The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-26
TIE FULTON MILLS DISASTER.
investigation by the CorOner's Inquest
into the cause OF the ExpLoalOn.


lnvegtig alton by the COrOner's Inquest
into the Cause Of the Explosion.
The jury met last evening pursuant to adjourn
ment, and the following verdict Is the result OF
thelr deliberations. As will be seen from the
conflicting nature OF the testimony they were
unable TO agree upon q unanimous verdict.
Lancaster County, S.; t.--
The inquest summoned by George Leonard
Esq, Coroner OF said county, to inquire into
the cause OF the death OF David Hahtoh and
others, killed BY the explosion of a steam boiler
at the Fulton Cotton Mil, on the thirteenth day
Of July last past, or who died in consequence Of
injuries received by the explosion; in addition
10 the inquisiiions by them found in each case
the jurors do 1nd and present the following, that
is to say :-T1at according to the evidence be-
fore them, the boiler which exploded was we'll
constructed of good material; that there was
sufficient water IN both boilers but few
minutes before the explosion occurred; that no
blame can be attached 70 the propretors OF the
mill or any of the employees. That the explo-
sion was occasioned by causes to the Jurors un-
known.
In testimony whereof the said Coroner and
the jurors have hereunto set their hands and
seals this twenty-fourth day Of July, A. D. one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
GEORGE LEONARD, Coroner:
JOHN COPELAND,
8. u. PRICE.
ROBERT L. EIcHHoLTz,
THoHAs THURLow,
... 1901. JOHN DEINNGER.
The undersigned, one OF the Coroner's Jurors
tue dDOV6 QnQtnQ, eXCeDt the OOr-
ton thereof constituting the last sentence OF the
first paragraph. Instead thereof he would sub
stltute the following, viz That the immediate
cause or causes OF the explo zion are to the
jurors unknown; but they lind that the boilers
OF said mill were frequently subjected to an
amount of pressure calculated to impair their
durability and hasten their deterioration; and
that this was cause contributing to the explo-
sion In a remote degree
Witness my hand and seal the day and year
ABOVE written. REUBEN III. LoIG.
So closes this extended and interesting,
though somewhat tedious inquiry. Aside from
the valuable facts in connection with the opera
tions OF steam elected during Its course which
will repay any one Interested in the matter for
the perusal OF the testimony, many other
points have been brought out which are worthy
OF attention. Among these, one of the most
prominent is the evidence of thinking power
displayed by the numerous practical mechanics
examined many OF whom were uneducated and
uncouth in language, and someleven difficult to
understand from want of the words to express
them elves; yet each had his theory, and an
array of facts which made it seem very plausi-
BILE. The average character OF the testimony
was much higher than ANYTHING in our previous
experience, AMI is standing evidence of the
influence OF the mechanic arts in developing the
reasoning faculties.
Another thing torcibly demonstrated was the
necessity of selection in cases like the pre-
sent, OF an entire jury of men familiar with the
nature of the subject to be investigated; wing
to the want OF such selection here, masses OF
lously SOY was demanded from the witnesses
by those members Of the Jury who, from want
of practical knowledge of the subject, could
neither properly understand the witness nor
make the witness understand them; thus the
investigation was drawn out to tedious
length, which might otherwise have been
avoided.
Nothing can be urged against the fairness
and searching thoroughness of the inquiry,
Every one who either knew any of the facts,
or had from knowledge of the subject and
examination of the wreck formed theory OF
the cause of the calamity, was summoned aud
heard; scientific authority was also brought
in; the whole case, in fact, came before the
jury, and they had every means of finding a
complete and satisfactory verdict.
The testimony was very contradictory, espe-
cially in regard to the previous feelings and ex-
pressions of Mr.. Hantch, the deceased engineer;
II the statement of the fears he should have ex.
pressed is accepted as fact and also the fact of
his never stating his convictions of danger to
the manager or other owners of the mill, his
record would be most unenviable; but 1t seems
inconsistent with the known character of the
man that such should be the case. The whole
matter, however, seems to be involved in con-
tradiction and mystery, and as we have fur
nished the full case to our readers, they have all
the light that can be given from which to form
their Judgment Express, 25Gl.