The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-09
THE EXPLOSION ON THE ST. JOHN


Transformations Condition OF Several
Other Victims OF the Disaster.
The coroner's investigation In the case OF the recent
explosion on board tho steamboat st. John was CON-
enced yesterday morning in the hall Of the Court Of
Special Sessions Spite OF the interesting de-
tails connected with the sad casualty there were but
spectators present when the jury assembled under
tho supervision Of Coroner John wildey The gentle
men forming this body were:-Watson A. Fox, Stevens
House. foreman; G. W. Littel, l21 Charles street, j.
Kenworthy IGl Charles street; f. Workman, 5A3 Green
witch street, f. spalding, pa West Fifteenth street;
John T. Henry, "a North Moore street. James Caulleld
279 West street. Timothy Maxwell, No. Centre Market
place; II D. Goodwin 496 Greenwich street, George H.
hackay 400 West Twenty third street.
The witnesses being present. the Coroner delivered his
charge TO the jurymen. He said
GhsrrxxES or THE JURY-You already familiar
with the main features OF the case We now assembled
investigate and shall not consume your time with
consideration OF its details Suffice II to ray that the
steamer st. John, OF the Peoples line, plying be-
tween New York and Albany, on the morning OF Octo
her 10 when about opposite Hoboken exploded OF
her boilers the effects OF which fourteen persons
lost their lives Several OF that number were instana
peously killed and the remainder were 80 severely
iured that death cnsucd in short time afterwards You
have presume all read the various accounts OF the dsas
ter the newspapers and noticed variety Of comments
on il from the Yon have probably heard
discussion OF the with your friends and others
various reports surmses and opinions In relation TO its
that some degree nave leu you 10
tho case / earnestly hope that you will dismiss from
your minds any influence acquired in this or any other
way and enter the discharge Of your duty with per-
fecy free and unbas judgment, and form your YER
dict from the evidence alone that will be presented 10
you The eyes Of the citizens, not only of this great
city, but the whole country upon YOU and expect
thorough investigation al your hands aud If any person
or persons guilty OF any neglect eareaessncss by
which the lives OF the parties were lost your duty
no matter who they may be- to bring verdict against
them, that they may be dealt with a. the law may
direct
Wooster Beach. Jr., NJ d., being duly sworn, Opposes
and says:--I made external examination of the
body Merritt Brooks board the steamer St John,
Sunday Oct 20; there were marks OF severe scalds
nearly its entire surface; death, In my opinion, was
the result of the scads, and must have been almost -
staDtaneous at the same place and time examined sew
other bodies they all bore marks similar 10 those OF
the deceased, and died from the same cause,
William H. Colegroye being duly sworn, dcp0ses and
says:-I reside In Albany and am clerk on board the
steamer St. john was on board ON the morning Of the
plosion Mrs Wallaber and her two children were in
No 12l, which beside tue boiler; Mrs. Arch
ambault and child we're killed outrgbt they occupied
room No 1876; Mr. Archambault was IN the same room;
he hae since died; Mr. Brooks was in room No. II, on
the upper tier directly Nos 12 and l23 Mrs Rey
rooms were near the boiler, and their inmates we're
killed instantly Mr. ana Mrs Lyons were in room No.
81, upper tier; this room was 1fty or sixty feet
No 81, about fifteen feet distant from the boiler;
Mr.. Searles going through the statcroom hall
when the explosion took place; John Anderson
was on tho main deck at The same time; gene
rally tho passengers select their own rooms have my
choice, and usually take rooms fore or aft Of the
boat my family and self had room directly beside the
boiler profit by the warmth; the officers Of the boat
were Captain Peck and Messrs. Ensign and Hayford
pilots; J. Hook and J. Wright the engineers;
when the explosion occurred in statcroom
No 138 with my family the register showed that there
were one hundred aud forytwo passengers on board;
some seventy five or eighty men formed the crew.
