New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-11-12
THE n. R. w. HIT DISASTER.

Coroner Beacn on Saturday proceeded TO lnFeS-
tgate the causes of the fearful accident on the
above steamer by which SO many persons lost
their lives. The jury sworn consisted of Msssrs.
Geo. 0. Beares, G. H. Waldo, J. A. Sylvester,
Hess Addison and j. B. Poindezter.
The first witness examined was Mr.. John Christ,i
engineer of the steamboat Natchez. He testified
as follows: From the examination of that part of
the boiler that gave way it appears that it was
produced by natural causes. The ends of the
boiler We're part cast iron and part wrought iron
The ca iron head being thicker than the fange
and boiler, caused the contraction and. expansion
to be unequal. The consequence was an unequal
strain every time the boiler was heated, which
caused this cast iron head to be gradually cracked
| until it could stand but little pressure and gave
| way. am satisfied there was plenty Of water in
the boiler at the tme and can see nothing to
Blame to be attached to the engineer. l am not
acquainted with the engineer of the boat, but j
understand these head ends have been on the boat
some six or seven years.
John G. MdrsF;, United States Local Inspector,
sworn--I have seen The boilers before the explo-
sion corroborate the statement of Mr.. Christy as
far as it goes. had the steam gauges taken down
after the explosion and examined them; found
the one in the cabin correct, the Others mad peen
injured by the explosions she was allowed 10 carry
120 pounds of steam. am not personally ac-
quainted with the engineer; am told that he had
been on the boat ever since she was built. Cast
iron heads are no longer allowed on the boilers !;
that is they are not put on, but those having them
ject are permitted to retain them.
l found the safety valve set at l54 2o-l00pounds.
She was allowed 40 pounds. | do not think the
explosion could have moved the safety valve.
Should boat be in danger, and it be necessary to
put an extra amount of steam to get out of diff
Guilty, although the process be dangerous it is left
to the officer to choose the lesser danger of the
two, in attempting to save the lives of the pas
sengers. There are two safety valves on board of
steamboats, one is under the control of the engi-
neer the other is not; it is the government safety
valve, placed there as check on the engineers.
B. s. Bre,ester, sworn.--I am an engineer by
| profession; | am now repairing some of the
| wrought iron work on the Hill concur in the
opinion of Mr.. Christy. have examined the cast
iron boiler heads, the cracks in them judge to
have taken place by gradual giving away. One
of them examined particularly. | consider the
cast iron head as safe as the wrought iron; have
| found both defective upon being removed, which
is caused by too constant heavy pressure. Eng.
neers being allowed certain pressure by the in.
spectors, they often strive to keep up to this high
est mark this is an unsafe practice. would, il
permitted by law, use cast iron head as well as
q wrought iron one but Iwould never carry more
than $50 lbs. on any boiler. l consider that ouI
boats are allowed to carry too much steam.
Capt. e. FL. NeeceG, Of The HM, sworn.-On the
night of the accident, about ii O'Clock, looked al
the gauge, and saw the steam was at ll5 pounds
! | walked out and was pacing the deck eongratn
lating myself upon the prospects of our speedy ar
rival when heard something give way. l had nc
idea of an explosion. | ran to see what was the
matter, and found that the boat was leaking badly
| ordered her head to be turned ashore. As we die
SO heard the boat was on fire aft. All hands were
Immediately put to work with the buckets, to pu
the fire out found that the head of the boiler
had given way. The explosion made no loud re
port. The change of the valve might have beer
produced when the boat listed, as we got her OF
the bar The engineer Mr.. Peters, has been or
the boat some six or seven years. would trus
my life and property in his hands at any time.
W1l. Peters, Engineer, sworn--l am first engineer
on the Fl. r.. w, Hill; after the boat snagged anc
got on the bar it listed, which might have caused
the change in the valve by throwing the weight o
the lever on one side; if such thing had takel
place would not have noticed it, unless had beef
4 on top of the boilers; this Government valve i
somewhat hid from view; have never interferet
with this valve it is point of honor among tn
engineers never to meddle with it unless in tn
emergency indicated by the inspectors | hav
never noticed any leak in the boiler-nothing tina
could indicate crack; since the explosion hav
examined the boiler heads and found three of theI
cracked spoke with Mr.. Meek, the striker, VIII
was killed. after he had been hurt he was all we
and his last words to me concerning the accdeI
were that he had tried The boilers and there WI
plenty of water in them.
After considering the evidence, the jury found
verdict exhonerating the officers of the boat fro
any blame, but declaring that, in their opinion II
castron boiler heads are unsafe, and recommen
ing that they should be no longer used on any boa
In connection with this, we are informed b
Capt. Newell that he has had all the boiler heat
changed on board his boat, and wrought iron use
I instead of cast iron.