The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-18

THE ARROW DISASTER.
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Inquese on the Bodies Of Miss Ericsson
and MIR. WeStlake.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY
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Neglect Of the Government In
spectOrs.
DLAPIDATED CONDITION OF THE BOILERS.
Tho Vessel Sailing Under Two Names at the
Same Time.
The Disaster Anticipated by the
Passengers.
THEORIES AS TO THE EXPLOSION,
&C., &C., &c.
Tho Vessel Sailing Under Two Names at the
Same Time.
The Disaster Anticipated by the
Passengers.
THEORIES AS TO THE EXPLOSION,
&c., &C., &c.
THE INQUEST IN THIS CITY.

Arrow Tho following testimony taken upon the &C.
casion:-
EXAMINATION OF Mr.. JOHN 8. TAPPAN.
John s. Tappan was the first witness examined Re-
sided at Irvngton passenger on the steamboat
Arrow on the 9Th Of August took passage at Dobbs
Ferry on going board found that there was only one
boiler in operation; was informed that the other had
given OUT the boat making very slow progress and
several passengers left Hastings in consequence;
had some conversation with Mr. Seeley Of Sing Sing rea
tive to the insecurity of the boat when he left him no pro-
missed call the attention Of the government inspectors
relative the condition Of the Arrow; witness reached
his office at eleven O'Clock, and there found Captain
Founcc of the steam cutter Cuyahoga; asked
him he acquainted with the steamboat inspectors
he answered alrmatvcy, and Mt his (witness request
promised up and ask the inspectors to visit the
Arrow foot Of Harrison street. and if she was in con-
dition to make the upper trip in the afternoon again
took passage the Arrow there large crowd on
board took the starboard side few feet for
ward OF the ladies' cabin fifteen minutes after the boat
had left her dock the explosion took place. filing the
vessel with smoke and steam; jumped through window
on to tho guards; when there found the passengers
breaking the windows of the cabin IN order to escape the
steam got out possble there great deal Of con
sternation this time did not know Miss Ericsson had
travelled the steamboat Arrow for the past six years.
had frequently heard the remark passengers that
the boat was unsafe had told Mr. Low fvc minutes be-
fore tho explosion that the best to pursue in case
Of an accident hold his hands his mouth and
nose so as keep out the steam; Of the opinion
that the Arrow was entirely unsafe to go up the river
with four hundred passengers without sufficient guam
tiiv OF life preservers on board.
Witness here examined by Mr.. Smythe, counsel
for the owners of the Arrow, but new evidence
ELECTED.
Examination continued by corone,-Could bring nifty
passengers who would testify their impression as to the
Insecurity O the boat
EXAMINATION OF MR.. DAVID SMITH.
Mr. David Smith, sworn-Lved about two and half
miles from Dobbs Ferry was in the haS Tor Two years ,h
boat being unsafe; had considerable knowledge Of
steam engincs knew that the Arrow ran at very low
did not run to exceed twenty eight pounds OF
steam tho engineer also said that the Arrow was fast
boat but her boilers unsafe to carry high pres
sure of steam that the accident the Arrow
had been caused by defective boilers tho low pressure
OF steam whsh the Arrow carried proved that the vessel
was only safe under sch management; witness had
stationary engine. but never board steamboat;
thought the owners of the Arrow were entitled all
credit that might be duo them for running tho vessel at
low pressure, when they that the boilers
such preclude high rate Of speed witness
frequently complained to the captain OF the boats run
ming at slow rate the Arrow was well pntronzed by
local travel; knew several that would not 60 in her be-
cause OF her unsafe reputation
ExAMINA TIoH OF Mr.. JOHN MURPHY.
