feet
of the other.
a,taR mil
lapse if they were covered with water? and may be
answered by others by the great pressure. But
there is a difficulty in the way not yet solved. The
fues in the same boiler were collapsed IN different
directions; for instance, the larbonrd Hue IN the
larboard boiler was collapsed from the top, lndl-
eating q want OF water 10 cover it, the starboard
iue, in the same boiler, was collapsed vertically.
Now it would seem that in either case IN the alb
srnce ofwater in the presence OF IT. that the same
effect should be produced, viz: That II the col
lapse was caused by the great. pressure produced,
why were not the fues collapsed i'll the same wayi
If they were collapsed by the absence or want Of
water the same difficulty arises.
Again, from our cxa mnaton, we find the indica-
ton of q water line, in both boilers, atthe proper
place, in the vicinity of the guugesi and Us further
evidence that there was plenty of water in the
boilers the leap gasketS, at what is called tile chalk
joints Of the connection pipe, between the two
boilers, wee not melted; neither were the gaSketS
around the man hole Of either OF the boilers melted.
The small man. holes at the front of the boilers
were both i'll the same condition; the yarn packing
was removed in our presence, perfectly sound and
free from any signs Of excessive heat. We there
fore conclude that such could not have been the
case, particularly with the chalk joints, in the
absence OF water. If, then, admit the fact that
there was plenty of water in the boilers, the queS
ton will naturally oTlSe, what become of that great
quantity of hot water and how could so many, in
Guiding the ladies on board, have escaped without
the slightest Scald, from either water or steamI We
confess ourselves inadequate to the task, and leave
the question for the scientific 10 solve. 1t is true
that, by confinement, water may be made TO con-
tain specific heat; that, when suddenly relieved
OF brought into contact with the air. portion of
will be instantly manufactured into steam, until an
equilibrium takes place between the air and heat.
ed water; then, the steam Immediately cOndcnSeS
and returns tot its original element.
1t has been ascertained that Immediately prece-
ding the explosion, she bloTel OF freely under
pressure of two hundred and fourteen pounds of
steam TO the inch, on four inch valve. The boil
erS were twentyeight feet long, and forty-two in
cheS in diameter; the fueS were sixteen inches in
the clear, as before stated. Under this greatpreS-
sure, the valve forced down, and held there by
the second engineer for moment, when she went
of, producing the terrible consequences that fol-
lowed. Now, If we go upon the principle that
there was too much steam, and the explosion was
thereby produced, we find many difficulties in the
way. We take it as admitted fact, that when
boiler is filed with steam, that the pressure is equal
OIL allRdeS from the centre, that an increase oithS
pressure will finally cause the weakest part to give
way. Now, if we admit the fact that in this case,
the shell of the boilers gave way first, from tie
great pressure, how can we account for the convex
form ofthe heads, which supported by the fluesl
Again, would the ueS have collapsed at all, or il
they did, would they have collapsed in that pecu-
liar form i'll which they were found,
1t seems TO us, that take whatever view of this
case we may, there are difficulties that cannot be
solved even by the scientific. In regard to the eff
feet or extent of the explosion We think that his
tory cannot produce an equal. 1t would be diff
cult TO conceive of a more perfect wreck. All of
herupper works above the mail deck, forward of
her wheel houses, were literally torn 10 splnters
the balance of her upper works were either carried
back into her engine room, or thrown overheard;
all of heI beams were broken, from stem to stern;
the hull of the boat had the appearance of having
been bursted, or spread open; the plank having
sprung of, she sunk Immediately. The water in
the canal was Immediately shut off, by means of
head gales, and let out of the lower lock. Frag
menlS of the boat were thrown TO great distance;
PORTIONS of the fire brick were thrown to distance
of some three hundred yards, at an elevation proba
bly, three hlndred feet, containing heat enough TO
set the leaves on fire, in the woods Fragments of
human bodies were thrown in almost every direc-
ton; some five or SIX persons who were known to
been on the bot! at the time of the explosion, |
have not yet been found; and notwithstanding the
many erroneous reports that have been put into
circulation, touching this great calamity, we feel
safe in saying, that great praise is due to the ct
zenS OF Beverly anu VICINITY tOr Inc deep inter
est taken in providing for the wants and necessities
of the sufferers. During our examination, we are
happy to say, that the officers ofthe boat have been
exonerated from any blame in this mat
ter. Notwithstanding the gleat force of public |
opinion not witness who has testified in this case
has in any way implicated the owners of the boat.
From the evidence before us, there can be no |
doubt but the explosion was brought about by the |
improper conduct of the second engineer, who was
employed, in good faith by the first engineer, by
holding down the main valve to keep her from
blowing OF.
We have been politely furnished, BY the citi-
Gems of Beverly with the following list of those
killed, wounded and missing:
List Of Killed.
George G. Miller, Cincinnati.
Levi Wheeler, Portsmouth.
James Kennedy, QIishman) residence unknown.
VIM. G. Entler, Hampshire Co., Va.
John v. Sellers, do.