The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-12
TIE BOILER EXPL OSlON IN EIGHTH AVENUE


ChiIdren-FuneraI of the Engineer md Fire.
n-Commuuica the subject.
Yesterday the scene Of the boiler explosion on the
premises OF Mr. WEIGH, between Twenty seventh aud
Twenty eighth Streets adjoining Eighth avenue, pre-
sented q busy appearance IS workmen engaged
from the early morning pulling down tho partly broken
down walls removing the fallen roof and clearing
all tie heaps of brick work. crumoed mortar and
wrecked beams and woodwork which Clled the base
where The engine and boiler had been prior
accident il is alleged that this boiler which
d Densmore's patent similar which exploded
board the tugboAI Enterprise, nj the foot OF Thirty
eighth street, North river last WINTER and had been only
n use . month The principle on which u
was constructed vas that OF having large heating sur
face by spreading The nues all through s Interior there
being l32 IN number and possessing but small capacy
Tor wa'er supply while requiring only very smah
amount OF Tue 70 keep up steam Alt ough iiIt o accu-
rate IN ormat0n be obtained IN con eq ehco VI 'e
0eAih or the engineer and nreman sal, .ua. .ns
boser had only sixty pou ds Of in IL when ex
poded aud that the accident arose through steam oeing
generated somehow or otner 70 '"o ~ ,,.r 10 20
the whole OF the exterior sur acs o. tho ooer y no.
tact nearly this theory appears 10 nave some uutn W ~.
but the matter will dluoss 10 Iuithe e.pA ned ~ ,no
inquest, which will take place early next week. Tue
-enline when drives all the machinery In the large
butd ne occupied by Mr. WEIGH was not avery laHe one
but the boiler OF eighty horsepower capacity, and
remakaoe for the rapidly with wnicn generated
steam
some OF the escapes Of parties the premises at tho
time OF tn@ explosion we're truly marvellous Que man
who working ut = 10 he BY inc window OF q room
vhch only eight feet from the butler, tho
ground noOr bur 10 the other side Of the apart
ment and knocked down by the shock The sasheSand
framework of the window by which he had been sand.
sng ere all broken aud cd and piles Of brick and
mortar work driven into the ROM; but he Tor.
tun iey escaped IN few scratches although no has
suffered severely from the shock 10 his system ever
Many other escapes occurred through the prov
Dental absence OF some ~ho wero in the habit OF work
ting at that hour and considering tue violence Of the
explosion aud tho damage that resulted from it. It is
wonderful how more lives not lost The feed
OF the boiler Is nearly uuiDared Is also the bottom
easing were the hnes were mounted Crowds Of cople
wero ookug on US erday while the worknen we're busy
ON the ruins aud tho curiosity to see the spot mas not
yet died away.
The funera. Of Hr. Housman's children took place at
m early hour yesterday morning and also that Of the
fireman, Richard Brady. Quite large concourss OF
mournlng coaches followed the hcarse OF latter TO
the terry, than 'hlrty ages being present
The funeral Of the engineer. Jacob Madden, viii take
piae to-day, and good deal OF sympathy felt for all
those who have suffered from the catastrophe. Tue
fireman ngie, and left family his loss,
although he had a larle circle OF friends; but Jacob
Gsddep leaves wife and child behind /, strugge
without him. He had only been married eighteen
months
Mary Bowling, the housemaid OF Mr. Housman, is re-
covering rapidly from her INJURIES aud the surgeons a.
She Mount Sna, Hospital hope that she will shortly be
sestored TO health, although she VIII suffer for long
time from tho effects oil the accident Maria weoerzi
nearly well snt her escape was truly mi acuoas as
shs have be- covered by tho DO Ter IN its
descent on Mt Housmans unfortunate dwelling
Coroner widey reached the scene.of tue accident
Tuesday afternoon AID zsve permission for the b,des
of those who had been killed to be buried The
inIucst wall Do held early next week.
as compel mt jury has been empaneled
We have received tho following anlca'ions the
subject OF the disastrous explosion, which print be-
low
TO The EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
on reading an article IN yonr paper this morning in
reference TO the corouers or this city in relation the
d.aih OF the ch ldren OF Mr. :. Ho ,sman, know you
do great injustice 10 one OF said corouers Coroner
possible and the family feel grea indebted TO him for
his Kindness and attention. aud we're astonished read
ing the card of MIR. kaitei the SEXTON in t"-day's
ma NH ich ant raly lft lnFi1
s HOuSMAN-per II. Seeigmann.
