The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-02


Q, What do you think Of the boersa A. The furnaces
too Short and consequently the blaze IS not ex.
up the chimney and makes the PIPE red hot and INJURIES
the steam chimney.
q you, in making an examination found defect in
the boiler, would you communicate the fact TO the own
Of the boat A. No, would not IL my duty simply
report to the engineer who employs me if he thinks
proper to act upon any suggestion may give him. Why
well and good-if he does not why have nothing fur
her to say is not my business to do anything further
than obey the Instructions Of my employer.
Thomas Haddle, boiler maker, being sworn, deposed
that he was in company with the previous witnesses on
the trip Of the Empire State TO New York; he had
boiler he had been on board the previous saturday
making repairs, and then Of opinion that the boiler
which exploded was quite safe.
@. Did you hear any one express any opinion
TO the safety Of those boilersY A. dia
G. Who was that person. A. Mr.. Ketchum.
Q. When2 About two weeks ago.
2. What did he say2 A. He said u would blow them
all up before long.
O. Which boiler had he reference tor A. The starboard
Q. Had you any reason to suppose that Mr.. Ketchum
thought the sarboard eide less safe the larboard
officers Of the boat OF the Danger A. did not.
9. What his manner on saying that " the boat
would blow them upf A. He said il 10 laughing way
O. Did he ever gay anyhingin regard to the boilers be-
fore or after thar A. No
9. Where you when the explosion took placer A.
in the cabin.
O. Did you see the smoke stack heated on that night
O. Was there anything unusual in its appearance A.
No, quite common thing for the smoke pipes on
the Empire state TO get hot.
q. We're there any parts Of these boilers that looked
weak required additional security A. No.
O. Did the place that you going repair look ha
zardous for the voyagey A. No.
Q. Did you deem yourself running any risk when going
board that night? A. did not.
O. What was the size Of the patch that to be put
on A About four feet by three
Have you examined the boiler since the explosion
A. have.
What do you consider The cause OF the accident2 A.
crack the plate where the TivetS Were
and the want Of proper bracny.
Q. The remainder OF the chimney was sound, was il
Q. Toes the iron TO be weakened by the action Of
the heat A. No.
O. From what you saw before the accident would yo1
regard the boiler unsafe A. would not.
O. What your opinion in regard TO the bracng OF the
steam chimney A. don't think the braces were put
close enough together.
inches
O How far apart should they be9 A. About 8 or ten
Q. why do you think there a flaw in the iron A.
Well from its appearance, one side OF the sheet appears
good but the other side the rivet holes torn
open, showing that the iron must nave given way.
Q. The stays must have given way hrstf A. think
they did, from the examination have made.
The chief engi aeer, Mr.. Brockway, was then called
upon the stand to testify 10 what Mr. Ketchnm said I,
him on saturday when he called at the Office for the pur
pose OF getting OF from goirg to New York Dir. Brock
way deposed that deceased did not make any objections
further than he said Mr. Brocxway would have fight
with Mr. Sturgs of the Metropolis the latter wanted the
deceased TO remain Fall River; the witness told him
that II he did not choose to 60 TO New York lac did not
want him to send any Of his men on that was all that
passed between deceased and the witness
O. Did Mr. Ketchum tell you that the boilers ere
dangerous? A. No, sir, he never did.
q. DO you examine the boilers every day. \. Either
myself or Mr. Bcbee examined the boilers every day
William Wells, fireman OF the sarboard boiler, testi
fed that he cleaned the boiler which exploded on Saar
day morning. and ourd some little leaks which lie filed
up there nothing dangerous about the boiler and
to him 70 oe bs a seTe o nc
days previously was upon the connection and not upon
the steam chimney,
to Berkeley, Mass; knew Mr. Ketchum quite well, saw
him sunday morning last on board the Empire state,
last Monday two weeks ago, while board En-
pire State IN New York, gentleman up and wanted
10 engage state rooms; there none bit amdship
10 let, the gentleman would not take the berth
offered him account OF its being the boiler Nr.
