The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-25
THE CHESTNUT STREET FIRE.
The CorOner's Investigation.


This morning Coroner Daniels resumed the
investigation as to the cause OF the fre on the
morning OF January IA, 1858, at Ninth and Cnes.
nut streets, which resulted in the death of
James +. Polk and Edward Hagan.
Thomas j. Lovegrove attirmed-I found the
boiler in good order, and no evidence to show
that the fire originated from 1t in any way; the
rubbish had been moved away; say that the
boiler did not explode in any way-it was in
running order; we tested 1t this morning; the
bricks and tire-hole were all right; | am tami-
liar with boilers; am the boiler inspector of
the city; 1t is impossible to blow open the fire
doors from the confined air in the flues.
John IL. Towne sworn-l reside at No 1915
CSdTes badns he Boiler was IN sood
running order; found half.burnt coal In the
hre'hole, which was not disturbed; there was
no explosion from the boiler; saw steam
started there this morning. There was no
break or derangement Of the boiler.
Robert M. Magill, Sr., sworn-I reside at NO.
154 N. Seventh street; am superintendent of
the shop at the Gas Works; l took the meter
away from the store of Caldwell's. IL was in good
condllloni ordered the gas stopped on IL was
stopped oil on the morning after the fire; there
was stop cock in the street and one inside the
street; the man who duty it is to stop off the
gas could not get inside, and the hremen pre-
Thomas Quatde sworn-I reside at No. lsO2
Horstman street; am q member OF the
Weccacoe Fire Company; turned the gas on
In the morning; some were afraid TO do IL ana l
volunteered to do 1t; had to wade through
water; there was fire in the back part OF the
cellar; II went out as soon as turned IL of; l
found the meter standing towards Ninth street;
there was full head of gas on; the stop'eock
was In the vault
j. V. Merrick sworn-I saw the boiler on
Saturday and it was in good condition; the
brick work was in good condition; so Iar as !
could see the boiler was In perfect eonuIIlon; l
saw 1t again this morning In running orderi l
examined only the boiler In the rear end OF Cne
store; II could not have exploded, as IL would
have been blown to pieces. -,
Robert Briggs sworn-I examined Cne Doller
and So ems to be in as good condition as When
made; am satisfied that there was no explo-
bOni found the bed OF coal parIlally purheui
there WAS no signs of disturbance; shoulu
Judge thatlt was quencned by the wafer tnIoWni
the oreakage OF the pipes was caused Py soe oIier
thlpg railing upon them; l examined Ihe DolAer
IN 'front.' and found IL in good condltion' -,o
Matthias Stratton sWorn-I reside NO. ~
walnut street; put the gas pipes IN the Outiu thc
Ing; personally attended the alterations OF the
sas pipes, and they were independent ot az
SsneIs, u and mad noconnection Wltn tnose @ wnrH1 @
were already in the building, anu were sup
pned with stop-cocks; when the wnole "oIh
was completed 1t was thoroughly testeat anu
subjected 10 a seVerer testthan on other occa-
slons; when the brackets and chandeliers were
put IN 1t was subjected to another test Ine PP PIPE
al use was ~ inches; there was put neI9 h9i ~ in
The pipes were all connected with the meter; we
placed In two large stop COCKS, one 10 govern govern
the bronze.room, and the other the silver
room; we huno no pipes from the ceiling IN
making the alterations; the Drackets WeIo az az
ssHa peS from our pPet p ooqs onsF9 nd tue ceiling
there were about thirty four three quarter
pipes on the first dooT; think there was SUM
cient escape of gas to produce great desIruc-
lion, and for that reason advised and had an
outside stop cock provided; II IL had peen
HSopped OF shortly after the breaking QUITO @ Cne
AVE- AVE- Ihe destruction, l think, would have been
rs,hmnse. Lame. II. Lyons sworn--I reside at No. 700
alterations alter In the building after the frm occu-
1aent ana a%sSSed In i've burners In the base.
= pendant opSasp plumbing think there was
Ia ar az the ars Ok ago, and was not in the oel~
- "7eS' "ntl this morning; i do not