NEw YcEE, Sept IL, 1861.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The frequency Of boiler oxplos oas, and the FRIGHT
fu loss OF life which attends accidents Of this
ture, has suggested TO The propriey Of giving
hint rezaring arrangement o. that useful though
dangerous ageni, steam. Call II dangerous, meaning
tha II Is so when nprnpery handled or trlfed With,
though when handled vita care il Is as harm cs rs It
va previous to It's conversion from It's orr iIal into this
powerful state. Most accidents OF this kud either
the result OF ignorance .essness land too often
DO OF tn"se on the parI OF those 10 wh 50 manage.
ment boilers conhded and II with view OF lessen.
Ing the number OF casualties arising from the former Of
these ca lses that am writing tins article.
Owners OF mach merry for which steam Is used as the
motive power do no. take into consideration fearful
cent engineers they do MT stop think OF
the number OF lives they may be the means Of sacrLc
ing, OF the destruction Of proper whicl may follow
their njuuicous selection OF W take cha Of and
control this mighty element Of Strength; they, IN com
raon with many otners, entertaining the erroneous
idea that start aud stop
gne Is Thoroughly qualified 10 discharge the du.
tiss OF an en,Ieer. l have lad everA years
experiences In thus capacity, and II has taught
mo great deal concerning the a-tion OF heat
en- vsei, a-d the mansg ,ent OF the poiuct thereof
Explosions arise fIommang causes, but shall treat prn
Clip lily OF those whcn proper degree OF know ed and
csefuness can avert First aud foremost TINS list 10
the efficiency Of water wrich when discovered, is
zoo often sought TO DO remcded by tho immeda ap-
plication the feed pump, by which cold water u intro
oue.o' sni coming IN contact WIN overnea'ea sur.
boiler mus inevitably ioow, large quantity OF steam
= thus suddenly generated and It's action IS similar to
hat fadn CaH hu tha nj in
0ned spAc, aud away g,es some part Of the boiler
To bear OF al engineer who would confess that an
his ooier, Is something have yet to do; they all de
clare tia, but moment before they had examined their
guages which indicated q suiciency Of water, and,
Therefore the explosion owing other cause
nc. In many instance, NJ DOUBT, they are truthful Ia
snis assertion Tor euages viii make ial'e indcaoos IN
the event Of the boilers foamius priming, meaning
thai the water s In violent state OF agitation ebu
ton, caused BY an undue relation OF temperature be-
tween The steam and wafer; thus With very hot nres
ana comparatively little water, the engine working
r.pdiy large quantIiy Of steam Is taken from tho
Of Tue water from oil pars Of the boiler which Will COZ
tnue a. long as the enencs IN notion but on stopping
the engine toe pr and will Immediately
become equazed and the wafer viii fall TO its true
beve, which wii be found be less lower tnan
se ssuses showed Is while the engine was working,
thereby proving that galg will ~ times indicate M 70
wafer than in rea itv sxisa To ascertain u oamins 10
eon; on, the height Of the wsser then reduce tie
speed Of The engine and In moment after again try d
water found lower than before . evident the bot
were foaming wa,ce viii not como out Of the
low i'm mcdiateiy give the engine asan III posi-
be IL not open The safety vave which will renew the
foam nc. which viii thea keep the croAn Sheets
and otner parts OF the boiler subjected To very
high Temperatures covered, when you can with safety
apply the feed pump; but II the Is found ow 10
aarmngy dangerous degree, I've safest plan TO pur
sue open the safety valve haul the ires and upon
NO account pump cold water into the boilers Want OF
steam space In boilers Will also make them foam carry
sng will occasion ths To suppress
fosmng arising from this cause bio~ out the supcrabun-
dance OF water: a. the time pump iltte in. op
thc doors and decrease the speed % the engine
Too much cannot be exercised regarding the height
OF wafer, and upon all oceaslous when 40 engine Is
stepped the engineer should mmedseiy satsy him elf
10 whsiher there . suE!cency not, for, az
I've before stated, IL will often te found less than
a. appeared previous 70 stopping Another cause OF
explosions 10 allowing boilers W be too Iona
without scaling All water will lmore iessD by the
act o Of beat Jesve deposit tprncraiy . substanc,
"a aIIs. q ~ .I... III h