New-York daily tribune., 1856-07-31
THE DISASTER TO THE STEAMER EMPIRE
STATE.

FALL RIVER Wednesday, Jrly 30, 1856.
The Coroper's inauest into the disaster on the EN-
pira Stale is progressing here. On Monday several
nsssepo.rs who were on board at the time Of the ex
plo.ion were examined but nothing Of Importance was
elici,ed. On Tuesday Capt. Brayton was examined
at length he dsclaimed any knowledge that the
boilers were u.sould
AT the time of the explosion the boat was proceed
ir at her usual speed He Capt. B had never heard
complaints to the boilers being utssie nor had any
one ever expressed in his hearing that they were 80. IL
was III practice to examine the boers daily, ana no
thing that indicated damage or even weakness IN tnem
had been detected.
WIllstop Brockway and Alfred S. Beebe, first and
second engineers, corroborated the testimony oi lne
capsir Both witnesses regarded tho accident as one
of those casualties beyond the control Of haan FORE
.;ob. The Investigation may occupy several days.
Tcday, Iporcnss y Hill, 1uspsctor of steam boilers
for the d.tri,t OF Boston and Charicstown teshed
that he examined tie boilers OF the Empire State oh
the 27th OF May las when they were IN perfect o'oo
he thought the immediate cause vi the ACCIDENT "o
def cye shee. 10 he steam chimney the sheets sho"
| imperfect welcing and appear unsound; the o1e.'
nnnear 10 have be gradually weakened by ovefnea@
10 oF the stcsm chimney within tue last 80 inohtn
| II there had been DO defect IN the non, aha ~
chin news had been stsid by rocket Drts aho
he cid OF think they would have gwen way; ns III
rot hink the heating alone would have ctuSea ~. .he
rri,usry .use he could not gather from the
and 6remtD that there was any excess OF P;eseui. G
.be time of the accident beyond what was e!0"eo
/ tho insrector; did Dot think the engineers hao' al
| conld have hall the slgktest itee OF danger . r
| William A. Douglass, examned-cccupea pt' VI u
the house in nhich Nj. Kcchum, wno was hn ., ~,
| ,id.d IT, reply - qu2 tons by Mr. Boiden' 'hS va,
res, said that BE- had bad merel! familiar no" ~
do conversations with Mr.. Ksiclumi hs1 gee ~.
tbet lis ,Ketchyms) wife waited to 90 u Ne~ :,
ON the night Of the accident, bpi her busoahi g.
Ir tri 9hye n. a - ason that tne boat was ho' 90
for sry human bery; bs vsifv and aunt tJo s .'
ord tI;.v nbt Aired -bcir information OF Aec1ih
lad never heard hom any other touIce ~ Tue po @ :.
bir urfafe; heard it sSid that ketchum mao oeeT
the flee ia ice bat day 20 get Oh from soI5 =
! lit; BE- see-Sed to feel bad aeon, s1hs, -. g., n
I,sr OF his having fAl tLa having been ~ y,
i,me Two Sabbsih,. he should Ekc 10 remain a. .
tiat tiip; l.. had oeea spoken to severa sat
tmes ~ q subject of the report, ouS eia rUe IL,
n,,, thar b,h n cosen iimes; be oid not sN'iN ~
~. s,i..r rat .ir Ell tie report Tun heteou ' ~ -
,t /, gsvt6 hat n usd0 the state Iiehi' L.I @ :"
,r,,s.d hp,self; hom ihe same sour { n 90 49, =
il,t ciutt IA ssd h, expected the ooe. "oa" - /"
| c,Au. ~. q, Fs
Me. SaIsh 4. Douglass, sSorn- -kssie's a. 20
49,, had n ,ony, alton with Mr X ttLuh - ~ e
',c "a the ioa' ou SSturCRy mg't lat " We -; :,
81 IL, had 10 go 10 N1wYUrk H'at nEh' ", a.. :
,,', to. ,eid he had been TO t.,e ohoe I Al 'l"
va pr,,kua, ould 10. let .ili oC; o. = l. -
49, II Ike 10 90 but he q III I, " ~ )ms' -