The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-30
THE BOWERY EXPLOSION.


inst. was resumed yesterday morning, at the Sixth
ward police station, before Coroner keenan, and a
jury.
Joseph E. Gomez, Jr., OF 101 Charles street. sworn
Am an engineer connected with the Metropolitan
Police Department; have examined the exploded
boiler at No n Elizabeth street; found 1t to be an
upright tubular boiler, about thirty-eight inches in
diameter and i've and half feet high; the water
space at the bottom OF the g OF the boiler Is about
half an inch; extending up to the furnace door 1t Is
about an inch; found portion Of the inside fur
mace sheet ripped and turned up against the tube
sheet there are two spaces the inside OF the fur
mace SHE'LL measuring about ninety square inches, in
which there is no brace whatever am OF opinion
that the explosion was caused from excessive over
pressure OF steam, which must have resulted from
the safaty valve being tempered with; there are
no evidences in any portion OF the boiler Of its hav
ing been overheated there s every evidence Of there
having been plentiful supply OF water in the boilers
The inside lining OF the b0ler-the part that gave
way-is about 11ve thirty seConds Of an inch thick
while the outside shell Is about five sixteenths about
double the thickness; the inside shell should have
been the thickest; the safety valve was apparently
good working condition; from all Appearances the
iron Of which the boiler was constructed was OF good
quality; do not approve OF bolts; socket bolts
should have been used; consider the boiler was IN
that the explosion occurred at point between the
braces the boilers OF the Fire Department are differ
ent from any stationary boilers; would revoke any
engineers license VINO tempered with his safety
valve; the moment safety valve is tempered with it
Is no longer safety valve.
Thomas G. Powers, engineer OF 100 Duffeld street.
Brooklyn, being duly sworn, cOrrOborated the testi-
m0ny Of Mr.. Coffee IN every particular.
James Gilchrst, machinist and engineer, residing
at 252 West Thirty-frst street, swOrn-Am employed
at 800 Seventh avenue as engineer; was formerly
employed by the Metropolitan Fire Department; was
pacity; had charge Of the engine which recently
ploded NO. u for about year; found fault with 1t
before lit was accepted by the department; the
took charge OF No. i the tubes burned out Of her
when working at q fire in Grand street; was work.
ing with salt and fresh water and to that and the
the check waves OF the pump stuck when they were
lifted before the burning; myself and Mr. Beam re-
afterwards l, Mr.. Matthews and Mr.. Henry repaired
the boiler we put In some 3l3 tubes; after we got
them IN and had caaked the boiler as well as we
Matthews meal was put in to stop the leaks; 1t
stopped them, but instead Of blowing or 1t accumu.
lated IN the chimes OF the boiler; hooked 1t out
from the bolt holes, but found her bulge some; put
In an extra blOw-on COCK, and after that she did
as well as she could do up to some time in April,
1866; she was sent up to the Amoskeag Company to
be repaired after that; am OF opinion that the expo
sion occurred from her being warmed at the bottom
where the water did not have chance to reach;
think that weakened the boiler and Overpressure
Of steam burst 1t; think the boiler would have more
sediment In from being used as this one was; the
neer would feel responsible for her being in good
order; have strapped down the safety valve OF this
same engine when the spring was broken.
