The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-19
ord Of chain to rsiss the valve; Al bsaes havs


Twenty pounds was seldom exceeded for lev
IN high aT he sSe ss% or
the boiler 1.-THE witness described the safety valve
1t is kept in ts place by guide passing through 81
steam engines have this safety valve; what was Ter.
mer'y called high pressure engine = now sIsw
pressure engine; in high pressure the steam goes
on Unto the air. in low pressure engine the steeA
goes into the boiler the high pressure boilers are
generally cylindrical, as best calculated to resist the
pressure; they are made little thicker, but not
much; think II she had proper safety valve, and
the doors were open, the safety valve would relieve
the boiler.
Cross-examned-A good boiler on the Hudsoa
river would resist sixty or seventy pounds; we nit
our ocean steamers to twenty pounds there are some
below that some circumstances in ocean navigation
render it necessary to have greater strength in ne
boilers on the Hudson river l think thirty pounds
would be d safe pressure; have been engaged in
running an engine myself; did not notice where
the safety valves were IN the Reindeer; the best
place for the safety valve would be the upper part q
The steam chimney.
To Mr.. Hall-The effect on opening the dO0ra il 70
cool the flue il the safety valves were properly
constructed, the steam could escape 80 ~ no expls'
sion could take place.
To Mr.. Noyes-If the doors are open it keeps the
pressure as II was before; it would prevent any ma
teral increase; they are 10 managed on the Hudssa
river as long as know them and that is for twenty
FIVE years; putting on coal would have the effect OF
dampng the fire. cant speak Of the general practise
pounds pressure. should not think it safe to leave
the safety valve because il might not be in geod
working ORDER fixed at thirty-iye pounds, with the
doors open, it would be safeJ
Reindeer at the time she burst her boiler; tOek
passage at New York for Albany; left New York
from about ten to fifteen minutes past seven o'clock;
witness deposed to the stoppages; the Reindeer did
not blow Oh her steam at any of those stOppagoS;
spoke of the fact that abe did not blow of her steam
to Mr.. Cox, and asked him if it was not the custoH
to do so; he said it depended on circumstances; NJ
wife was on board; she was not wounded; she WAS
rushed overheard; saw several dead and wounded,
but none that knew.
Crossexamined- heard the evidence of the pilot:
all / say is, that have no recollection Of the
steam being blown off; it might have been blown ~
at West Point; my wife was saved by young man
named Brown; the captain did not assist In saving
her that know.
David A. Dunbar deposed-I reside at Boston !;
was on board the Reindeer when she burst her
boiler we left New York about quarter past
seven o'clock she stopped at West Point, Newburs,
POughkeepsie. &C., stopped about five minutes az
each place; ! think she did not blow off her stean
at any of the stoppages it was subject OF remark
among the passengers that she did not blow oil her
steam saw seven or eight of the dead bodies,
Cross-examned-I was near the engine rsoM
when the explosion took place; swear positively
that did not hear the steam blown of at any OF tho
stoppages.
about ITO miles from New York !; / WAS on the
wharf, about SIX 1eet from the vessel, W0cn bne OK
plodcd she arrived there at about ten to twenty
minutes past one she did not blow OH her steam at
Bristol heard the explosion saw severa! per.
sons that were scaded; l was acquainted with the
steward, he was scalded and died that night;
was in his room when he died there were thirty
six killed; there were forty-One killed and wounded
l saw many Of them dead the rent in the boiler
was right above the furnace door the rent was
about the size of my hand the Reindeer was burnt
at the dock; the cause OF the fire is not known To
the people there.
Crossexamined-I was on the wharf for the par
pose of taking her line; that was my duty; my father
was there ut the time; the vessel had not started
when the accident occurred the captain was attend
ing to his ordinary duties he did every day. taking
tickets, &C.. Mr. Null, the second pilot, in his
usual places he gives signals by pulling the bell rope;
the pilot was in his place; the boat was about halt
an hour behind her time she has been there as early
as twelve o'clock; the stewards name was Garw0Od
Barnaway; have been at the dock, attending to
that business, for the last five years, in the employ
ment of my father; there are two wharves ut Bristol
il is usual stopping place for day and night boats
it is not usual for the boats that land there to blow o.
steam; do not know the reason why. !,
To Mr.. Hail. never knew the Reindeer to blow
In answer to question from the District Attorney,
Mr. Noyes admitted that the ownership OF the Reln-
deer was properly named in the indictment
Henry Connolly depOsed-l reside ut Newburg;
am clergyman; ! was on board the Reindeer on the
day of her explosion; got on board at Kingston.
and landed at Bristol; think she did not blow Oh
when the explosion took place; l do not think she
blew of steam there; | saw several persons killed.
and saw others dying that night, and administered
such consolation to them as could.
Mr.. Connolly asked if il would be Objectionable 70
state fact with regard to the department Of the
captain. This was assented to by the District At
torney and counsel for the defence and the witness
said there was general favorable effect produced by
the department Of the captain towards the wounded
and the dying.
The District Attorney said be had more witnesses
TO the facts, but he did not deem it necessary
to call them
Mr.. Riggs. one of the counsel for the accused, sub
mitted to the Court whether there was suioien. evil
dence here to compel them to go to the jury.
The Judge said, that under the laws of the United
States the Court could not prevent the case from
going to the jury. II would be for the Court tn
charge them on the law, but for the jury to decide
upon the facts.
Mr.. Riggs then opened the case for the dafence,
and said that they would show that the accident oc
CURED from defect in the construction of the boiler
and not from any neglect or careessness Of the cap
tain or engineer. He called upon the jury not to
offer up the defendant in this victim to the
offended public, whose minds have been distressed
by steamboat accidents, by which 80 many valuable
citizens have lost their lives. Captain Farnham was
there before them to for negligence care
lessness on board the Reindeer But he has no
control over the engineer. The engineer is
not responsible to the captain. He can say.
make such and such landing, or stop half an hour
at such place; but he cannot direct the engineer in
the regulation Of his steam. When the evidence was
all in it would be for the jury to say whether Capt.
Fsrnlmm had been guilty OF the negligence, care
lessness, or recklessness attributed to him. He Mr..
Riggs, was confident that it would be shown, to the
satisfaction of the jury and the prosecuting officer.
who, he was sure would feel happy at such result
that Capt Farnham was far from being guilty Of any
OF the offences with which he is charged.
At the conclusion OF the learned c0unsels opening.
the Court adjourned until Wednesday morning. The
jury were allowed to separate with admoniton to
keep their mindsfree from any influences but such
will be produced by the evidence.
Domestic Miscellany.
There were seycnty-three deaths in Boston for the
week ending the 18th instant of which twenty nine,
nearly onehalf, were OF consumption and scarlet
fever.
The Connecticut river closed on the 18th instant.
it Having kept open about three weeks later than in
any previous season for the past twenty years and