The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-31

of the boiler, and hal 70 be supported with lioa
braces. Q. Il there anything peculiar in tine con
struction OF the boilers OF the Empire state mat
would create such heat about the lower nd OF the
smoke stack A. There Is nothing that know OF,
except perhaps that there are entrances TO the
boilers at each end however, don't ieel competent
to enter INTO any explanation on the formation or
boilers Q How long have you been in the steam
boat business. A. In July, 1928, went on board
the steamboat Hancock deck hand In 1882
went on board OF the King Phiip commanded
both of those boats; / was deck hand mate and
master Of the Hancock; | remained on board of
the King Philip until 1885, when | left and got a
mate berth on board Of the soop Joseph Brown;
remained in the sloop some months, aud then ship
ped as mate on board of the steamboat Providence;
from the Providence went on board Of the steamer
Rhode Island which was then being fitted out In
New York, in August, 1886; | continued mate Of
the Rhode Island for nine years and then transferred
myself to the knckeIbocker; in ls41 took charge
Of the King Philip, and ran her two years; l have
acted as ate, pilot and captain on all these occa
sons; l also had charge of the Bay State some six
or eight weeks, when Capt Comstock was sick; l
have been in the employment of the company ever
since; the crew of the Empire State numbers about
ninety men; We have three mates in the sailor de
paTtment three engineers in the engine de part
ment; We have first and second pilots, and two
wheelsTen; we haze ste ward head waiter in the
upper and lower saloons a clerk, about twenty-five
sailors and ten fremen, and the balance OF the crew
Q. By one OF the jurors-Where were you when
the accident took place? A. We bore about north
west by north Point judith light was two miles
distant; the wind was light iron the west and south
west
Q. Is it an unusual thing to have beler makers on
board? A. IL is not sir; for we have not got SUM-
Gent time on Saturdays to exaMine the boilers after
making our trips, and therefore bring our boiler
makers board, who can then work on Sundays,
when the boilers are perfectly cool
Q. Did you ever express yourself IN danger while
commanding the En- pire State A. have not;
have had my wife and family on board often, and
never considered myself endangered
Q. Did you consider the construction OF the roll
ers faulty! A. die, because we could not get steam
enough out OF them; the inspector was on board
about two months ago, and pronounced the boilers
perfectly sound.
Q Did the agents or owners ever ask you to run
the boat against your wish! A. They never did, but
on the contrary, they always told me to use my own
judgment and 70 60 always with safety Col. Borden
has often told me not to mind sacrificing property
when in an emergency, so long as the safety OF the
boat and her passengers demanded it, the boilers
were lined new about nine months ago, and have
been inspected tglce since.
@. In case OF fire, what are your arrangements?
A. We have 80 pumps amidships. one aft and one
forward ana hose twothirds the length OF tae boat
attached TO each pump; we have plenty OF axes,
&C., and are well equipped in case OF fire as any
steamboat that sails out OF New York.
The Jury here took recess for dinner.
George W. Brown, of Providence, R. l.. being du.
ly sworn, deposed that he was As years OF
age; he was on board OF the steamer
Empire State on Saturday night in the
usual time, clock; arrived at Newport at
seventeen minutes past s o'clock; when of Point
Judith, and while i was lying on the bed, heard
the explosion and the alarm; jumped up, and
dressing myself, drew the hose along the deck, and
then went back to the pilot house.
Q. How long were you at anchor! A. dont
know.
O. Is there any record of such fact A. Not
that am aware Of but the tiue calculated from the
journal OF the second pilot and myself was some
where in the neighborhood OF three quarters OF AN
hour.
o. Did you take charge of the boat after the an
,bor was raisedi A. DID,
o. Had you any knowledge Of anything peculiar
about ,he boiler! A. No; never took much IN
terest in the boilers.
| O. How long have you been pilot on the Sound?
| A. Ahout nine years
| O. In what capacity? A. was two years master
of propeller, years master OF sloop, and the
/ rest OF the time have acted as b0atman on Long
/ Island Sound.
Q. Isit a common thing for the smoke pipe to
present he appearance described by the proceed
| ing WITNESSES! 4. have seen smoke pipes red hot
| on many occasions.
i Wines ia c0ntinuation-At 50 minutes past
| o'clock We we're ol hh d. Island light, aud In
| ihiiiy-our minutes afterwards we were on Point
! Juoib.
Q. Does il appear, from your log book that the
passage made ON saturday night from Rhode Island
light 10 point Judith was performed IN shorter
space of time than II has been FOR weeks past \.
| have exami ed the books, and lind that the speed
was rather below the average OF last weeks trips;
there was no strong wind or tide TO retard u.s. the
wind was from the southwest.
Woolston Stookway, being dGy sworn deposei
that lie was CHIEF engineer Of the Empire Safe and
was on board OF her IN that capacity on Sa'urday
night last: have been on the Fall River Line ever
since il was started and have been connected With
the Empire state while sae was In service; on Satr-
day eyerng last went down the river In the
same manner az usual the smoke p pes became heat
ed when ordered the blower TO be taken of
NO. Is II your custom u take the blower on m Ter
those circuEsfancesg A. IL H..
q. 10 smoke stacks get hot very often! A. Yes,
quite often; have seen them red hot.
Q Did any passenger speak about the heat Of the
smoke pipe 70 youg A. One gentleman did; he
asked ue i there was any danger, as he had ladies'
with him, and he wanted TO know.
q. When the pipe becomes hot does u not indt
cate that there 10 something out % order "A. No,
sir; u j. merely caufed by the heat.
q. How often % you examine your boilersf >.
Every day; ! examined them myself on the day Of
the accident.
Q. What was the appearance Of the boilers on
that examination? A. There was nothing unusual
In their appearance.
q. Was there AZ unusual number Of boiler mixers
on board A. No.
q Was their presence on board due 70 any dis
covery made by You on that day A. No.
Q. What did You think OF the boilers! A. did
not Ike the form Of the boilers, but their construc-
ton was very good.
the boilers a. They we're too short and were apt
10 get the smoke pipes heated.
q. Was the iron Of good quality A. believe II
was.
q. What do y,u regard as the primary oause OF
the explosion a. The extreme heat there, caused
the life ~ die out Of the ron the rivets gave way
on the side next 70 the fire and the lover end Of
the sheet; the force Of the steam doubled the sheet
mp In the smoke chimney, and preventing the escape
Of st. am up the chimney IL returned back through
the fire and out through the ash pan doors blowing
them on.
Q. Where were you when the explosion took
place. A. / was AFT Of the wheel.
q. Where were the passengers and crew who were
injured A. They were Ia and about the fire room,
on the main deck.
q Was there more than person talking TO you
about the heated chmneysf A. No.
O. Were you aware Of any defect in the boiler
A. was not
Q. Did you examine the part that exploded a..
We did; Mr.. Ketchum and myself examined il our
selves.
o. Have you any recollection OF persons asking
YOU n the boiler was not defective, and your reply
L -. 49, I-La-