The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-18
THE GREAT BOILER EXPLOSION.

; 4oG QnLA1 0UlLEh IAA AOSAS&S'
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IuvestlgatiOn by the Coroner and Jury-In-
teresting Testimony of the Proprietor and
or Eminent Engineers.
The inquest In the case OF the boiler explosion, which
occurred shout week SINCE took place yesterday morn
ing before Coroner widely at the Twentieth precinct
station house. The following testimony was taken
sisismuud Housman. residing at Sos West Twenty.
eighth street. being sworn, testified as follows-I left
homo about eight O'Clock on the morning Of the 9th Of
September; left deceased, Dora Housmsn. well; at
about four the afternoon while was at my place OF
businsss heard that there had been boiler explosion
up town; after l arrived near my place. heard that
two Of my children were killed by the boiler coming
into my house. deceased Dora Housman. my oldest
daughter; she eight years. four months and nine
days old; the other child . boy, Henry, eleven
weeks old; when got home went into the house and
cav them both dead and laid out on bed IN one Of the
and everything broken TO peces boiler had apparently
through the top OF the house and lodged the
carried 70 the Mount Sinai Hospital
Wooster Beach, n D., sworn-I have made an exter-
bruises about the head from the appearance Of the
body and from other circumstances / am OF opinion
thai death was caused by the injuries received
William O'Lasher sworn--I reside at 275 Blocker
street. work at Kepps mills In Twenty street.
next door to where the explosion occurred Monday
september was going through the mill In the after
noon, ct about three or four o'clock in returning
spoke to the engineer and while was talking to him
noticed the glass guaa observed that there was about
elk inches OF water in il; talked With him about
minute and then returned TO my shop; in about ten
minutes after that the explosion took place
know whether he had been reading; heard Of nothing
being out OF order, there was slight motion in the
guago; have seen sometimes the engineer try the
guage cocks; knew the engineer, aud know that he
was sober man.
seventh street; am tape weaver; worked in the
building alongside the one in which the boiler exploded
boiler exploded; testify that the engineer was
John shaasr sworn--I reside q, $40 West Twenty.
seventh street; am wood turner and carry bust.
the top floor Of 258 West Twenty eighth street,
Nhere the boiler exploded. On Monday afternoon
looking out Of back window the boiler just be-
meath where was suddenly I heard q tremendous
noise, and everything turned black before mo; sus-
pectsd the boiler exploded aud ran at once for
the street; returned IN about ten minutes, and
that all the walls around where the boiler had
broken mashed and torn to pieces; there nothing
70 be seen Of the boiler few tubes lying around,
but nothing Of the cause OF the explosion.
; To JurorsI think about twelve eighteen shops
were supplied from the engine That this boiler worked
was very seldom 10 the neers room; the engineer
has been there three or four years; have the
mans house. and know IL to be the one that at my
place.
Abraham r. WEIGH, Jr.. sworn-Resde at 1873 West
Thirtieth street 1.-THE old number carried the bust
mess Of turning and saving at No. 25S West Twenty
eighth street; Mondas. Sep ember O. at about four
+. H., was IN side building OF my business place
when heard noise like blast or q distant cannon
steam and dust and bricks fly from place where
the boiler had stood; my boiler had been In my place
about two months; got 1t from Densmore q Black; it
was new boiler when / got it; bought il on the
Recommendation OF my ensineer as he mad worked one
before the boilers we bad before this were poor and we
did not think them safe Densmore Il Black referred
to man who had used the same kind Of fuel used
with this boiler; paid the full price for this boiler;
went to Tarrytown before bought It, to see a similar
one In operation. and sent my engineer to
that were working in this city, found that sveryb
who used them liked them l paid third for the
boiler than the ordinary price for the other kind be-
cause thought II consumed less fuel and would be
moro economical in the end; there two boilers
blown to me- and selected this one 1t brought to
my place; indicated the location in which it was 70 be
placed, but Mr.. Densmore had the charge Of put
ting It up; after it was put up IL foamed
little the nrst two or three days and the
engineer changed the water two three times never
heard him speak Of Its foAming afterwards never
bad any other trouble with It; leaked little at rst
inc rves but ina: was only Tor the rst TWO or
boiler being out Of condition. have spoken to- the eng
nesr about its working 30 nicely, and there being no
Il blowsd of very often at that; have seen IT. don't
recollect that noticed how much steam upon
out Of reach and there was no possibility OF its slip
ping We supplied six buildings with steam: the engine
chan twothirds Of this power to do our work. and we
Pad Of course some TO spare the boiler was set down on
shs weight OF the boiler Kept in Its place the engineer
had been in employ three years. him take
to us
shops; the only thing heard him about this boiler
was that required more watching than most. about
water worked down these boilers 80 the engineer said
quicker than in most; have no idea how tho explosion
occurred what the cause was.
10 juror-Tne boiler inspected before it put
up BY q hydraulic pressure Of one hundred and ten
pounds but not after that know the boiler 81
We mad old boers inspected about week before NO
moved them out TO II could run them longor the
boiler thai exploded not inspected for two months
examined the boiler ct o'clock and everything seemed
right; my engineer had run similar boiler once before
tha Epta hava tIa hOla
SINCE the xploson have heard that boiler OF the same
snake and l think the same size exploded on board a
boiler up shore, believe; did not hear or that
explosion before bought mine; believe WAS the bot
n the boiler were full should think it would take about
two hours exhaust It.; the boiler generally KEEP,
full up % the second or third suase don't think the en-
Of The engineer was 10 attend 70 the water in the boiler
and stop and start the engine; the fireman was found In
che front cellar and tho engineer near the front shop
after the expIosion my old boilers patched up and
Ne did not consider them safe; there was crack in
Sy boiler Inspector the boiler inspector comes round
about ayear he did not come TO inspect the new
boiler: know he knew IL was there, because ! have
seen Il since put up; only required thirty
sounds do work. the inspector usually when he
laspec ensine places the ball to the point where he
made BY man named Ransom; We ussd
fnsl the engineer nxsd up something in the engine
the day Of the explosion, but that had nothing
Whatovor TO do with the engine coal generates steam
quicker than shaviugs; using shavings on the
day Of the explosion and bad done for eight ten
days previously; gave notice OF the boiler being
put IL by Mr. Mclaughlin; Mr. Mclaughlin Ia under the
control Of the Metropolitan police; have never given
him any formal notice. but spoke TO him about IT, DOM
know that IL was my duty to notify him; have no Ger
tneats from him that this boiler safe; believe
Nr. Mclaughlin 10 practical engineer, and seems u
know all about boilers; the gusge cocks wert
about three inches apart; the lowest guage
cock vas. I believe, about sixteen inches above
che crown sheet; my odice close 70 the
boisr don't remember whether the guage cock cried
before the explosion could tell without looking from
che cry Of the guage cock whether II for steam
water; the engineer told that this boiler wal
very dangerous and that there would probably be az
explosion; IL saw the engineer reading psper don
know that should regard II - neglect OF duty, or 70
Grove him for IL
John Mitchell sworu-I reside In Eighty ninth street
and am sash, door and blind manufacturer at 25T wes
Twenty seventh street; was not in my establishment
the time OF the explosion, but acquainted with
eho engineer: know nothing Of the explosion. as TIT