The New York herald., 1871-08-01

amincd II, and or course, len a certificate Among
other things the certificate sated:-sThe said boiler
has been subjeosed a hydrostatic pressure of
thirtyfour pounds 20 the square inch and the work
ing maximum power allowed twenty-five
pounds To the square inch. There IL one safety
valve. with thiriy-ive square inches ana the load
prescribed such as to allow bat Twenty-Five
pounds pressure per square inch. and lett IN charge
Of the engineer and locked safc,y valve oil three
inches diameter. loaded 10 twenty seven pouhus
pressure 10 the square inch."
II must hsve been dangerous service Tor the III
spec,or to subject the boiler hydrosiatic pres
sure OF thirty Our pounds 10 the square inch under
the circumstances, lor now know that ihe bolier
was In part of it least. just the thickness ol
four sheets OF noie paper Twenty-Five pounds TO
The square inch was the maximum working power.
Any excess OF pressure over this would be VIOLA
tion OF law, a menace to ilie and
cRiMfsAL IN The EXTREME.
Let this lact be remembered.
Possessed OF this admirable boiler. an experienced
engineer aud q skillul commander, the westdeld
whistled for passengers, aud the passengers came,
In twos and threes at rst then oy the dozen, and
lew minutes before one O'Clock hy the hundred.
They OF all classes OF society," and equally intent
on the enjoyment OF the bay breeze. Women
red children in their arms; their husbands bore
baskets with food and iruits--the result of saving
nungering for the air not TO be found in shops,
hustled in with them. pleasant, goOd-numored,
laughing crowd 1t was; and IL was pleasant TO see
their eager steps quicken to run as the thin boiler
a. the Mestieid gave vent TO ITS internal ag0nies In
a squeak through the signal pipe. IL Is not yet
known how many people went on board; probably
three hundred, possibly five hundred. AT that hour
on sunday I'm summer nmeI there are more ire-
qaent,y SIX hundred board the Staten Island
ynnf fttn fnrrv
were on the dock waiting for hall-past one to ar
rive Jumped on board and Joined The people already
seated on the deck OF the boat.
A DECIDED PREFERENCE
was evinced by most for the forward part OF the
vessel for to those who swelter in the confined AR
OF great city, breeze. however b0isterous, can
be unwecome.
In the meantime, and while the captain OF
the boat was standing on tic upper deck watching
for the incoming steamer, momentarily expected TO
round Castle william, the engineer (Rooinson) was
on the dock. He had such confluence in the United
States Inspectors certificate that he could let the
tlnkcred boiler take care OF itself Now, steam is
as unruly neglected child; ii Is liable
10 play nasty tricks when unmatched, and
this steam was wayward and treacberous. At
twenty-five minutes past one the engineer stepped
eisurely on board and sauntered into the fire
He did not on board 10 attend The boiler; not at
all. The boat to start in five minutes. MIR.
Robinson entered the fire room ana asked OF the
assistant engineers, Parick Finnegan by name,
'how Is the vaterfn To which Fnnegan readily
replied, "All right" Then MI. Robinson tried the
third cock OF the boiler and found that the water
touched lat least lie THIS done ne passed
the engine room ana locked in lie found the boiler
carried twcnty.soven pounds OF steam; that Is TWO
POUNDS more than allowed by the certificate OF the
inspector. Though
TWENTY YEARS An ENGINEER,
and having enjoyed nine years experience OF the
patched boiler thickness, four sheets OF paper he
nothing ominous the face OF the indicator.
Mr.. Robinson then descended The stairs leading 10
the epgne room, Dut he did not go FAR duh,
neavy sOpad followed by an inlerna! Kissing noise,
smoc ais oar; he deck overhead rose up, Spit and
scattered III fragments; WIG wall Of unptterable
anguish, iro,a thrJats hoayse with terror
mingled with The OF parting TIM
beIs and the rusn Of death-deallug vapor.
Mr.. RoDmson got on deck at once soon followed by
the fireman, Robert Crosson. The scene has already
been described OF rather many have attempted to
describe il. Death in its most narrowing revolving
form was on the boat and in he Waier. Every moan
from the dying people, lying mlnge amid broken
tnlbers, with scalded 1es, dripping on The deck;
each wall o. despair from those who with upliited
arms sinking out oil sight in the gl0omy river
gave the lie direct to Tie United states Steamboat
Inspector ana condemned the nnEercd boiler The
engiueei escaped win his lie, and lhe man who
certified that tue boiler was good and safe not
Oh board.
THIS Is
Tns STORY OF TIE EXPLOSION
andi;s cause. Tne extent OF The II is stll
unfortunately. Too 10 state with per.eoi
cufacy. There Is too much reason 10 arprehend an
increase ol the already large list o. the dead.
Enough, that the wounded III hospital are diving;
that The dead IN the bottom OF the nver are beng
hourly hauled toihe surface TO lie recognized and
moaned over by their relatives and friends and
that deep gloom peryades rhe community. Fol-
lowing this column Will be found record OF the
day. including full list OF The Victims dead and
wounded.
All day yesterday men were dragging the river
for bodies, and unfortunately found hut too many.
Night crept them they labOred; sombre
shadows from the opposite side OF the darkcnlng
river stole cautiously over; against The partially
clouded sky the yards or ships stood ont spectral.
like in the uncertain light over the washing waters
snrouding the dead ana drowned, While the uneasy
wind sighed mournfuy and low.