The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-02
The CARBOLIg ACID EXPLOSION.

Inquest Before Coroner Jones.
The inquest touching the late terrible explosion OF
a tank Of carbollc acid at the works OF the Robins
Wood preserving Company, at tho corner of'rbird
and Bond streets, South Brooklyn, by which catas-
uopne Martin VOORHEES, Inventor Of the patenD ana
Michael Geoghan, a workman, lost their lives, was
resumed yesterday morning.
Richard W. Trundy, assistant superintendent OF
the works, was called TO the stand and being re-
minded by the Coroner OF the part Of the testimony
given Friday where he left of, he continued as
follows:-The fire was fed from the side under
the boiler; the furnace ID about seven feet
by four and TWO doors opened into the furnace
in coming from the gauges ND past the COCKS;
asked Mr.. VOORHEES, II ! had not better open them,
and he said not to do so until the pressure became
greater; the water was dripping from the head o.
the boiler in several small streams; we Immediately
tried to screw the head and partially succeeded IN
stopping the water; this water was the product OF
what had been driven from the wood by the process
there were eight barrels OF oil in the tank and 10000
superficial feet OF umber u requires about four OF
six hours to treat the wood; when the oil was put
INTO the tank 1t did not come within three
iron cutters was again gone over with. think
these CUTTERS were full OF oil, which Moved over
into the Oil in the boiler, and immediately the eXpo-
sion occurred In building the machine we put
piece of half inoh iron near the end where the fire
this while the iron need not be thick at the other
end, where 1t was thrceeghths; the vapOrs referred
baby naphtha vapors think the dropping OF the
oil from the cutters, and their contact with the
heated boiler iron, caused all the steam generated st
the moment Of the explosions; at this time safety
valve OF any size would have been Of use think the
overflow was due to not turning the cocks suppose
the water we dripping from The boiler must have
been condensed from yapor at the top of the boler
there was no evidence OF detective fiue; |
should nave known 1t If there was; the mead con-
fanlng the gauges was carried about ten feet; both
heads Of the boiler were broken by the explosion;
all three of us stood near the centre OF the head but
ma I fr0n I nj n
and as l recovered ! was outside OF the line; the
other two we're left by the head; they were found
plosion; was burned on the hands and face; was
in the air, don't know how long, but suppose
after came down; feel pretty sore now the Goals
were not blown out OF the furnace; can't account
for the flames Immediately following the explo.
sion; "a as / could stand | saw a light all
around: have seen several boiler explosions be-
lore, and that had all the appearance OF an explo
sion by steam 1t was by steam; have never used
snperlieated steam in treating Of those heavy oils;
don't know exactly what 1t Is; I'm reply to q jury
NAM my theory is that the water from the wood
which fell into the cutters flowed over on to the
heated iron ana formed steam, which caused the
explosion Mr. Mr. rundy In II answer to
OIL as there was not SUFFICIENT heat on to condense
oil vapors; 1t was water from the wood and not as
understood by several present, naphtha Oil; the gas
was escaping from the safety valve, probably from
the oil; the reported explosion at San Francisco
Jersey which have been running every day for over
three years; think II the cocks for tho drawing of
OF the water had been turned there would nave been
no explosion; was entirely under the supervision
OF Mr. Voorhees,, ana did as he told me; don't
think any engineer could have foreseen an accident.
nr Alexander II. Cunningham was next sworn--
Reside at 3ls Clinton street; am mechanical and
practical engineer; have examined the boiler; have
the original drawing, furnished by Mr.. "; was
called in 10 assist in its construction after 1t was
commenced tthe plans were shown to the jury;
the machine conformed to the original plan with the
exception OF the neads being cast iron instead Of
wrought; there was no specification as to the thick
ness OF the iron: examined the heads several tmes
these were OF cast iron with wrought iron sheet in
the centre; the cast iron was an inch and fve-siX
teenths thick In the extreme when 1t joined the
wrought iron; the wrought iron was about seven
eixteenth5 cast iron expands by heat In greater
ratio than wrought ronx in equal lhcknesses
wrought iron will stand eight times the pressure
that cast iron viii.
The inquest was further adjourned until Wednes-
day next.