The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-06
THE Ci2BGLiC ACID EXPLOS ON Il
BROOKLYN.

COntInuntiOn Oh inc 1nqaeht-fncOry Oh
Experts to the Cause Of tho Accl.
dent.
Yesterday tho inquest relative to the cause and
circumstances attending the recent terrible ex-
plosion Of On iron tank OF carboc acid at the worka
OF the Robbins Wood Preserving Company, Third
street, near Bend South Brooklyn, was resumed
before Coroner Jones and a jury.
Michael McGungle, the mason who contracted tho
brick and mason work OF the boiler Tor Mr.. Trundy,
first called. He stated substantially as follows:
have experience IN setting boilers, hut never set
one like this; told MIR. Cunningham thought the
setting too low at the north end; the boiler not
levels the end Of the furnace, which the lowest.
WA about three inches lower than the opposite end
Mr.. Cunningham conceded with my opinion; !
anderstood that he told Mr. Trundy Of 1t; we were
building under his directions; there danger CT
enc end being dry; thought this dipping Of the
boiler unsafe because the liquids would settle at
ore end. leaving The platos Gry ana an explosion
liable by water coming Ia contact with them.
Attention WAS here called ~ tl0 Coroner to tho
testimony OF Mr.. Trundy wherein II - stated thar
the liquid poured out III streams from one end OF the
boiler. and TO the statement OF Mr. McGuntsle as to
Mr. George w. n Curtis was next sworn-r live at
Camden n. j.. am superintendent OF the Camden
and Atlantic Railroad; am familiar with tne Rob-
bias wood preserving process from witnessing ex-
periments ana considerable study OF the subject
was acquainted with the process proposed aad car
ried into effect oy Mr. Voornies; the process spoken
OF in Mr. Robbins patent and that used by Mr.. Voor
nes Is Identical PM the appea,ion Is aierent
the direction OF Mr.. VOORHEES,. one at Prince
ton, N. j., the other on the West Jersey Rail-
road. the latter being a new one; they have
both been use, the ut Princeton for year aud
balf the other for two or three months; there has
never been any accident or explosion there; never
heard OF any; l should have certainly known II
there had been any; the Oil chamber OF the Prince
ton KIN, II REMEMBER rightly. has broken and the
plan OF Mr. RobDlns 1t resulted In nothing but tue
burning OF the oil which flowed from the stu;
at the Princeton still the vaporS are graduated in
separate boiler aud conducted into the wood cham
Der by pipe; the still Is two feet dtstalt from the
wood chamber; do not think tho explosion could
have been caused by the vap0rs taking fire, because
the nie would not communicate with vapors
within the boilers unless there was . vacuum
within; In my opinion the explosion would not
have resulted from the communication OF fire rom
without; If this explosion was caused by steam It
than the boiler heads could stand, not account OF
the sudden formation OF steam by water coming in
the first place. II there was no water in the oil IL
self there could NOT have been any generated until
the water by heat mad been driven from the wood;
the ,water dropping from the wood upon the sur
face OF the oil would have had no effect other than
to have vaporized the oil; think q small pressure
would have blown the heads OF the boiler out; it
would seem that the pressure on the valvea was
too great; the pressure In the boiler may have
been small, yet . suf'ciens to allow . leak
oil would keep the OIL from evaporatiug; In my
opinion the explosion might have been due to the
enumerated; the decline OF the boiler Ii designated
greater element Of safety as 1t gives greater
depth OF oil at the furnace, but II the other end
should become dry ana water come In contact with
the heated plates would generate steam and cause
an explosion. In reply to q Jur0r-The engine at
Princeton Is more on SIR. Robbins plan than on Mr.
VOORHEES,. Direct--n the cocks at the end OF the
angle irons had been opened and the water allowed
TO pass out the explosion would not have occurred
as 1t would require more heat and get the Same
amount OF pressure with dead oil without water
than 1t won require whom water 10 present; In the
stll at West Jersey the wood and oil In the
chamber, aud as this Is the most extreme plan OF
the process think that II there were any danger 10
the process IL would be In this one.
Dr. EdwniR. Squlbb was then called TO the wit
ness stand and testified AZ 10 the nature OF dead
Oils.
washington McAllister, q macninist, who has
RobbinA preserving process testified that the wood
and oil were In the same chamber; the best went
through IN tuoes the boiler used by me stronger
than the one which exploded; have made fifteen
treatments; had the stop cocks been open the steam
would not have been so fast: II there was no tenn
peraturc Indicated by the gauge IL would not DO JUS
tHable to make any opening Whereby atmosphere
could enter; / know OF no substance In the boiler
that, when heated to l10 degrees would not indicate
degrees Of heat without any Indication OF pressure
To Juror-We treat oil woods alike; some for
twelve and some SIX hours the longer you treat the
more oil will be used; we had been using Oil which
vaporzed between 500 ana 4O6; Voorhtes said we
ought oil which vaporzed az 300 $780, that Ia
where all Cal Doc acid lies; boiler IL run in the
open afr, but has casing Of wood aud felt IT.
1t Is not In building.
Tns inquest then adjourned until next Monday ar.