Captain William H. Peck, being duly sworn, deposes and
says:-I live in Flushing, and captain board the
steamboat st. john have been captain some thirty
pilot three to the De
my recollection; understand nothing OF engineering,
never having been in charge Of an engine; was on
board the Isaac Newton when an explosion occurred,
aboit two years since the engineer board OF the 81
John is subject 10 my commands; James Hook
my engineer, and joel Wright my assistant;
have eight hTemen captain had TO supervise the
affairs board the whole boat; went TO bed about
o'clock on the night the explosion and think came
deck before retiring; was In thecnginc room, and
there saw Mr. Hook the engineers and assistants are
appointed by the company and the engineer selects his
own lremen Mr. Hook receives one hundred dollars
month his general business Is 10 superntend the engine
and boil r. they usually rake or "hanl OUT the fires
70 RIA o. me ssr snogS remaining niss @
boiler et 20 the wharf got ont Of bed at about half
past five six o'clock in the morning the boat was then
Fort Washington; was IN my room when the ex
posion occurred; never heard of leak in the boiler
the boiler usually cleaned and examined every
week. under the supervision Of the engineers examined
the boiler after the explosion and noticed email crease
the sheet iron the piece was torn OIL In straight
line following the trace Of the chsel used In cauking VI
do think that the chiseng OF that sheet added TO
the soundness OF the boilers THINK the boiler FIRST give
way where the chisel cut in.
Joel Wright being duly sworn, dcposes and says-I
reside in Jersey City, and assistant engineer on
board the st. John; have been engineer for ten or
eleven years; at the time OF The explosion was on
watch, and entered the engine room 10 company with
MI canacld the oler; the boilers we're carrying twen-
tycght pounds OF steam at the time Of the explosion
the highest pressure carried that night was twenty
nine pounds; went watch nj about one O'Clock r.
lieying Mr. Hook; discovered any weakness in
UNI examr"d tbe boilers 10 ses the Quantity Of
water In each; tho glass gauge was thirds full J
examine the watcr gauges ever balfhour TO ascertain
the quantity OF water IN the boilers; tho boilers
put IN last winter do not think that they foamcd
the night Of the explosion; we allowed BY law 10
carry thiry.nve pounds OF atcam and have the SAFETY
valve weighted 10 ascertain the exact prcssurc cx-
anned tho register the port boiler two minutes pre-
yious ~ tho explosion and noted The prcssurc we pour
cold water the boilers about two hours after letting
out the steam and boil ng water when cold wator s in
cccd into the Ter when the boiler is too hot II Injuries
receptacle; the boiler parted just IN the track OF the
ohscl which lad cut into the IRON we usually 'hahl
out" one OF The fires when between Hoboken and Fort
Lee when the explosion took place we were preparing
w hau ont one of the boilers have served as an en-
gineer board the SnickerbockeT and Hendrix Hudson
previous 10 acting such the 81 John; think the
chsel alluded TO might have weakened the boiler,
but cannot express any definite opinion as 10 tho true
Of The accident
Isaac W Canheld being duly sworn, deposcs and
the 81 John have been oer for the past two years
have worked the engine under the directions Of the
teach me run engine the time Of the explosion
was sitting in the engine room, and the second en-
gineor was Just coming in.
Joseph Jackman, being duly sworn, deposes and
says live In Buffalo, ~ Y, and am an oiler ON board
the 81 John; attended 10 the starboard boiler; the
connects with all the boilers and the pressure Is
shown alike In all the gauges; sometimes we pour In
cold water Immediately after having run on the boiling
water sometimes fifteen minutes thereafter generally
as tho hot pour in the cold water
when tho boilers vet heated BY the steam when the
cold water poured did not strike the place that
was fractured
Hugh Palmer being duly sworn, deposes and saysl-
live NJ No 200 East Thirty nth street and have been
fireman for The past three years was in the rcroom
the starboard side when the explosion took place;
always allowed some time 10 elapsc before we filled
up the boilers with cold water In all other points con
with the statements made by my predecessor can
add, however that n the boilers with cold water In
New York and hot water In Albany.
James NJ. Hook being duly sworn deposes and says -:
1.-Two nj No ~ Downing street In this city, and chief
engineer board the steamboat st. John; have been
engineer thirty years; my duty Is TO get steam up
when starting and that Che boilers, engine, &C be
kept in perfect order; believe my assistant engineer