The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-01
The Empire State Disaster.
CONTINUATION OF THE CORONER'S INQUES

FALL RIVER, July 81, 1856.
On the re- assembling Of the jury this morning. John l..
Brown Of Fail River was called. he testified that he
had been the Empire State for two years past
be was board Saturday night last, but noticed
nothing unusual until the explosion occurred is fireman
q the srbosrd boiler the highest rate Of steam his
boiler by the guage thirty three pounds
that night; II might have been little higher between Fall
River and Newport part Of his duty TO watch the
head Of steam, but 1t particularly the duty Of
the foreman the other end OF the boiler watch the
water guage Watching the steam guage at the time
boiler higher than the forward one his instructions
were not TO let the steam so over thirty pounds;
s before the explosion the guage indicated thirty two
bad not time. when It occurred to notice my own guage
short ,mo before the accident the other side Of
The beat for about tw mirutes the smoke pipe as
passed my own boiler looked hot and Just as got
heck the explosion took place had not so hot be
ert was cooling down at the time the explosion took
psce; there was fireman at each end OF the boiler
did not look at the star beard guage whilst there
a. soon the explosion took place forward: pre-
vcus TO the accident noticed nothing TO alarm or
make nee uneasy; saw nothing at any time 10 ndl-
cate anything wrong about the boilers, except lit
tie leak; had not heard at any time that the
TIE engineers Of Little defects bad often heard that these
boilers did not make steam as readily Others the
BOAT started back 10 Fall River AFTER the accident
steam enough could be raised TO operate the
boat the accident the boilers have been examined
ny j. Nell inspector; when at Newport last Saturday
night Mr. Brockway told me 10 fire one ia mace light
after leaving Newport when be saw the smoke stack IL
was red hot most Of tie way up told IL had been
worse, and WIS then cooling Off never saw the smoke
stAcG 20 heated as then.
Geo Swan,on, sworn-was fireman on the Empire
49, nothing unusual Saturday night from the
90 ofea wing Fall River till the explosion noticed no
unusual fcrts TO make speed on the boat the blower
had been used less than usual that night; noticed
ae Leak but did not think much OF and felt no alarm
tAe bead Of steam the time of the accident could not
:. iigh IS IS before reaching Newport; amer
leaving Newport did not reach &c. after the explo
zion crawl TO the upper deck and tried TO raise the
ssety valve, but ng, went down TO the fire room deck
and opened the pans; have the smoke pipe hot
previous occasions but not my side OF the boat until
that night often heard Kissing noises on board Il boats
heard that under the boiler that night 10
nine IL the frenen have complained Of the boiler ma
kers being around much 10 interfere with their
work knew OF crack in the boiler the third engineer
came 10 and shut down my blower short time before
The accident
Augustus Deal, another fireman on the boat, was
gvcrr-Went ander the starboard boiler on Saturday
night 10 there any leakage, and did not dis.
cover anything unusual a; that time; when the explo
ron occurred, just going out from under It, The
rnander Of the testimony Of this witness was unimpor
Abt.
william Booth boiler maker-Dd not consider the boil
Of the Empire State either very bad very good
condition; thought If they had been better braced
posion would have red he should have had fear
IN gong TO New York in the fire room Of the larboard
boiler
Messrs lamb and Haddan also boiler makers, testified
20 nearly the same effect.
Mr. Rrockway the chief engineer, recaed-was In the
boilers Saturday with Mr. Ketchum; the latter called
his attention 20 defect IN the arboard boiler, but no APP
prehens.cn Of danger was felt or expressed.
He1ry n. Hcnwick, inspector Of steamboat boilers for
the peri Of New York. oued the explo
10 the irving way OF the rvets In the lining Of the
chimney, which caused collapse. His testimony gene
rally corroboraive OF that by Inspector Ill., given
yesterday.
The wounded are better to day being nvigorated by
the cool wheather and hopes are entertained that all Of
The inquest viii probably &c, through to.n.orrow.