The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-20

tneories sen Iortn u decided opinion. Ionnded
ON careful review the testimony. that me de ect
SPOKEN Of was the primary cause Of me explosion,
anu tlat TIE rupture started from thas point. As
to the
PRESSURE THAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSION
there appears 10 he g,eat deere ce OF opinion
among ne witnesses, some placing It ut very MN
poluL AS a general thing, however. among tnose
having me most experience In these matters tue
pre- sure Is placed from twenty to thirty-ave
pounds. From very careful view OF the testimony
on TINS point we are OF the opinion that II could not
nave exceeded the maximum named From the
unanlm0u, evidence The boiler was well supple d
with water AZ the time ana that the fires were not
more than ordinary. We think the pressure ala
not extend more than three or four pounds above
te5tlmGny slated that about one and half minutes
before the explosion the steam gauge IN The engine
aNoIn ,nuicated twentyseyen pounds Making due
a,towance Tor an estimate or tlme on sucn
an occasion, with the evidence that the steam
gauge was IN working order and an aonn.
ordinary fires, the furnace doors beng open,
inc explosion was produ ed, we think. by pres
statement This is sDstSnta,ed by the ri
mate ny Mr.. Copeland on the area OF the safety
valve and position of the ball on the lever. and also
by the tests made by Messrs Fletcher aud Nanuer-
btt, who state that from the marks the lever IN
aicaiing the position Of the weight while Ia use on
pounds pressure. Nevertheless, we are are aware
thai an ordinary sa.ety valve, such rs the
one IN use on ms steamer, would not
under these circumstances have efcctuay re-
leved the boiler unless assisted ly the
engineer who no: present TO attend to his duty.
WHERE THE RESpo SSIBILrrY RESTS.
We come now To The re possibility OF the disaster
This we woud gladly pass, but as we cannot it IL
our desire To deal honestly with The question. What
are the facts? The boiler was tested on the l2t or
June last with hydrOstatlc pressure OF thiry-our
pounds 20 the square inch and the maximum
State, STATES Inspectors e Certificate was twenty-five
pounns 10 the square inch. rnis Is admitted by al
CO cerned Was the certificate Of the Inspector and
consequently tie law vlO!atedY The engineer states
ne frequently had twenty seven pounds OF steam,
and mas mad twenty-nne pounds pressure on this
bolior. and The last time he saw the steam gauge
previous TO the explosion it was twenty-se, en-
pounds Robert Oliver, steam gauge maker, tes-
titled that he was passenger on board the Vest
field on sunday, one week previous to the expo
sion, aud OH the trip from New York to staten
Island he, on looking lnlo the engine ROOM saw
thai the steam gauge was twenty.nine pounds,
while, according to the testimony OF James Breasted,
the superintendent OF the ferry, the practice OF car
spector's certificate was, not uncommon. Mr..
Bra,ted says he frequently had to reprinand his
allowed by law. The testimony on this point goes
plainly to show that the engineers on tins Jerry had
than they mad Tor the United States inspectors GER
tldcate. This IS clearly brought out III the test
mony We cannot, OF course, say that this boiler
last Inspection had the pressure been con.
Inspectors certificates; but the Inference egiti.
mate one that 1t would not have exploded at the
time it dld and it is lair to presume that 1t
months without accident. We therefore emphati.
cally declare that there wasa
DIRECT AND wILFUL VIOLATION OF THE LAW,
ana TINS diretui catastrophe Is the result MI.
Breasted. the superintendent, by his own
evidence evidence and and aa2 mt OF Mr.. Van.
that the responsibility of employing all the
hands, intending engineers in the employ OF the
company, was brought upon by hun, although he
testes that he IS nOt an engineer HIMSELF yet the
entire management was with him: and ii Is clear
that although holding tlls responsible position, he
This want OF discipline In his management Is shown
by the repeated violations of his crders In regard to
carrying steam. The fact tnat the engineer ot the
Neslfield, Henry Robinson, could not read the tn-
specors certificate Tor himself iearlully increases
the responsibility OF Mr.. Brasted In this Case IL IS
not unjust. therefore, that the
SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD SHARE WITH THE ENGI-
of his own training the Responsibility OF tho eXplO
sion. In view OF the above facts we would suggest
that 10 person be licensed for position as engineer
that cannot read anu write, and IN order to Insure i
strict conformity to the requirements OF the inspcc-
tors certificate III reference 10 the amount or WORK
ing pressure allowed tile responsibility, We think,
anu the carrying Of steam IN excess OF tat allowed
by law be sufficient cause for q revocation OF his
license. And on each vessel propelled IN whole or In
part by stea carrying passengers. there should be
some one individual held responsible as master,
ferries, one name appearing as master OF all the
GOATS OF the company. As regards the materials in
the construction OF marine boilers, we think ample
provision has oeen made Tor the future In the Steam
boat law. approved February 2s, 1871.
In closing this report we feel II due ourselves r.
say that IN prosecuting this investigation nave
keeny felt the responsibility OF our positiOn aud
have endeavored 10 tie best Of ability, to dis
charge the duty honestly. The testimony, VIC
THINK, IS exhaustive IL certainly rs voumirous,
and from the circumstances it could not
have been otherwise We have thought II
necessary to review all the evidence,
much OF it being irrelevant, for this OCCASION was
considered by many an excellent opportunity 10
vcntate some pet theory or advertise an inCen-
iOus patent. The chan had TO be taken with the
wheat, and can he separated without diilcut7.
We think, however, we would do the public great
Injury should we neglect to speak OF the valuable
services rendered ny some Of the gentlemen who
have submitted their testimony on this occasion.
Much valuable Information has been obtained by
this investigation, such as could not have
been secured under any other Circumstanc a,
and we feel personally indebted TO those
who have furnished 1t, We, therefore, without
making comparisons where so many have con-
tribuled with desire to do good, would most
earnestly and respectfully recommend thai you will
suggest TO the department the prOpricy OF printing
this testimony, tnat the Information IL contains may
be made available IN the future 10 the inspectors
and 10 all parties interested in the manufacture ana
management OF steam boilers.
With our earnest prayer to Almighty God that our
country may he spared another visitation Of so sad
ana nireiul q calamity, We most respectfully close
our report. We are, very respectfully your ooedient
servants, l.. ii. B0OLE,
United States Local Inspector, New York.
lNCREASE ~ HILL.
United States Local Inspector, Boston.