The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-04
The Explosion OF the Boiler In winiams

burg
O0R0NER's INQUEST AND VERDICT or THE JURY.
Yesterday morning Coroner Murphy and ajury proceed
ed to investigate the circumstances attending the death Of
George Bell and Thomas Shannon, who were killed by
the explosion of steam boiler In the disery Of FurmAn
l. Policy ON Thursday morning. r
John W. Wood, chief engineer Of the distery testified
that The Of the explosion 10 be attributed the
want Of water in the boiler his theory that the heat
passing under the mate 70 the boiler that exploded caused
toarse In that which displaced the water In the
small boiler 10 such extent that the ues were nearly
not quite, bare, and that these fines being heated 70
red heat upon the sudden return OF water upon Them
from some cause unexplained caused the generation Of
hydrogen which caused the explosion he considered
upon il with any pounds Of steam upon IT,
The fireman In charge Of Abe boilers James Sharkey,
testified that he tried the guage cocks fifteen minutes be-
fore the explosion and found water TO the highest
Some other Ministerial testimony was taken, when the
Coroner 1T to close the case charged the Jury
that Or Brady had told him that cause Of the death
Of Bell was compression Of the lungs which had smothered
him. He he Coroner) Of opinion that the death was
caused by the accidental explosion Of the boiler, which
could not be helped he thought one was 70 blame
for IL was one Of those periodical occurrences which
Of Hs the jury II to BRING
verdict Of death by accident e-r--..
The Jury denberaed for some time upon hh extraor.
binary testimony and charge Of the Coroner and failed
Al three O'Clock in the afternoon the Jury assembled
again and examined boiler makers and machnsts
Neither Of them had the boiler since the explosion.
The Coroner stated 10 them the conclusions arrived at by
Mr. Wood that the explosion took place from the effect Of
the displacement Of the water In the small boiler slated
above. All the Witnesses agreed that tuch might have
been the cause Of the explosion One witness, James
Doan testified that instances OF the displacement Of water
from boiler 10 the other Of frequent occurrence
but with all these facts Ia view he would not hesitate ID
seat himself on the boiler that had exploded there
had been sixty pounds Of steam upon it. He had seen
the boiler since the explosion and was perfectly satisfied
as 10 It's strength.
After this testimony the jury appeared satisfied, and
after few moments delberat0n returned the following
rFt
"That the deceased came their deaths by the acct
dental explosion Of boiler in the dslery Of Messrs Fur
Co.. the explosion being the result Of the displace
men OF water from boiler into the other and the
sequent generation Of large quantity Of hydrogen gas
With this verdict the investigation was concluded and
certificates given for the burial Of the deceased.
Their families have been provided for by Grahams Pol
ley, Fsq, one Of the firm, and the widows permanently
provided for during their hfeme Is the custom with
the families OF persons who die from accident in this
tablehment.
The verdict Of the jury this appears be
sfactoy 10 many Of the friends Of the deceased who
Of opinion that more rigid investigation should have
been had.