The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-05-16
The Lansing Disaster.
The Testimony and the Coren-
er's Inquest.

The Coroner's Inquest on the bodies OF |
George White, William Wasesigher, James |
Tracy, W. H Rheib and W. II. Noble, Ave
of the six persons killed by the explosion Of
the Lansing, completed its investigation and
made up its verdict Wednesday afternoon.
Lucius Wells, Esq, Justice of the Peace,
acted as Coroner. The following persons
composed the jury on the body of George
White:
R. T Melville (Foreman), A. Freeman, D. ".
Piants.,G. Apiey, Samuel Heagy, Samuel Dennison,
NJ J. Rengler, Jacob Guchert, II. 5. Shurtief,
Will am Edelman. Clatus Glantz, Augustus Hay
ward. ..4
The same Jury served on each of the other
bodies, except that Samuel Heagy was ex
cused and Solomon Meader served in his
place The following is a correct report of
the evidence taken: -~.-
James Zuver, of Freaport, Ills. sworn:
Know the body of Geo. White, who | under
stand was pilot of the boat. The explosion
took place at II o'clock, noon, or there
abouts Know the death of this person was
caused by the explosion.
E. W. Sheets, Dayton, Ohio sworn Was
apassenger on the steamboat Lansing, May
-. q.
off the landing at Hampton. The crew and
passengers attempted to force the stern into
the stream. Know, almost, the steam had
on by the boat. | first looked at the steam
guage fifteen minutes before the explosion
it indicated LAO to l45. At the time of the
explosion it indicated l55. Was standing
six or eight feet from the steam guage. Felt
great head of steam on. The machinery
was under full head of steam at time of ex-
plosion. Recognize body (G. Whitel as be-
ing man [ saw on boat, but as to his posi-
ton do not know.
Albert 6. Lane, of Chicago, sworn: Was
passenger on steamer Lansing. Took pass
age at Rock Island. Went aft on our land
ING at Hampton. Left the engine room for
a few moments and on returning noticed her
steam gauge; it stood at 1876. This was some
time before explosion. The engineer was at
his post. Engineer spoke to pilot; asked
for rosin to raise more steam. L went for
ward, and returning found steam raised to
I55. Machinery in full operation all the
time. Engineer hung wrench on the safety
valve about five pounds in weight. Am pre-
pared to swear to addition of this weight ant
this head-steam guage rose to 100. W a
at work with poles on posts to put stern
boat into the stream passengers ana ere'
assisting. I swear that the indicator stoo
higher after the wrench was hung on tn
valve Do not remember safety valve bio"
ing off before the explosion. Recognize TIL
body of deceased as pilot. Recollect tn
engineer going forward to try guage coo
two or three times. All the officers were q
their posts.
Drs. Clerke, of Hampton, and Fleming,
Port Byron, were sworn and testified tn
cause of death of George White to be trat
ture of spinal column compound fracture
leg; compound fracture of right thigh. Th
actual cause of death was injury of spins
column. The other in uries were not .suf
Gent of themselves to cause death.
R. T. Melville, of Hampton, His, forme
" clerk of the Lansing, swore: Am a
quainted with the rules ofsteamboats. hno
the steamboat Lansing. She Is allowed
carry 1876 pounds of steam. 1t would be sa
for her to carry more than that pressure. /
not know how much she could carry. Ha
known her to carry lS5 lbs. and be sal
Would not say how old her boilers were. Il
iuror) Would a years service weaken t
boilers Ans. OF course service wears b.
Ter.
John C. Bromley, of Rock Island, swor
Was engineer of the Lansing at time OF I
explosion We left Davenport at S:45. L
machinery and connections were all right
that time, as far as / could tell. Moline "
our first landing after leaving Davenpol
Hampton was the second. We landed
HAMPTON and took on wood. In the me;
time / oiled the machinery. Asked the c;
tain how long he would lay. He answer
until he took on all the wood L then W.
back and packed one of the valve sten
then went forward and told the fireman
open the hampers then tried the water
team was up to $50. They pulled In
stage plank. Commenced backing her
and steam went down to 100. Then t
the pilot we had better stop the engines 6
oet more steam. She than went up to /
then went back and started the 'docto1
then steam went up to 1876. Common,
backing engine for 10 or 10 minutes.
rino this time / tried the water about twi
Went forward and tried the water; for
plenty of water. Went round the boilers 6
told the fireman to open the hampers. Ca
back to the engine room. Laid my hand
the throttle valve, expecting to back her
Looked at the steam guage. Next thln
recollect the throttle valve and were ,iy
ON the floor. There was a little noise.
captain came to me and asked "John
what's up?" Isaid: SITS all over; she
blown upp He asked me if / had plenty
water. I told him l had as far as knew
By JuRoRs- What amount of steam
the Lansing allowed y Ans. 1929 lbs
What did she usually carry? Ans. 120
l25 TBS. Do boats usually carry more Il
the Inspectors papers allow? Ans. II
~ generally do. Could the Lansing ca
\ more than the law allows with safety? A
y ion not think it safe. What was your OF
and hher boilers2 Ans. They were
had been sTied more than they should, ,
ned. Were there any ",