Nehemiah s. Beam, OF Manchester N. H., sworn
Am superintendent OF the Amoskeag machine shops;
have examined the exploded boiler of Engine No. /;
/ noticed the steam gauge was burst, showing con-
cuslvely that she had too much steam on; also found
that the check Of the steam gauge was shut OF,
showing that the gauge had burst before the expo-
sion and that the COCK was shut of before the expo
sion; found the scale balance or spring OF safety
valve IN good order the top part OF the boiler bged
at the time OF the explosions the safety valve seat
was started from the boiler and strained much
TO stick showing that too much steam had been put
on also that lett side OF fire DOx was partly blown
out and turned up against the nues, commencing
apparently near the place where cold water enters
heller. remaining of
blged between the stay bolts; from the general
appearance OF the boiler think the top part OF fire
box and the iues must have been nearly red hot,
owing to there not being SUFFICIENT quantity Of
water in the boiler; both feed pumps open, and
one bent that 1t could not be shut off, from which
/ think the engineer in charge thought the water
low-One being enough to supply the boiler; the
boiler appeared well stayed and was made Of good
from would have stood more pressure OF steam than
Is required to work her properly provided there
plenty OF water In 1t; superintended the building
made. Of three.sixteenths Of an men Thick Thick
ness; both shells were Of the same thickness; the
braces were from nve TO seven inches apart; the
boiler was stayed in the usual manner, and was pro-
baby as strong as any we have made; we have maze
between three and four hundred in my opinion the
steam and probably low water; am not 30 sure
At the conclusion OF Mr. Beams evidence the coro-
and jury proceeded to the City Hospital and took
the following additional evidence
Patrick w. Hand sworn-l reside at No. 273 De-
trade: am emploved by the Metropol,tan p p
Department as engineer of No. steamer; on the
18TH inst took my own engine to the repair yard by
order OF the Chief Engineer: l asked the Supern-
tendent for another engine In her place; he said
could have No. or No. 3S; told him did not like
had her. and that could not start her with ninety
pounds OF steam TILL fixed her; the superintendent
told me l must take her OF No 49, the latter had
no water guage cocks but q float water guaRe; we
took No. 1, although did not wish to- we took her
to the engine house, flied her with water, and raised
steam. AFTER running her about fifteen minutes I
he a a n "A IN the w
seven or eight OF those Ia the centre leaked badly
told the superintendent the hues leaked badly, and
asked him for old SO; he said must take SO or L.
told him would not take 3s, as the stoker did not
understand the water guage; about i've minutes to
rne .n 70 ws Ss on .ae t% I ,S a
posite the old Bowery theatre and got to work as
soon as possible: the engine worked very rreguary;
after working some twenty-five minutes was told
to shut OF the water; then had four cocks OF water
In the boler stopped for from five to eight minutes
and then received orders start again TO wash the
building down; at this time there were sixty pounds
OF steam on the guage the nut on the lever Of the
safety valve became loose and would not screw
down. the lever flew up and before | got IL down
lost twenty pounds OF steam having but forty pounds
on them asfed two fremen who were near to help
me nx the valve; held the lever down and told
down; the strap served instead OF the nut: when
closed the furnace door the steam commenced to rise
again. II rose TO sixty pounds and blew from the
safety valve; tried - gauge the cocks and found
had water In the third; the fourth had about
quarter water the rest being steam about this time
ing she commenced 10 foam; there were sixty
pounds OF steam on then, and finding she was blow
Ing OF from the valve tried gauge cocks az ain and
found she was roaming pretty bad; did not pour any
fresh water into her; the glass OF the steam gauge
blew out and was ordered to stop; was In the act
OF doing so; had one hand the throttle valve aud
one on the third gauge cock (which had water In i
wnen the explosion occurred; after this only re-
member finding myself here on the following Tues
day.
10 the Jurors-The steam gauge blew ont from Its
being corroded and rlsted; the strap was around
the lever Of the safety valve and the man brace on
the boiler; ! had no feed on when the boiler ex-
poded; did not have any on after had stopped the
first time.
To the Coroner-I think the explosion was caused
by the accumulation OF rust and dirt at the bottom
Of the boiler.
Witness gave his testimony sitting up in his bed
and seems In fair way OF recovering from his
injuries. On returning to the Sixth ward station
the jury deiberated on the evidence for about half
an hour, at the expiration OF which time the follow
ing verdict was rendered.
THAT Joseph Ward Charles schildt, 9. N. Escht
William Remer, John Baird and Thomas O'Connor
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