John Murphy, sworn-Was practical DO Ter maker,
| and now foreman Of the Fulton Iron Works: made
thorough examination exploded boiler of the
boat Arrow On Tuesday afternoon: could not get within
four or five feet OF the fractured part onnd the iuc in
weak condition the iron thin and the fuc patched,
one patch in cnch end think the iron Of the ue was
no. originally strong enough; IL could only have been
three-sixcen,hs of an inch thick and where examined,
which the end Of the rc, quite thin could not
reach the the Cue, but found It about four five
| feet from the front end. and about three feet
from the patches; i was about h ten inches Sars
been stronger Than the oher the rent was in the bot
tom Of the FIVE; of the opinion that in thorough
examination OF the aue, that part which gave way might
escape attention Of inspector; fues OF this kind
were generally made Of No ron, but the Arrows ue
was made Of No g. judged that que in that condlto
ought carry orty and fifty pounds Of steam
the OF the accident, in witness opinion. was in
consequence Of too high pressure Of steam knew Of
ues bad that OF the Arrow in operation s present.
| carying between twenty-five and thirty pounds
OF steam; by an examination of the Arrows iue, pre-
vious the explosion IL would be impossible to iorcsee
the accident owing The difficulty experienced in reach
Ing the weak point in conversation with some parties
whom witness found on tho boat at the time of his OK
animation he was told that on the down trip the 9th
Of the 1ucs out, and they were compelled to
York. the accident occurred by careless appropriation
| Of stcam; there was possibility that It
might have occurred from a flaw in the IRON
| tho surface around naw deracts from tae
strength OF the iron where The flaw existed; accident
that kind possible but no, probablc the hnness
of the around the rent might escape the attention
the inspectors and the only method they had OF test
ing was by hydraulic pressnrs had the witness been
asked 10 make thorough examination of the fines pre-
yious to the accident he would have announced them
| weak, and had no been asked how many pounds OF
pressure safe to carry, he would have set down at
| EXAMINATION OF MN. JAMES eARvIN.
James Garvn sworn-wss foreman Of the boiler de.
The boiler Of steamer Arrow III company with last wit.
ness agree with Mr.. Murphys testimony except in one
point the fue could be tested by sight and sound a.
well by hydraulic pressure IL could be tested by hav
ng hand held flutes on the shell underneath the nue;
thus the rim could be led and defect disccvered
scales ncruststoDs caused by the water In the
rim the present boilers OF the Arrow built in
| 1865 or 1869 by man named Hillgan: John Farrell
was foreman; at the time they were building Farrell
| IN ma q ii q
! PEELED to use; Farrell was good boiler maker, and
| wanted to keep up his reputation
l EXAMINATION or Mr.. DOUGLAS.
| Alexander d. Douglas sworn-was one Of the govern
mcnt boiler inspectors; examined the boilers OF me
went on board and asked the engineer what steam he
wanted to carry; be said II he could he would IKE 70
carry thirty five pounds examined The boilers by hydro
static pressure; got high fortys pounds OF pfes
TO the square nch when the Hanging OF the mead OF
the steam drum gave out steam drum was tnat POT
ton Of the boiler where the steam pipes were connected
TO- and above the water line about fourteen feet
ordered the engineer 10 have the fractured piece oil he
drum cut out before he could the dock he replied
| that be had not time to do il that afternoon, and
asked permission 60 with one boiler which rave
him; on the oath went on board again and examined
Pthe steam drum. which had previously gwen oui, 10
learn if the necessary repairs had been made: found
everything in good order on July 2otn again went on
board when the engineer requested the boilers to be
tested for thirty pounds: put pressure the boilers and
when arrived at thirty seven pounds 10 tne square inca
some person remarked that there was leak In one Of
the es when he ordered the pumps TO be stopped went
below and examined the fue OF the port ooier found
q small ak at the mouth OF the nue. took the boiler
maker into the ue and him orders 70 have the fue
thoroughly repaired when be replied that he had not
sufficient time; gave him permission TO put the small
patch on to make the trip with, the same time telling the
engineer carry more than twenty pounds OF steam
until such time as the work which witness had ordered
on the ue had been completed; went on board few
DAYS afterwards TO examine the work which had
been In the fnc, and found II as he had ordered IL
10 be done gave n certificate allowing twenty i've
pounds of steam; considered the boat perfectly
safe under that pressure; the law would allow her 10
carry thirty four pounds the first test being three
fourths of the hydraulic pressure examined the
nloded boiler Monday last examined the 0utboard