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

the westheld disaster has been received at the
Treasury Department.
OFFICE OF UNITED STATES LOCAL INSPECTOR
New YORK, August 10, 1871.
TO CAPTAIN ADDISON Low, Supervising Inspector,
Sat- Pursuant to Your order Of the lst INST, d.
rectlng immediate investigator into the causes or
the boiler explosion On the ierrypoat Wesilield,
which occurred on Sunday, the 3Oth nit, We have
the honor 10 submit copy OF the testimony and the
The investigation was commenced on Wednes-
day. August 2. 1871, at the Office OF the Local Board
want of sum cient room AMI proper accommodation
for the members OF the press, we were obliged TO
seek other quarters. Through the kindness OF Hon.
George I'll. Sharpe United States Marshall the United
States Circuit court room was placed at our dis
posal. when the investigation was continued from
inst, having fifteen sessions. consuming IN Ell
nine days Fiity-tnree witnesses were eX,
as experts, well known among. us as
men o. large. practical experience IN design
ana boilers ana at same time thoroughly versed
in the science and various theories relating thereto
These kentemen freely gave the time ncces,
parts of the boiler, aud submitted their evilenca In
80 clear aud concise manner as, IN our judgment,
to make 1t valuable as matter OF future reference
in cases OF q similar character, Should any such
DESCRIPTION or THE wEsrrrELD.
The facts brought out in the testimony are briefly
thcse: The Westfeld OF line OF three steam
ers plying between the city OF New York and Staten
Island, distance OF about seven and half mics,
known as the Staten Island Ferry, and owned ny the
Staten Island Railroad Company. she was butt In
the city OF New York In the year 1862, ana Is 200
feet long by so feet wide, exclusive OF her guards,
and IL feel deep. She was constructed In a very
SUBSTANTIAL manner, an Is what Is called a "doube
ender"-i. p, each end OF the boat being used
alternately as bow and stern, the shaft and wheels
being at the centre.
The boiler was built at the Allalre works in New
York CITY In the year 1862. and Is return nue."
twelve teet width OF 'front.' twenty-tour feet long and
ten feet diameter Of shell, and was located about
half way between the shaft and one end Of the boat.
The engine was low pressure, lilly inches diameter
Or cylnuer Ten feet length Of stroke and located
on the opposite side OF the shalt, the boiler being
further from the centre OF buOyancy than the
engine Two iron water tanks were placed in the
opposite end OF the boat as counter trim so rs to
keep the boat on an even Keel. From these tanks
the boiler was supplied with fresh water Tor the
generation OF steam.
THE wEsTFTELD's LAST TRIP
The Westfed on her last trip. Sunday, July 80
past twelve O'Clock, arriving In her slip at New
York at about ten mlnu;es past O'Clock, nothing
out OF tue usual routine occurring on me passage:
In running from staten Island on this trip the end
OF the boat containing the engine and water tanks
Was used az the bow. having the boiler end out
wards as she lay In the New YORK slip. While IN
the slip the hose was attached to the CrOtOn n.y.
drant and the wafer tanks were flled, and every
thing was apparently IN readiness for the boat TO
leave for staten Island. the captain being In the
alter phi ct house. the wheeman In the forward pilot
house and the engineer on his way to the engine
room when the eXplOSlOn occurred. The boiler end
Of the boat was IN an instant converted into mass OF
ruins, the deck tImoefs and joiner work icing COM
asunder, one section being completely ripped Off
ana stretched aihwart ships its entire lie Myth,
sections, which was carried at lelst twenty.
live ieet and deposited In the extreme
bow OF the boat ledriully distorted. The
boiler was driven from SIX to seven feet from Its
bed, crushing its several OF the large guard
beams, the forward or CYLINDER end being thrown
toward the srarbOsrd side at angle OF fifteen
degrees from its original position, the front or the
furnace END bringing up against The engine keeIson:
TINS position OF the boiler is, no DOUBT IN great
measure due to the resistance offered by the steam
pipe which was located on the port side and acted
as lever to throw the small end OF the boiler to
starboard while gong In end.
