The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-12
CITY INTELLIGENCE.


TIE OokoNER.-Last evening the Coroner com
menced histnyestigatiOD into the causes of the
recent boiler explosion in SAMSON street, going
hrst To the Pennsylvania Hospital, TO receive the
evidence of the engineer.
- y. W. Jenkins, 2O3l Springer street, was sworn
He stated that three days before the accident he
went 70 the place, at the recommendation Of Mr..
King, the machinist; he wac told that there was
then no opening but that an engineer was wanted
across the way, at Geasey h Wards; there the
witness went and Mr.. Geasey, telling him
that Mr.. King had fent him there; Mr. Geasey in
sisted that he should go 10 work tnat afternoon as
the reRular engineer was sick; the witness de-
cIined, when Mr.. Geasey replied that two boys
should be at the service OF the engineer, and that
ali the witness would be required TO do would be
70 attend y boiler and engine; under these cir
cumstances Mr.. Jenkins assumed the position, not
expecting TO stay longer than the return of the en-
glneer, daily looked tor the boiler was not in
very good conditions the gauge cocks would stop
mp once in while, and their opening would cause
the witness suggested to Mr.. Geasey that II he re-
manned there beyond the day of the explosion, that
the gauge cocks should be removed at night and
see what was necessary TO repair them.
Mr. Geasey replied that he would see about II;
about twenty minutes of four O'Clock the packing
rings became loose; the engine was immediately
stoppedi the packing rings are the plstonj MT
Geasey directed the witness to go to Mr.. Kings
ard get man to assist, he desired to start the
engine soon possible; the machinist from that
establishment was at once procured shortly after.
wards the machInist sent for the M Kings foreman,
as there was trouble in getting out the packing
rings in trying to move the engine back 1t was ne
cessary to remove the packing from the piston rod
stutfing box the packing was set and the cylinder
head put on; the engineer was directed to pack the
ton, and Mr. Geasey desiring that a little steam
should be put on to try how the engine would
work, the cleaner was asked to throw q few
shovelsful of shavings into the furnace when
the cleaner returned he told the witness tnat the
engine was not carrying pound OF steam shortly
afterwards he threw in some more shavlngs, and
returning said that there was registered one pound
of steam; this the witness thought very strange,
and loosing his fingers from the packing, he
wanted to attend to it, in half minute he started
to look at the engine, when the boiler exploded.
In the first instance the witness stated that the
engine was stopped by him personally. He did
the firing. There was as pounds Of steam at the
time the engine was stopped. Mr.. Geasey told him
when he first went to the premises that from so to
90 pounds could be readily carried and as pounds
were proved by experience to work well, and he
never allowed the steam to rise higher. When the
engine was stopped Mr.. jenkins stopped the
throttle valve when the engine was fired, but Mr..
Geasey jumped mp and shut off the connection
valve. This he did to prevent the steam from
coming into the cylinder, as the throttle, valve
leaked to such an extent as TO prevent the men
WORKING in the cylinder. To reach the connection
valve Mr.. Geasey stood on the boiler; he could not
have reached IL from the ground.
The witness did not know that that valve shut
on the connection between the boiler and the
safety valve and the indicator. Mr.. Geasey him.
self looked at the safety valve, and therefore the
OF the firing of the boiler no steam; Mr
Geasey atten ded to the steam gauges and therefore
sne witness did not examine II until few minutes
when he examined 1T there was then no pressure
OF steam on the gauge; there was a low fire under
were then doing duty as fuel; in the morning coal
was burned, but in the afternoon shavings were
used; when the engine was stopped, there was
nothing but cinders in the furnace.
W hen the witness found the steam apparently so
low he thought that the steam had escaped into the
kiln for drawing wood; he did not see Mr.. Geassy
reopen the valve which he stopped of, nor did he
see any one open it; TO see whether the valve had
been opened by any one else was one reason why
he fett off packing; that this was the reason why
the steam did not show upon the indicator the wit.
believes; at the time of the accident 1t did
not occur to him;he supposed that Mr. Geasey would
have opened the connection valve; II 1t had mad
hfrarf do xrTffh ha nUQra
the steam, that gentleman would have opened it;
had the witness been informed OF the functions OF
this valve he would not have allowed it have
The witness said that he had run an engine pre-
yiously for two months at Newbern, N. u BY
trade he Is q machinist, and served part OF an
apprenticeship under Morris Sons. Afterward
he worked tor the Thomas Iron Foundry, IN Lee
high county, and with Archambault, in this city.
He also has had charge Of locomotives on southern
railroads. The witness questioned Mr.. Geasey In
regard to pay, and he said that he paid his present
engineer Sl4 a week.
he knew nothing out of order In the boilers eXs
ceptinR the gauge cocks, and half the time he could
not tell whether he had water or not. u,,., 0,,.
This ended the examination at the hospital, ano
the Jury accordingly adjourned to the ohce OF the
Coroner. AT this place BENJAMIN Farrell was
sworn His story was that a few minutes before
four on Thursday afternoon, a man came into
Kings establishment, saying that at Geasey q
eine. Jno. Bechtel was sent Later in the day
word came to the witness that Bechtel desired tc
see him He went over found number Of mer
around the engine, and was told by the engineer
that the hacking rings were broken. AS a reason
for this the gineer said that the engine thumped
in the forward part OF the cylinder beSnsei asRee
the witness If he thought that the piston rings
were broken. The ends OF the rings were alone
visible, but examination could not prove that th'
rings were broken. That the forward ring wa
broken the engineer still contended, and the eros
head was knocked out, to dsconnect 1t from th
piston head. -, 49,, .,...... .. !.
sound. The examination was occular. A1ter IN
rings were examined the cylinder was closed, tn
tools collected and Bechtel was sent over to tn
shop. Fifteen minutes before the explosion tn
engineer asked a man to see how much steam
was on the engine Tnls was an rS rOu[ a anu raa
hut one pound of steam, and asked the engineer
ehaYings should be put on the nre. Jenklns sal'
no. but TO throw coal on. shortly a1ter tne wines
left, and five minutes later the boiler exploded
The engine and boiler rooms were separate
The boilers were without, the engine WITHIN IN
buildlng Within an hour or two of the time o.
closing coal was burned In the ehslne 1uinaSe' Ou
Mr.. William H. King was tnen caleu 70 tn
stand He stated to the jury that the statemeh
made by Mr.. Farrell included all that ne could sa
ON the subject He knew nothing ABOUT IN
boilers at the premises of Ward &c Geasey. O
one occasion was called in 10 repair the feed pipes
he declined and referred the proprieters 20 faske
a. Morris The witness had been tolo oy t tne pro
prietors that the boilers were two, connected by
nine with two safety valves. One boiler was use'
al one time, the other was employed 70 rest IN
frst The steam pipe connection could not b
located by the witness. Whetner midway o
above the boilers he could not say.
ON all occasions when In the premises ne In
sneeted the feed pipe. Here there was complt
cation OF pipes, which hnaily merged IN one Dl9w "
ont and ali found vent through one COCK be
Vond these feed pipes he knew nothing about tn
constfuction of the engine or boiler
ON the afternoon of the explosion Mr. ware
came to see the witness; mf @ ware &c bsIora tS
a~Dloafon On all previous occasions the ValV