The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-27
The Great Enstern-Causcs OF the Explo
sion-Success OF the Vessel-Hcr Visit t.
New York.

sion-Success OF the Vessel-Her Visit to
New York.
We publish to-day full account of the ac-
cdent to the Great Eastern during her trip
to Portland, by our special correspondent,
who was on board of her at the time, together
with the details furnished on the subject by
the London journals. We also give very in
teresting account of the ship, Of the accident,
and of the arrangements made for her visit to
New York. as obtained by one of our special
reporters from Captain Comstock, who re-
turned home yesterday in the Vanderbilt.
Although the Coroner's jury have not as yet
completed their investigation, there seems to be
no doubt as to the causes to which the acct
dent was due. For the purpose ofeconomizing
fuel and preventing Inconvenience from the
heat Of the tunnels, several Of which pass
ed with what are called in engineering phrase
ology feed-pipe casing, through which it
was intended that the boilers should be sup
piled with water-the partial heating of the
water during its passage through the casing
effecting the first of these objects, and its low
temperature serving as protection to the
cabins from the intense heat of the fun
nels The plan, it should be observed,
is not new one, having been al
ready tried and discarded as dangerous on
some of the great ocean steamers. The pru-
dence of this conclusion has been established
by the disaster which has just occurred. By
some inadvertence, the origin of which has
yet to be traced, the lip, or plug, in the stand
pipe connected with the water jacket. and
which serves as sort of safety valve to the
casing of one of these tunnels, had been shut
off, leaving no vent whatever; whilst on the
other hand, owing to the donkey engine not
working well, the feed water was sent direct to
the boiler. instead of through the casing The
consequence was that, the water in the latter,
not being renewed, rose rapidly to the tempera-
ture of that in the boiler, and being enclosed in
an iron tank rendered tight by the failure of
the two vents the explosion became inevitable
1t will be asked how it happened that on the
eve Of great inaugural experiment like this,
the vigilance of the scientific men engaged in
the supervision of the arrangements did not
guard against the probability of such an occur
renee? The faulty which permitted the intro
duction of dangerous continuance, which is
admitted not to have been feature indispen-
sable to the success of the vessel or to the
comfort of the passengers, may we'll be charged
with having carelessly omitted the precautions
necessary to prevent an accident from it. 1t is
by the neglect Of trifies like these that the re-
suits of great enterprises are frequently hazard
ed or lost, and we have but too recently seen,
in the failure of the Atlantic telegraph that
scientific genius, while it is ever prompt to
plan, is not always ready to secure, by careful
attention to Details the fruits of its inventive
ness.
Although the loss of life and the temporary
delay in the departure Of the vessel on her first
voyage, caused by this unexpected disaster,
are to be regretted, it will yet not have been
without some compensating benefit. It has
served to demonstrate the immunity Of ships Of
this size from accidents which would have
blown vessels of the ordinary proportions to
pieces. So slight was the conclusion felt by
the persons scattered through the other
parts of the vessel, that it appeared tn
many of them like the report of distant
gun: IT is even stated thar i: produced not the
slightest vibration in the wine glasses which
stood on table in an adjoining saloon.
On az the other points connected with the
vessels capacities, respecting which SO much
scepticism has been expressed, there is no
,ougey any room for doubt. she proved