Kechum then up and said, - Will take the berln
have got my wife with me, and viii occupy the berth
without tearing the boilers;' asked him ii he would
not warrant the boilers to carry thirty pounds OF steam
when be replied that he would warrant them TO carry
fifty pounds.
O. Are you employed on boar the boat9 A. am.
O. In what capacity? A. As wheelsman.
Q. Do you know whether Mr. Ketchum's wife with
him that nighn A presume she was, for be engaged
O. Jus state what you board the night OF the
accident. a. We len FAN River at the usual hour, ar
rived Newport in proper season aud all went wei
until reared FONT judith when the explosion TOOK
pla ,e
O. hid You see the smoke pipe heatcd9 A. | did.
O. Was II ht ated more that nigh. than II usually
was A. No, ! don't think ii vas the chimneys geuer
ally get hot every night after we leave Newport.
q lid you ever hear any enc on board say that the
boilers were dangerous A. never have; or twice
heard some Of the lrtmen say, Il guess she Will seaa
O nd YOU put any confidence IN those passing romart
yon heard made by these hrenent A. No, dbl not j
did, should always make pom; to keep out cf the
way Of the boiler and this never did.
d Have you ever Witnessed the beating CT smoke i,e
on board any other boats \. have.
q. On many boats A. Not many.
Q. Did you ever regard 1t as an ineieat n Q. DANCE
A. No, did not.
Henry B. Renwick, government Inspector Of b,iers
and engines for the district Of New York. wa then
placed on the stand
pire state A. have.
o. What is your impression In regard 20 the ac~ -
A. Ny impression is that the lining Of the steam
ney gave way account OF the shearng OF o IN rycts
which wae fastened TO the crowioot when the
sheet arst commenced TO give way, il spread, aud
then col apsed inward judging by the appearance Of the
torn piece Of ron should think that the sheet was at
least good the average OF sheets used for such p1r
poses have been board the boat tso or three times
the passage and have ieen on the grage from ~
IS pounds my opinion that the nvetsor the hears
have been weakened by the action Of hs bot passing
~ the steam chimney, and also that although the rivei
appear from Mr.. HIS pressure 70 have been u sufficient
EtTcr 9Th the time that he tried the boiler t they
not o strength In proportion TO the braces 20 sustain
the pressure Of the lining againit The steam chimney
unoss these rvcs had been shcared OF should not have
been able TO state what the relative strength q thee
rivets were and don't think any examination Of ~.
boiler except bydrosiao pressure wou have disco
yersd the iaet that these ryets had commenced 10 ose
their strength
Q. Was the steam chimney braced II should have
been A. The proof by hyorosatc pressure shows that
strong enough 10 bear the test when NJ. HI AZ
piled the pressure Of ny pounds in the month OF May
last had built the boiler would have pat the rivets
closer together the after end Of the chamber has beer
at some time corrugated bent inward owing to tn
crowfcet having been originally little too far apart.
where Is corrugated II has been additionally stayed by
socket bolts nuts and washers AMI that part OF tie
chimney not at all injured al the time the forward
side collapsed.
o which 8 the bes, method Of sustaining The lining Or
a steam chimney a. There are many different opinions
in regard 20 that point but from what have seen,
woJlo prefer the socket bolts and washers TO the
foot fastening.
O. Much has been said in relation 10 The heating Of the
PIPES OF the Empire saie-vhat IS your opinion regard
10 that pointf A. All boilers are apt or less, TO
heat their steam chimneys and stacks II IS impossible,
pearly So 10 plan boiler 50 that may be predicted
with certainty that when in the gases shat burn in
the place they ought, this heating Of the chmneys s
most common where blowers used. takes place,
far my experience goes, iust after new fire has
been put do not think the arrangement Of the boiler
has any thing do with this heating but IL depends upon
the proportions OF the psr and s Irrespective ~ the
rangems Mt; boilers arranged Ike those Of the Empire
state not In my OPINION liable 10 overhead =
than other OF boilers A smoke 4 -