New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-03
THE wFSTFIEID INVESTIGATION

Ont of tbe chaos of opinions ana theorles re-
LII, ~ tbe EXPLOSION Of the Westfield, we
Ioain 20 have something definite. These facts
oro toloroblv well established: I. There was
s,fic;ont water in the boiler. Q. The steam
,olvo was defective in construction and had not
beon kent in working order. 8. The pressure
of steam must have been sudden and enor-
nous. 4. There was q weak point in the
boiler. Other minor correlative points have
been heretofore brought out, but these are
essential to the whole case.
Inspector Matthews, who examined the
boiler of the Westfeld on the 18th of June
last, testifes that he found then no flaw nor
weakness in it but opposed to that we have the
eloquent testimony of a portion Of the ex-
ploded iron shell, which shows q dark
OF partly oxydized edge where it
should be bright, had the rupture
passed through perfect plate of metal. Fur
thermOre, it is shown that this defect in the
boiler shell was in that part where the rend-
ing took place; of course, it cannot be shown
exactly where was the initial point of fracture !;
but the strip Of iron wrenched off the boiler,
tearing it transversely apart, did follow, to
some extent, the line of that old defect.
II is shown that the fues Of the boiler in that
very part could not have been equal in their
distribution of heat, as they were partly filled
with ashes. This inequality must have caused
corresponding inequality of expansion at
point where the boiler was weakest.
1t is very plausiby urged, indeed, that the
inequality of expansion and contraction must
have operated longitudinally on the flues them
selves-whieh lie lengthwise in the boiler
causing corresponding pressure on the ends
of the boiler. This theory Of unequal expan-
sion is not favored by Inspector Matthews.
who does not, however, substitute any of his
own for it.
Was the excess Of steam in the boiler of the
Westfeld sufficient to occasion the terrific ex-
plosion of shell already weakened by an un-
equal expansion and contraction7 This, it
seems, is the exact point to which the investi-
cation must be chiefly directed. 1t is
held by many scientific men that such
a tremendous explosion as that which wrecked
the Westfeld could never be the, result of any
mere outburst Of an excessive volume Of
steam. It's effects were moro like those of
nitro-glycerine or some highly explosive
gas. And into this calculation of
causes must come that of superheated
steam, new and foreign elements in
trodueed into the boiler, and similar consid-
erations. But, as we have said, the general
interest will be first conferred on that part of
the shell where the rupture began, where the
unequal expansion-if any-must have been
exerted, and where the partial fracture is
alleged to have existed.
The causes of the explosion having been
first ascertained, the responsibility therefor
will be more easily fixed. If the steam was
superheated, if its pressure was inordinately
powerful, if the boiler was defective on
the 12th June, and If Inspector Matthews
overlooked it-these points must be de-
termined by the examination. We want first
to find out the cause of the explosion; next,
who is responsible for it; and then the
responsible person or persons, if convicted,
must be punished. And in the searching
inquest now demanded, we also require that
from it shall issue an intelligent code of
regulations which shall make a recurrence of
similar disasters impossible.