The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-29
the ARROW DISASTER.
Confirmation Of tho Inquest ON the
Body Of Mary Elizabeth Ericsson
Before Coroner Cover.
EVIDENCE OF CAPT. CHARLES 3. SPENCER
Further Particulars Of the
Accident.
The investigation in Brooklyn
Concluded.
Important Testimony OF Mrs.
Van Tassel.
The Boilers Liable to Explode. At
Any Moment.
-~~~~~-~~>~~~~>~-~~~~
Violation Of the Law in Carrying
More Steam than Allowed by
the Government inspectors.
xHH coRoMHR's CHARGE.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.
&C. &c &c.
The Boilers Liable to Explode. at
Any Moment,
Violation Of the Law in Carrying
More Steam than Allowed by
the Government inspectors.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.
&c. &c. &c.
The Inquest in New York.

The inquest upon Mary Elizabeth Ericsson victim
OF the explosion continued yesterday before
Coroner Cover
Charles y. spencer was the first witness sworn-Am
practical cngiueer third assistant have dipo-
ma captain Of the government despatch boat Henry
Burden; was passenger board the Arrow on the
occasion Of the accident; on board at twenty
minutes to four; found the boat very much crowded;
should Judge there were from three hundred to four
hundred passengers board when the boat started
was on The upper saloon main deck; walked along by
che engine room; saw two men in the engine ROOM the
engineer IN conversation with them; walked forward
of the steam chimney and took seat; few minutes
after heard the explosions got up to go to the engine
ROOM bat the crush brought to the upper deck pas
sengers were jumping every direction; heard some
one calling from the engine room if there any
person present who would stop the engine, as it
was still in motion; Immediately started for the engine
room; just l got there the engineer stopped the
engine; IL was about three minutes after the
explosion that the engine stopped told the engineer
shat 1 engineer by profession and asked If
could be OF any assistance to him. he held his arms
saying he badly scadcd and asked take charge
Of the eaglne looked at the steam gauge in engine
and found eight pounds OF steam upon IL; asked
the engineer TO tell the pilot 70 ring his bell and bring the
boat into the dock, could work her in engineer
marked that there was steam in the b0ier took hold
Of the bar and found that she could turn around very
slowly; looked at the throttle valve and found II very
nearly c'"sc shut OH; opened the throttle valve in
about minute the bell rang to 60 ahead: gave the
engine three ten turns ahead bell rang TO STOP
and shortly after rang back then gave the engine two
20 Ave turns back, which brought alongside
barge al the foot of Thirteth street; in the mean
time encarOred TO get person TO In the rerO0m
tn ascertain II there any ire below
cd he wcni down and up and reported to that
there was fireman there; the engineer made attempt
20 go do.n in the freroom; he stood on the gangway
leaving all the business to me; ono Of the remcn II
reported had Jumped overheard; about iirccu minutes
after we got alongside the wharf the fireman who was
reported 10 have Jumped overheard into the engine
room told him to 60 down and draw the hres from the
exploded boiler he remarked that the port boiler had
exploded then told him 10 haul on the fro from the
other boiler heard him ask the engineer what he should
DO the engineer told him TO shove The Gre up and pump
more wafer nto the good boiler; in few minutes heard
sIplosion was the result Of the 'D' stop valve
boiler had eight OF nine pounds of steam after
We reached the wharf lett the boat with that amount OF
steam ii Is possble that the instantaneous genera
ton of steam might cause an explosion II the explosion
took place from the closing OF the stop valve the eng
necr was responsible the stop valve was not shut off
Tor twenty minutes after the explosion IL the stop valve
q the port boiler closed, as supposed, the unin-
1ured boiler would have retained the pressure Of
steam after the accident which had before except
that portion Of steam which the engine worked of IN
running into the dock after the accident the throttle
valve being nearly closed when went into the engine
room II the stop valve was open the steam Of the good
boiler would escape through the fracture in
the nue to the furnace and smoke stack; did
II boiler exploded with twenty-five pounds of steam
would think that DO Her detective il had certificate
from the government allowing me TO carry twenty-five
pounds OF steam II found any defect In the boilers
after such inspection should not consider safe to
such PRESSURE and should think 1t my duty notify the
nspectors these inspectors have always found TO be
oemPetent mon; If the boilers Of any steamboat of
which was engineer had been inspected and certtd-
gate given me authorizing the carrying Of a certsn
pressure OF steam and In running that vessel for
tWeive days had discovered defect should consider
myself authorised to carry the amount Of pressure al
sewed; would never above the pressure allowed by
the inspectors but as much less ss judgment should
dictate boiler in use ten years deprecises very mate
rally even though IL s thoroughly repaired every year.
have known boilers TO be used up in three years
The Inquest was here adjourned to Thursday next at
eleven o'clock.