The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-02
THE EMPIRE STATE CALAMITY.
Coroner's Investigation-Fourt Day.
sPECIAL REPORr FOR THE NEW YORK HERALD.

Coroner Doval The injured parties are little easier to-
day but there strong hopes of their recovery yet
The witnesses today consisted chiefly OF hremen and
boiler Makers who employed board of the steam
boat above referred 1t somewhat conflicting in
e character, and, the whole, slightly unfavorsbe
70 the steamboat company.
The first witness sworn this morning was John Lngan,
fireman on board the Empire State, whs deposed as
follows
have been fireman board fthe Empire State two
years past was board SATURDAY night last no.
ced nothing unusua the above night until the explosion
took place; there pretty low head OF steam on; the
Enage did not indicate any than 80 pounds ii was
part Of my duty watch the head OF my boiler
s particularly the duty Of the fireman the other
end Of the boiler 10 watch the gauge watch in
the arboard boiler room about the time the exple
took places the gauge the other end OF the boiler
higher than the the forward end have all my
ssructons from Mr.. Brockway; generally instructed
by Mr.. Brockway not to let the steam get above SIS
pounds Of the gauges referred 10 indicated
two pounds more steam than really in the boiler and
differed to that extent from the other four gauges
Q. Do you know the amount of steam you had pre-
vious to the explosion A. few minutes previous 10
the explosion the gauge indicated head of 81 81
inches, lett my room and walked the deck and
before could get back again the explosion took place
the boiler.
O. About what length OF time is occupied 10 throw the
coal into the boilerl A. About two three minutes.
Q. What did you leave the fire room or A. For the
purpose OF helping one OF the hremen IN the other IRE
room to fire up.
O. How long were you away A. Not than two
minutes.
O Did you see the condition of the piper a.
@ What the appearance of the smoke piper A. 1t
was pretty hot
@ How hou A. Well pretty hot; have seen it as hot
Q Is To- usual for it to be most heated Immediately
after firing up2 A. No. II takes some time for the Goals
70 gne; the pipe was cooling oil when left the IRE
room.
O. nd you notice tn. gauge at the sarboard boiler
when you went over theres did not; ran forward
wheH heard the explosion, SO as to save myself.
O Was there anything previous to the accident that
O. Have you any time anything about the boil
ere which would lead you to suppose they were detective
Q. Were you on board the Empire State previous to
these new boilers being put into herr A. was.
Q. Did you ever see any leaks IN the boiiers3 A.
O Were these leaks common all boilers you ever
sawf A. They
O. hid you at any time hear from any source that those
boilers we're defective dangerous A. never have
Q. Did you hear any complaints about the eoilersl
Q. Did you ever hear that the boilers did not make
steam as readily as other boilersS often heard that
O. Did you hear anything in connection with that that
would lead you 10 suppose they were not sale on that
account A. did not.
deck and saw the injured then was told by the en-.
gneer 10 shut up the doors and get steam up in my
boiler
o. md you do as directed2 A. did.
=. Had the steam got down much when you arrived
a
O How long did take you TO get steam up' A
sould not tell.
@ Was there anything unusual your return passage
except what was common TO passage2 A. saw 10
thing.
rived al Fall River A. have
@ Have You, since the occurrence, been examined by
The inspector Of steam boilersf A: have.
Q Have you given linn all the evidence you have
Q. How often is it customary to fire up2 A. coali
o What Is your usual practice on reaching SevportY
We throw open the doors, stop the blowers and then
amer leaving Newport we IRE up.
@ Ind you your blowers on the way 10 Newport
any than il Is usual for you 10 dof a. No, we dii
rot, IN fact, we used them less.
Q. Ind you the chimney rs hot before as On
thc night OF the explosions A. have.
O. Was the smoke pipe your OF the boat
heated the the sarboard slider A. II was
O. Is your business to put on and take oil the blow
O Did you know that there were boiler makers on
beard A. did.
O. Are you ever urged to fire up when you are behind
q DO YOU keep the run or the time made A. / do
not Gave not got an opportunity;
was a hreman on board Of the Empire State.
O How long have you been in the business A. About
eight years ,....-.
o bow long have you been board the Empire Staie'
A. / came on board on the 23d Of June last.
o Were you board Of the Empire State on Saturday
q Was there anything unusual in the appearance Of
shings board from the time you LETT Ea River until
the explosion took placer A. did not see anything IN
Q. What was your position Saturday night 4.
Fireman to the larboard boiler.
q. Had there been any effort 10 make unusual speed
q. Had your blower been used more than i usually
was2 A. No; think was used less.
O I'd you IRE up after you len Newport A. Yes
o how long previous to the accident A. could rot
o 10 you know whether the siarboard boiler had bocn
GredY A, Yes, IN one furnace.
o Which boiler arcd LAST A. Toe starboard side.
q when on the starboard side did you notice anyth ng
unusuaR A. did not see anything except little eaS,
which Of no consequence.
Could you tell In what part Of the boiler this little
leak gas a. could not
Was unusual to hear such noises about the boiler
A. II not, but the noise from this leak ~as le
o How long previoas % the explosion did you his
ieak2 A. About ten afteen minutes.
q. Dad il give y0u any alarm A. No.
u Was Il the subject o. conversation between You and
Me other fireman A. Yes, we talked with each othnr
o What height was the steam previous TO the expo.
NOM A. DO not recolect.
% what height vas i before you reached Newport p
A. / noticed that il stood high thirty eight on
sccon, but my gauge indicates some pounds more 'han
o What vas u height aner leaving newport A. =
o How many pounds does your gauge Indicate more
than the gauge the other end Of the bocrg A II 10
dbcaies about two pounds or more.
q How the water n the boiler 90 nat evening
A. ID VAS the usually carried o.
o 10 you know snthing about toe water o the other
boiler, when you assisted the other fireman to IRE up
O. where we're you when the explosion took place
a. What az YOU dol A / stopped my blowers snl
left the
q What did you then do' A. 20, upon the other
deck where met my partner then tired 70 rase the
safety valve then went down TO the IRE room ven a
lantern IN my hand
q What dd you DO thereY A. CROPPED about and tried
10 open the furnace doc bot could not and them
account q TIE steam opened the pans then went oct
10 shut The IRE door - keep the steam a.
when stepped hot Up the anses, an
got myself scaded then len and tired 10 cool yself
on DID nothing more that night my place was hllei
by another fireman.
q I'D you notice the condition Of the noke stack IN
the starboard stdef A I did
q Was the smoke stack your SIDE heated that b ght
A. II was.
q Was Il ever heated beiore7 A. II Wa not
q What was the reason OF IL getting hca'el3 A !
don't know.
q Have you ever heard such a Kissing noise before
that which proceeded from the starboard boiler "a;
day night last A. I have.
q 10 you know whether the engineer Informed d.