The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-20

The Rs,nass. O.,:n,sy-Trial Of Captain
Fa<nham for Granddaughter.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT.
Before Hon. Judge Belts.
EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE.
George Halves, examined BY Mr. Smith, deposed-
am an engineer on the North river; run boats be-
tween New York and Albany since 1920 we used
wood when we first began to run; coal was next
used believe in 1889 the passenger boats first used
coa, the North America, second; coal is much better
imam WOOD, much more economical and manage
aDlei we can govern our steam better with coal;
steam was governed in the boats that used coal
Dy opening doors; pressure becomes less by leav-
ing doors OPEN can't regulate 10 well with
wood when the column of mercury rises we can
only diminish steam by opening the safety
valve have stopped first class boats in three minutes
under full head Of steam, without using the valves
! laid fourteen hours in fog within ten pounds
OF my ordinary full head without using the valves
discovered that lcoud diminish the steam without rails
ing the valve in the first passage down; the first trip
was made by the North America without stopping; we
were racing with the Albany; in passing the Albany
she broke her shaft; we rounded to, took her pas
senge and baggage, and laid by her three-quarters
Of an hour without opening the safety valves have
run boats three months without opening the safety
valve at the place of destination, any where else;
the furnace doors act as safety valves perfectly
by opening furnace doors and stopping blower;
this mode possesses advantages in saving steam,
and does not make any noise; by letting cold pass
through the fiues and stopping communication of
steam when the water becomes level in the boiler
we open the cocks have never had water to full
below the lowest cocks to open doors and stop COM
municaton with boilers and open cocks, to find how
has got to pass through the fuel; in making a
landing steam sometimes falls 30 much that
we have to shut the doors. Diagram pro-
duced.1 The weakest point was under the
ported BY brace bolts It comes in contact generally
with the fres which is the reason why it is weaker
the plates are sometimes defective, and sometimes
there are two or three angles on one sheet (Repre-
sentaton Of the fuehead producedl / have fire.
quently ended the passage with forty pounds
OF steam, and when we came to pump cold
water into the boiler have discovered leak, which
was obliged to mend right off; one gauge cock of wa
ter in boiler is just as good as twenty first cock is
two three inches above the top Of the highest ue
next is some four inches high If the water comes
out Of the first place it is perfectly safe captains
and engineers duty differ very much; have
been great many months without seeing the cap
the workings OF the steam engine.
Cr0ssexamincd by the District Attorney-The
names of the boats allude to are the North Ameri
CO for one, South America, Henry Patterson, Isaac
known to be worked without the safety valve being
used; within the last two years have been engaged
in the steamboat Frank the North America COM
menced running in 1889, and is running yet; the
South America commenced in 1910; the Henry Pat
terson and Isaac Newton are running YETI the Frank
is laid up; they are all passenger boats except the
Frank; they make sometimes fourteen landings with
ont raising their safety valves; have the boiler
OF the steamboat Swtsure indicating the appearance
have described.
To MI. smidt--very few steamboats, get steam as
fast as they want it.
By Juror-Woud it not be an additional security
If you opened the safety valve?
A.-The security would not be wanted if you were
below your pressure.
The Judge-The juror wishes to know would there
not be less danger if the safety valve was opened.
nIvy' fhoro hoI
Juror-lf the doors had been open in the case of
the Reindeer, and the safety valve raised, would
there have been additional security!
witness have known fiue to be broken with
out any pressure ut all.
TO Mr.. Noyes-f my steam gauge denoted more
than thirty, would inquire why it did not 20 of;
IT is for the engineer to look at the steam gauge and
II he notes more than thirty-fve, it is his duty to
see why it did not go Off, never saw the consistef-
cy of having less steam when lying still than while
running.
William A. Lightall-Ia am an engineer and an in
yentor OF the half beam engine; my engine is in the
wood was used as fuel on the North river when
commenced as an engineer; anthracite coal is now
used; we could not well control the damper; we
didn't blow off except at the end of the voy-
it was better not to blow off, so as to find where the
water was; ran six months on the Hudson river
and never blew off; if attended to my business I
never '.bowed' off; if was careless only, then
run down from five to ten pounds, and as soon as
got the fires ready, and was about to start, had
about the same pressure; the stoppages averaged
about five minutes it gives the engineer about
that everything is right we fill the boilers
with Croton water here, and when we get up to the
Highlands we use other water it is not very salt;
for every ton of coal that is consumed there would be
from seven to eight tons of water used.
To the Judge-We would not use all the fresh
water here before we get up to the salt water.
To MIR. Smidt : The inside Of the 1ue is
black; if boat had one cock of solid water
there would be no danger in running the
boat was acquainted with the Reindeer.
OFF the third cock from the bottom indicated
water, how long would she run without danger? A
She would run three or four miles without danger
am acquainted with the Hudson river; if the Rein
deer had three cocks Of water she would not be def
cient in going from Red Hook to Bristol. WITNESS
explained the weakest part Of the boiler upon q
diagram.] II there had been a leak it would have
ing in the man-hole; it would be indicated also, by
noise; it could leave mark on the plate itself SO
that it would be seen afterwards; the continual work
of boiler like the old saying of the continual drop
engineer is to take care of his boilers and his men,
the captain has not any control the engineer ex
cept that he say that the boat must be stopped,
or if he says go ahead, he must go ahead
The Judge-How is it he tells him to use so much
coal?
Ale need not do it unless he likes; the captain
would have an undoubted right to discharge him if
he did not do his duty while landing passengers it
is not possible for the captain to know how much
steam is used have known Capt. Farnham up
wards of twenty years his character is good for
prudence, skill and ability.
To Mr.. Hall-If attended to my business, I would
open the doors shout mile, mile and half be-
fore stopping we shut them, if the steam is up,
when we get under way.
John Murphy, examined by Mr.. Smidt, deposed-
| am boer-maker in the Morgan Iron Works; l
am foreman there; those are the Works in which the
boilers were made. [Plan produced1 This
correct plan of the construction OF the Renders
boilers. WITNESS here explains the construction of
the boilers upon dagram.l There was row of
braces made fast to the top of the boiler. There were
eight or ten of them; the plates liable to become
injured by heating them; they turned hot; that
turner it is not SO easy to detect an injury
when the plate is put in the boiler think
made general observation of the boiler; did not
see any particular defect in it in that connection;
sv,s oft rr1o No Ea-rh