We Will not attempt 10 describe the scene of death
and destruction that followed. We cannot. The
object III this investigation We consider hreefold--
viz, first. to ascertain the primary cause OF the
e eS sn TO place ae J.
belOngs thru, 10 deduce from the testi-
mony such Information will assist in prevent
little, If any, doubt to what led TO the disas-
ter. Although The evidence Is not unanimous on
THIS pOnt II Is by no means lrreconclable.
THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF TIE BURsT,
or explosion. IN our opinion. was defective sheet
located on Tue iowe sac Oh the nTsr ana e tnra
nav on the end leading 10 The port side. This end
OF the sheet terminated In longitudinal seam about
crack, or naw, was Immediately below the lap OF
the adjoining shell and parallel TO 1t. portion OF
struction OF the boiler but to what extent cannot
he determined. This crack being on the inside OF
the sheet ana below the nues 1t could not be seen
by any internal examination, and SO long AZ tnere
was sufficient material outside the flaw TO resist the
hydrosat test OF the Inspector 1t would he mpos-
the hydrOstatic pressure at the time or the inspec
ton, June IL, 1871, clearly proved by the test.
Eony Of tine lnspes0 NJ Join a X: H Matthew's and
was present at the time OF The Inspection
assisted by Mr.. Mathews, which assistance Is al
ways rendered by the engineers on such OCCASIONS
anu VIC iulnl duty In this connection to say tnat
we think MT.
JOHN X MATHEWS coNscRNT1ousLY DISCHARGED
in the inspection. The location OF this detective
sheet IN the boiler, particularly the fractured cnd
was such as 10 subject 1t 10 an irregular intermittent
strain. independent Of and perhaps more desruc-
live than the ordinary steam pressure. 1hs strain
was IN part owing TO tue unequal temperature 10
which the various parts or the boiler were sub
jected, hut by means TO the extent stated by Mr.
Crlngoar IN his testimony; Tor, while we have very
mcnt, yet he lacks That practical experience in The
management OF steam boilers mat SO essentially
permeacS the opinions or other experts VINO nave
testified IN thia investigation Al the same time IL
must he admitted that the continual iorco exerted
boiler the SIZE Of the Wcst1eld by the natural
expansion and contraction caused by the difference
and We nave. no doubt that this element
is moderated. Blu, this was not the only dcstruc-
tive ,orce at work at this point IN the boiler. Mr..
and plainly illustrates that the MIDDLE section Of
this boiler. OF which the detective formed part,
was subjected To strain thai al the point named
must lave been very severe. Mr.. smith says:-"I
am OF The OPINION that The decay AMI cracking OF
tho plates OF this point Is due TO me strain The
plates produced III that particular point 10y The
sags,nr OF the round shell by us own weight
and tho weight OF the enclosed water;
anu this change OF circular shape Of smell
would he increased when tue Internal pressure
OF the steam was removed" Admitting Mr.. smiths
theoty TO DC coirect--and there - nothing IN the
testimony Of the Oiner gentlemen at variance with
tit WIS peculiarly unfortunate that this defective
sheet should occupy the position IN the homer mat
Was asst gaed TO IL by the builder. This wOu.d be
particularly true II the crack Ct nav existed TO any
extent whatever at The lime 81 CONSTRUCTION; Tor,
To use the language o.. Mr. Snitn, 'tne uniform
springlng VI the p.aies 10 accommodate the changed
shape would be inter. npted by tue stiffness caused
W the lap, aud riveis. aad there would then noccs
sarlh DC concentrated strain Immediately oiu;ug
the edges o. the connecting sheets" II Is very
tam, therefore, inai al tails point the shell oi the
boiler was subjected TO a. much strain as any other
portion, ana IL Is equally apparent that it
was the least able ~ resist II. We have
no doubt whatever but II was at tnlt
point ;he explosion commenced. THIS theory
~ sustained By moss or the testimony. This opinion
does not fully coincide with the opinions or either
Mr. Copeland or Mr uaswel! SUI we THINKS thai
after careful perusal Ut ,Eese genten,ens 'es.i-
mony there notnlng that seriously connicts with
It. They both agree as TO the existence oI this naw
or crack anC he deprecatOI oil the strength Of the