New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-07
THE INDIANAPOLIS DISASTER.

THE INQUEST COMMUNICATIVE EXPLOSION THE
RESULT OF CARELEssNEss OR GROSS IGNO-
RANCE.
The Coroner's inquest in the case OF the late
explosion at the Indiana Fair grounds continued Its
In vestgation Saturday afternoon Several engineers
boiler-makers and mechanics were examined, aud oil
agreed that the disaster the result OF careessness
culpable ignorance We make some interesting extracts
from the testimony:
Mr. Hasseman machinst, and formerly proprietor OF
the Eagle Machine WorksI did not anything OF the
accident yesterday until after it happened saw the
engine during the trial the steam up 1s5 pressure
on the Indicator. and |s steam had been rising tcod
not hare renamed there but as IT. was going
looked at the front part Of the boiler to-day but saw
that gave any such Indication was the portion Of tbs fire
sheet which was blown over into the cattle shed y had
SOS feet from where the engine stood 1t would weigh
between and 400 pounds and four feet wide and
boiler would Be concave to the Inside side but since the
explosion convex showing that It must have been
indicating that it had been subjected to a red heat
Charles shearer swornnAm practical steam EN-
afternoon 1t apparently running OYER stood be-
nS aeT m the sound that It was foamng and that
there water scarcely, In the boiler as the gauge
emitted blue steam told the engineer that re you'd 6ioo
up n about haD minute; when he asked me how knew
it, told him practical engineer; no then turned
the water, and left, fearing explosion the en-
gineer in this case either careless or incompetent
for any practical engineer would have known the condl
steam and water come out Of the gauge et showing
mixture OF steam and water but when the water Is
opnion the cause of this explosion was the Of
the boiler and that which was in II was foam
case think oil the water being low In the boiler
left crOwnsheet BARE and it became red this intense
heat changed the watervapor or steam into gas and
that gas igned from the redhOt surface OF the crown
sheet and its explosive great that no metal
will resist 1t the material and workmanship on the
Franklin Wright of Crawfordvlle-Am machlnist and
DIN nv
and stood behind the engineer; Mr. Hener, who was
with me- asked the engineer II ne was going s 70 Try
they indicated plenty OF water the boiler was carrying
pounds OF steam during the whole tral inc water
was foaming aud coming out through the engine, and
from this the boiler became almost empty; the
fault was evidently with the engineer in starting the
engine without examining the water; left the en-
CINE five six minutes before the explosion; thlnk
scientic engineer might have been deceived about the
matter thought it dangerous TO run the boiler, and
felt little uneasy at the tme the engineer should nave
John NJ. Mcdowell, sworn-Have run engines on steam.
boats and am familiar with the workings of engines and
boilers the engine about two minutes before the
explosion place. and the engineer try the upper
gauge and then lower one and both showed tnat
there water in the boiler; the steam was dry
from both OF the gauges In company with John
Hanning, and | told him to come away; he asked me
why, and told him there was no water IN the boiler IL
sneed like II burning when the gauge was opened
indicator showed 100 pounds OF steam when lett
would blow up; the furnace doors were cooled when
was there did not notice Mr. snker about the engine
did not know him. told Hannlng that the engine would
blow up water put In think TINS boiler
would have withstood pressure OF 2n pouhus 10 TUG
square inch II plenty OF water kept In IT. any prac-
tca engineer would have known by the sound or the
gauge cock that boiler empty; competent en-
would have taken measure 10 cool down Ills
boiler without adding any water.
THE RESULT OF THE CoRoNER's INQUEST-RE-
LIEF FOR THE SUFFERERS.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 6-The Coroner s
Jury rendered the following verdict late last night r.
L. DAVE and twenty others came TO their death by the
exploding OF the boiler attached 10 +. r. Snker CO.'S
portable engines at the Indiana fair grounds, which
poson was caused by careessness and cupable nisma
agsment tho part Of tho engineer In charge John
Gall deceased" A meeting OF citizens held at the
rooms OF the Young Mems Christian Association yester
daF the purpose OF raising subscriptions for the sur
ferers. over 81 200 were subscribed A meeting
will be held tonight Masonic Hall for the pur-
pose The County Commissioners have appropriated $780,
aud the State Board of Agriculture has donated oO for
the sufferers.