The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-26
THE GRIEVANCE DISASTER.


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Continuation OF the Ooroner's Investi.
CATION.
The Coroner's Investigation into she OF tho dis
aster the United Estates steamer Chenango was
tnued yesterday afternoon The following evidence
taken
Cyrus H. Hawkins sworu-Reside az So First street,
New York; machnist; put the cypneriug gauge up
10 tho Cheuango and the Ascutncy this gauge now en-
Aibted is precisely like the one on tho Cheuaugo.
Witness, in connection with Mr.. Mason here demon.
5traed the in which tho gauge wan flied with
mercury
Witness resumed-Mr. Mason flied the cyphuing gauge
nsshe Cbsuango; present the time; 90 was Mr.
Higgins the gauge properly filed, that the tell
tae indicated Its correctness being down at o.
very badly frequently called TO the engine
room to work the water from the cyiindar-
tracted by the striking piston water when
would TO work the valve for the purpose OF relieving
it, never studied engineering this the arst tvp
was on; have been in the boiler; did observe
the number OF stays am positive the gauge la per-
| feet working order on the trial trip
Henry Mason recalled-Paced the cyphering gauge on
board the ship and filled with mercury II hlsd to
ana rssCs cS enpnes IN m.
United States Navy Yard have two indicator cards,
which were picked up 10 the engine room Of the Che.
PRESSURE shown by the gauge these probably the
last CARDS they took; they show that the engine |as
to me: have had experience with the Martin boiierat
sea- in the Brooklyn nine months and bad charge
OF the lr0quis for eighteen months the boilers
gave me any trouble whatever the morning tine
Chenango 70 tho yard after the accident found
inch prcssure also examined the cyphering gauge; Dc
aohed the pipes TO clear Of water pulled the string
down 70 it's greatest limit 10 allow it to 80 back after
performing this operation times quarter
Of inch beyond zorro point there mercury
wish to take il down; portion Of the ashes had been
taken up before saw it, and placed AGAINST the port
boiler tho men had strict orders net to touch thing
If had had my way would have taken the plug
out OF the gauge.
Coroner-Q When the jury went down Il showed two
aud half inches-how you account for this' A.
good many people had been on board aud might have
TO the iury-In my Opinion there had been an unequal
tension Of the braces OF the boiler gave and the
others followed OF course saw the inside Of the boiler
were examining IT.. boilers are usually STAYED much
the Brooklyn not low those OF the Chenango;
drew steam from the chimney she worked no water
at the time
pounds hydraulic pressure and been pronounced perfect
and accepted by the government would think that It
would explode with less amount Of steam A. Il would
be likely TO happen OF the pins might have been
parity and nde ss thai
evidence OF low water n the boiler except at tho arches
ps al sea- water gauge assuming that is
perfectly adjusted, will, think, Indicate foaming or
otherwise the quantity Of water in the boiler 1t kept
70 the jury-A brace pu, in connection with elastic
bar brings the strain almost entirely upon inc rfgd
brace less the amount ~ spring IT, the forward arch OF
| the oherapgo boiler was very hot
Warren L. Hill sworn-Reside at Groenpoint: am m
engineer aud draughtsman, in the employ OF The Con-
tinenal Iron Works Examined the injured boiler the
goth inst, for my qualification; went inside: ex-
amined the stays there sxtyfour the boiler IS
generally braced as shown in the draofug; the roof
braces half shaped. attached to the iron,
which three and half inches square by half an inch
| the half moon braces and eighth inch, at
tachcd 10 bar inch and threequarters by three
eghths OF an inch running the tube boxes which
they are fastened by three quarter inch rvets diff
angles somewhere about angle OF ten degrees
the number OF braces coming to the trbe boxes are
| sxty.four there are ono hundred and sxty.square
| feet the top OF the boiler to be stayed,
inches or three hundred and sixty inches TO
each brace bringing pressure OF 500 pounds TO each
we generally brace boilers o. ,ns Kna every ase
not know why the boiler was braced on the top every
three hundred and sixty inches while this and all boilers
are usually bracedk6tone hundred inches; would look
/ upon a very strange piece OF boiler making, al
elastic rail- would help strengthen the boiler.
| Works: have had experience with the Martin boilers
the ships Niagara ana brooklyn about six days
each; also the Oneida aud Iroquos; have never had
| any cause 10 complain Of their working: suppose the
boilers OF the ships | have named were like the
S SUs's' the same as The others; have noticed
| these boilers foam, but not more 90 than other
boilers majority OF new boilers are liable to foam. the
water gauge would Indicate the true amount OF water
In the boiler II was oaning there would be more or
board Of engineers Who sat in judgment last winter on
boilers engines and condensers OF these guuboats
called 81 ~ s a. zoe sSs
bly,; there was minority report the report was only
based economical effects as 70 the consumption Of
fuel &C.; the Martin boiler be made az strong 10
every way the horizontal tubular boiler for marine
service confidence In them has not been shaken by
One Of the jurymen OBJ eced the line OF evidence Of
this witness as having ,snds0cy 70 prolo.e the inves
the cause OF the explosion and appreheuded that the
miod OF the jury were pretty well settled on that point
The Coroner stated that as he was not familiar with
In regard 10 the science OF steam and The
manufacture Of boilers he had permitted others make
suggestions and ask questions through him, but that
hereafter he should leave 10 the jury exclusively to-
etner with himself, 10 conduct the examination Of wit
Augustus e. Baker sworn-Reside In Providence, r. ].
have bad charge Of the construction and running o. hs
plans and specifications furnished by the government
the drawing shown the same AZ the one the pawuxes
boilers were built had charge OF the Pavtuxst on
ner hours trial she burned about fifteen tons
Of coal hour she averaged six and revc
lutIons mnute the diagram shown Ia the taken on
that occasion during the trial We had great deal 81
foamns OF the boilers; had TO the relief valves
came over we had 10 feed salt wafer 70 make up
loss do not consider safe 10 run the boilers with the
sbs vessel - '" was tsd week sSo s saturday
down the river, We carried about eighteen 70
was about threeegs,hs OPEN wbsn ws bad twenty two
pounds Of steam on going bask We threw The tnro,,e
Sos9 %ss examined s boiler and
found was ioamns yery e.dly we were Then near .ns
end Of our trips ordered the nremen to draw the 81
at once was twenty two minutes IN getag water up W
the Or 81 gauge do net consider the boilers as safe as
any other boiler with ordinary care do not consider
| them safe 40 the common tubular boiler 90 no
think ysu can brace the fat surface IN the Martin boiler
well you can In other boilers, you cannot pas
BRACES enough 70 hold them the water gauge does no
chow the amount OF water whle Q boiler 10 foaming
think any engineer would be liable 70 mistake and no
know whore The water during foaming 40 engines
could tell II there was plenty OF light ard tue ooe
was noA soamug, ct q distance OF dfteon feet, nov
much watAr DO bad In my opinion tbe cause OF the o
posOn has been from She overheating OF ba Gro 4
cfohes which would cause Of stoem pre-
fnsta uapeouav base my opinion the testim Iny