The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-12


Scourge, 8, TO the river Clarence.
Several French men ot.war at Goree July 10.
The Steam Boiler Explosion in Gowanus.
INVESTIGATION INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE
CORONER HANFORD AND JURY.
An investigation before Coroner Hanford and jury
to inquire into the OF the exposn Of the steam
boiler in Wders safe mandatory, OF Third
nue. and Thirteenth street. Saturday afternoon, was
commenced yesterday at the Eighth ward station house
in Nineteenth street. The following gentlemen were EN-
pannelled az jurors:G
Peter G. bergen, Foreman Joseph q. Fed,
Peter Wyckof John Wilson,
J. c. Jones, Peter Rougel,
The following evidence was taken
Thomas Combs, Captain Eighth ward police, sworn
Was the of Twentieth street and THIRD
when not fed Of the occurrence by policeman he
said there fire. this about halfpast o'clock
i'm nediateiy repaired to the spot with force of men
found that the boiler had exploded and the building in
ruins; saw wounded about the yard; heads cut
broken and otherwise injured found three dead
bodies the ruins ooaia walhng, Jr, John Heeney
ano Isaac Hicks mad waing sent his home Seven
teeth street the vees were brought to the stAier
house.
W. Il BrocSctt sworn--Reslde in Tenth street, near
Third avenues by occupation safe maker, in the employ
OF b G. Wilder Co was al the factory last Saturday ,
this occurrence took place near IN O'Clock the boiler
expoced worked on the third floor had not been in
the engine room that day the boiler located in the
cesr, near the back part the effect was to blow olt
the de Of the building from the stairs back three
floors destroyed, leaving the roof about seventy
al work IN the building at the time did not
deceased before after death Know nothing about
the quality of the boiler never heard the reputation o.
the engineer spoken o. have been employed there for
about sxteCn months Wood IA the engineers name he
year.
G. Wilder sworn-Resides No 90 First place am
OF the firm o: b G Wilder Co, safe manufacturers
the building n third avenue Near Thirteenth street was
Geo Harrison Co. New York 1t i plain iron cylinder
boiler there are two ucy are Q, ror, placed in the
cellar they tested before being placed there by
Harrison Co., as was inormed consider these boilers
safer than the ott kind; was in the Office at the time
OF the explosion Wood the engineer has been employed
NJ since started, and highly nended
by the President Of the Atlantic Insurance Company;
cont know tla he frank liquor; far as have
ne has proved hin SELL perfectly competent frequently
cautioned him to try 70 experiments; he generally car
te discovered no deviation from my directions at aay
lime have plenty OF water in one well wsre scart q
pressure OF 200 pounds the square inch they
directed 10 be made OF the best better iron and pail
soec more to have them cool my nienton was 70 stop
the ems TO day for repairs the furnace little
= repair by The hrc brick crumbng hule II wanted
lining, and had procured material for the plrpose;
blowing OF the steam the defec. the turn could
have had effect exploding the boiler this defect IN
he furnace the end-the explosion took place
uesl tie middle; Gully one boler--tae lnermos one
expocei other but Wood bad hi0g do with
the engine; frequently tried the water gaages-uever
found deficiency the well In tue basemen; from Is to
= eti deco never heard any complaint about ~ occurring
wster the engineer did his own stosing IN the
engineers room once on saturday and lie asked he
shold blow or did net him, leaving for the fore
usn TO tell him al the proper time; bowed OF
mon 10 examine the boilers found very Little scale
the time blew On ten Afterwards, the
last time about i've weeks since, when examined
he golfers believe boilers were not supplied with
steam Chambers the engine Is rated twenty horse
power We never had more than enhorse power
Questioned tie engineer yesterday sheiher he le, the
water IRON alt the cocks twenty minutes before the
posion; paid Mr.. Wood 81 90 or 50 week. rGsei
stlts
$40 be nded q practical engineer: my
IMPRESSION s that he has been In this country six
seven years. the well 10 the yard seven feet deep and
Dr. r. " Buell., sworn-Resdss in Third avenue; saw
the bocss OF deceasei they evidently died Of external
John j. Green, sworD-Idve los Gold street. occupation
stone Gu ter carry business for nyss IN Third
nue. present at the scene Of disaster: after heard
the alarm OF IRE, went with the engine; there
no nr, and put the engine the yard when requested
the men 70 assist, the walls were IN dangerous
1onditon; three persons were taken before
the wells fell; the Chef ordered the walls 10 be puei
dc~n alb vt O'Clock two taken on, after the
Walls we're pulled down a before the walls
tell but could no; get t. him without danger several
beams we're resting on his body heard man groan.ng
shrh Died away before the walls came down supposei
wa The colored man, the walls fell outside my i'm
preston is hat some OF the TOP wall fell nwardy am
foreman Of the engine company.
George W stilwel sworn-Resiie u New Utrecht at
present proprietor Of Phgnix Iron Works 10 this
city Iarrved ut the about O'Clock found
buildif demosheo-souih wall sh0red up-norIh wall
unsSe aided In snoring Up; after supposed all
walls down, and proceeded 10 do so pulling down the
socth wall, Il sprung the north wall and the chimney
came down the beams broken 10 the centre
ing al angle Of about Is degrees, with ncnse
weight pressng out~srdly against the walls did not
ne the boilers critically have piece OF the iron
whcB have exsmucd Heoney laid about the centre OF
the building, the beams upon him; Hicks found In
the cellar near the eoer the boilers yester
day sound the other torn In two about
feet from the head the iron three eighths OF an
inch 10 five siyteenhs Of incb-usual thicsnessbut
rather gft for boilers % that size: should pronounce
the iron The cOmmonest OF English boiler lron think
there boilers would have given way under ny.
draui'c pressure any could that the
iron was rotten, A. burnt, II appeared TO have
rvc holes; the body OF the sheet rent al another
pace too the substance burnt out entirely; any
whc knows anything OF ron, will come to the
clusion bare; broke piece OF; very brittle:
this brteness could have been produced By burning
81 water. n the boilers in my establishment
would have them out very quick They would no, bear
Good u will chow some signs Of lie; bat this is
lack aud appears perfectly dead. The boilers
appear 70 be well made; broke a piece OF, | had
no difficulty in dong 80; II might have givea
Ground the rvets might have been there tin
the boiler might have exploded without ney se1ce on the
rart Of the engineer, Il might have exploded under
pressure OF thirty forty pounds 70 the square nch sni
J think u has too, think steam aues safety -
b0itrs OF the olscksmitbs around there agreed
with me that the iron burnt boilers never should
water while the boiler IL very hot pay my engineers
a. week; any careful sober be AZ engineer
i Ion require much u lent TO run an engine land
G Hobbs sworn Resides on the Beach plank rosd.
carpenter by trade Described the accident having
aided 10 extumne some Of the injured.
Adjourned TO O'Clock Tuesday afternoon
The ruins Of the factory are being gradually removed.
ported The injured getting along well a. can be
expected. Several are walking about