The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-15

number II worknen were engaged The feos Of Eleventh
street. East rver getting the rouclad steamer Ksokuk
ready for sea an explosion took place. which resulted In
the death o four Of the and the manning Of .
ffth. - accident caused by the explosion Of the
steam pipe, and for time thought the hull Of the
vessel was injured. On examination, however II Was
found that the damage confined TO this single piece Of
machinery and that tho accident would not delay the
vessel more than day The Eleventh precinct po
lice were promptly hand, and rendered enicent SER
vice in removing the killed and wounded. The remains
Of those who killed conveyed 70 the station
house, where their arc recorded as foIows-
Henry Bills, engineer. Deceased resided at No. att
Henry street.
Daniel Jordan fireman, Of No. ls3 Houston street.
George Smith and Edward Irwin, nremen.
Abraham Routon, machinst, who was temporarily
employed on board, was, 1t IL feared fatally scalded
The wounded man taken 70 the New York Hospital.
Coroner Ranney, upon being notified OF the casualty,
promptly proceeded to the Of the explosion and
after examining the promises carefully adjourned the
quest to the Eleventh ward station house. Hero jury
Of intelligent ctzens-many Of whom engineers
was empanelled, and the investigation was proceeded
with, as follows
James NJ. hook deposed and said-I am engineer on
the New World; have examined the pipe which burst
ON board the steamer Keokuk last night and cannot
defect in the pipe whatever; have caused pressure
Of one hundred and twenty i've pounds on .
su4sa piece pipe o0.n h0 ssa, m IaeG nsa
been unusual pressure Of the boiler would have
given way before the ppe there had been unusual
Of steam the Of the pipe would have been
blown distance consider the work thorough, and
a. an engineer would be willing to take charge Of il
turn of the pipe; every part OF the pipe found be
IN its proper place. only having opened about two inches
Jeronimus s. Underhnl deposed that be resided at No.
435 Tenth street. am steam engine and boiler maker
am now engaged on board the Keokuk at the foot Of
about ten hours in ali; we have had thirty
about twelve O'Clock; left in charge Of Henry Bills
when left there only about eight ten pounds Of
steam on and everything was right about nal past one
that the boiler had burst on board tho boat and that all
hands we're !ined. Mr.. Boughton being badly scaeed
made him comfortable aud then proceeded ta boardI
G. Bills Daniel Jordan, George Smith and Edward Irwin
in the engine room, dead; Immediately examined
nothing to show that there was any negligence
on the part Of the men, found that the
pipe had burst At the crotch Or whore divides; OK
anned the pipe, but could not find any defect which, in
my opinion could impair It's strength; am entirely
able 70 account for the accident the pipe Of iron
do not think that copper pipe would be
any less likely to burst than iron
never knew Of a similar accident in my lfe the engines
and pipes are extra heavy yesterday there sxtyve
pounds OF cold pressure applied TO this boiler this was
done to comply with the government law the cold pres
applied had injured the Pipe would have discover
ed it at the time the steam applied about
best epsnsers in New Yt have BEEN the
business Of building boilers &C., for the last twenty-five
AbIaharn Boughton, sworn, deposed and said am
fireman board the Keokuk; the night the
18Th there twenty pounds Of steam on the
machinery had worked about eight inches when the ex
posion took place standing on the at the
time there was no weight upon the pipe at the time il
huy kha in
time when Il exploded there was an awful crack
and then the steam few and rushed tho shaft alley
way tried four times get the door but tho
men lay In the passage way and had them be-
lore coHa &c. know Of no cause or the pipe burst
A. The time: had examined both boilers lust before the
explosion. :.
whham r. brinkcrnon beng duly sworn, deposeu ana
Smeer and cannsrsm,h havs eon',nsd ,be n,na and
engine this vessel cannot account for the accident
nor can see any cause for the explosion on all low pres
cast ron and also on HIGH pressure boats on low
vessel like this should consider Pipe CONSTRUCTED
.oDss dhs SAFE the bursting had been coca
have been loud and would have blown svsry,bn woda
immediate vicinity to pieces.
mnanon deposed that ne resided at TIE corner
going engineer. hava A1 .ramnsa -. s4 sea
ferrred 10 ON hoard the KeoknL. ,hs pipe re-,
Il md pressure OF 6fty pounds of steam wpe snou.u
Il AZ eny srong or tha nurrn,a SW INC casting
tended am entirely unable ~ accom-, eecn ~ was IN.
with pressure Of five nounda Mr the accident
% FIVE of cot.
wo i'd have satev horne "a pressure as stated ~
steam il had had the cons, wNure 81 my Pounas o
have used eitlr vroneht IL ucsoh OF t0s pipe should
William Crowey az n ~ % copper.
follows - was cn,r y zSa Monroe street, deposed as
ina noise ~ ina t5ed % BOARD Inc heokuk; heard
nn,hng of III Aplosion, but worked on and Thought
was work. Sehrd the steam 50 on ahead OF the crash;
bo,er The - about fifteen or eighteen ieet from the
~ofss heard was Exc the machinery being put
~ c AID paid no attention TO H.
dere uss here given to The jury, who, after due
i'o'at on, rendered the Following
an VERDICT.
~ fsf by injuries received by the accidental bursting
VI pipe on board the steamer keokuk; and the
: ,s@ding and construction OF the vesaeI.n
TO -7lE EDITOR OF Tag HERALD.
Iao Grxtrwiru sfpaYT Wv YosE Fob IA 1882