The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-12
THE CHENANGO DISASTER.


Adjourned
THE CHENANG0 DISASTER.
--~>~o~>~~~~~~~~>>~~~~~~
The Final Disposition OF the Case.
The Coroners Jury in the case OF the Chenango disas
finally concluded their Iabors yesterday by deciding
upon verdicts annexed-one by the majority, and
the other by the minory-havng been engaged In hear
ing evidence for weeks, after which they took
week 70 deliberate After reviewing the testimony,
and discussing the leading points, they found they could
agree the Of the explosion and decided to
bring 10 two verdicsh first being that Of the minori
W, which agreed TO first the second that OF the
major ty which not decided upon until late in the
Afternoon
THE MINORITY REPORT.
We the jury, empanelled by Thomas P. Norris, one
Of the Corners Of Kings county state OF New York to
inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death
Of Josenh Cahi First Assistant Engineer Albert Muir
ray. Second Assistant Engineer Frank r Root Acting
Second Assistant Engineer John White Acting Third As
slstant Engineer Franklin Silver john Riley. VIM. N
Weir, Joseph Lyons, Charles wiles. George vii
son, Samuel Randall. Wheeler Sherman, seamen;
Eugene OIearey, and VIM, Hickey. ordinary seamen
Alfred Yates Martin Mitchell and John Rudy landsmen;
John N. Smith, first class boy; Jos. A. Hacomby and
Rerpard Royle first class fremen; Archibald Fleming,
Henry Livingston. Barney CanDegan and Michael Rody,
VIM ssar and John hgpn class
ner's maie-dnd as follows
That the government ordered number Of boilers to
be constructed to suit number OF gunboats OF which
the Chensngo was one.
That Mr.. George W. cu,ntard, OF the Morgan Iron
Works New York. received the order from the govern
mcnt tho boilers and engines Of the Chenango.
That he C instructed them according to drawings and
specifications infinitely given except the bracng which
was dope acc rding the makers Judgment under the
constant supervision OF government officer
Tn they sub ected TO the inspection and test OF
cold water pressure boilers Hy eight pounds
the gauge and pounds Tor the height OF the water IN
tho pipe making as was supposed ov the oleer, sixty
pounds OF cold water pressure 10 the square inch.
That the Says then carefully examined by the
boiler maker to that they had all sustained the pres
amin md found In hQvA
sustained no DAMAGE from the pressure
That they then at the dock OF Mr. George W.
Quntard trial test according the specifications for
ninety six hours. by experienced engineers under the
of government officers having at times during
this trial pressure as high as forty pounds.
That the boilers and engines of the ChenanRo were
finally C. mpeted and delivered TO the government
That they were then accepted BY the government as
correct according 10 the order and specifications.
That the Chepango then moved from the dock or
Mr.. oniniaad 10 the Navy Yard In nrnoklyn.
That the 18th day OF April, 1884, at about quarter
before three O'Clock NJ. the boat let the Navy Yard
and pr ceeded down the by on her nrs voyage to sea
bnt twenty six md half pounds Of steam, and at the
Nsrrows the boiler exploded. under pressure as the
Indicator card found indicates OF not more than thirty
iour md half pounds.
THAI the immediate cause this explosion is shrouded
mystery for in all such cases, the life that couf
tell is taken away with disaster and the living
10 10 .ectJrc the cauee ~ best they can.
That there iault In tic staying OF the boiler
from The roo TO the tube boxes IS manifest TO all yet
i'm ssible that should have given way at pressure
less than thriyhve pounds after having been tested
tuy examined and iouid TO have stood the pressure
without In the face " this evidence there are
eRh cen more OF them DOW running at higher pressure
STAY ed in the way and by the same man.
But the well known laws o; science aud mechanical
clearly and beautifully brought out during this
trial. can we think fathom the mystery and point with
unerring aim 10 the causes OF this disaster
Taking the peculiar construction OF the boiler, drawing
the steam as 1t eheen inches above the
line, with vertical tubular lire surfaces placed directly
the OF the fire box, throwing the foamipg
water onward through the tuoes as through series Of
guDbares and IN contact with the steam pipe that Is
placed ready to draw 1t thro Ugh the engine
The evidence that the engine had worked water
In quantities from the time she first started.
that the pump inches diameter throwing seventy
two Iounds water to the stroke, while tho cylinder
tequir, but nine pounds was unable to keep up the
supply, aud the tendency OF all new boilers to foam.
especially when drawn upon beyond their capacity,
condition Of the water, and exposing an i'm
feet bore tubes, to intensity OF
IRE bad but inches 20 tall to DO ths) generating
as u woald with fearful rapldv dangerous gas ready
lick up the the slightest agitation from with
out expand itself hey ond the OF the boiler to
resist The presence Of burnt iet and melted lead on
the eiges OF the rupture the explosion; that
only be accounted by the escape of this TAX ng
these facts dearly given and need he at no df,
Guilty to account for this explosion or point directly 10 u
We therefore, find that this boiler exploded from low
water and saperhea'ed steam mus TAX ng the ives OF the
WIN n. BlGEIOw
THEODORE Y. .OVINGTON.
ROBERT q. ANDERSON
We, the undersigned Jurors, forming a majority EN-.
panneed by Ihos r. Norris, Esq. OF the Of
Kings county state NJ New York TO inquire into the cir
cumst ances surrounding the death OF (here follow the
nsmes): find that these met their dc this from scads
and phs ation board tho United states gun.
boat Chenapgo by the bursting Of Of the boilers,
which was caused by greater tension exerted the
The stays the boiler being sixty four In number and
attached tube boxes by thirty Two hugs, whereas
the drawing calls Tor sixty four braces attached TO sixty
four ugs thereby reducing the strength of the bracng
To about hail OF that shown In the drawing also
dnunpg chances of rupture st,y by careessness
should be lett out, aud the jurors consider the
Inspector such boiler highly censurable az they con.
superior when 30 vital change this had taken place
In tue construction OF this boiler We also feel that,
from the violence shown, this nccldens arose from
adua Of TEL sion OF ordinary steam, ana not
from super heated explosive steam mere u no ev-
DEF CO explosive steam BET generator me testimony
al the surviving engineer and ~ Captain fheorown are
conclusive that the engine and boilers we're 10 hne work
Ing condition; and from the short period enc nour
spsrc from the the she LETT her mcorinss nj the
NAVY YARD aud Of the accident aud the active
circulation o tho fluids render II an nilossipny that
water would have been too low al the time o tho
scckient.
these engines returning the water OF condemnation 20
the boilers aud any foaming TAX nG place uuting tns
short period would prccuded the rossohty OF inc
rsport IT the engineer Mr. Cah. ON boh OCCASIONS 70
The captain.
We sso believe ,h.s the Martin boilers board such
vessels ~hcn properly Constructed are not more DANGER
Gus than other boilers under gmilar circumstances.
William ARTHUR,
NORMAN HUSBAND.
| THOMAS KELLY, Jurors
/ X. HUTCHINSON.