The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-02
TRUE CAUSES OF THE CALAMITY.

Examination Of the Boiler by an Expert.
Some twenty to thirty years ago made the 30
called freaks OF lightning subject OF special inyes
tigaton till was satisfied OF the conditions required
to guard against accidents by lightning rods and
similar precautions. During the last ten years I
have made the freaks OF steam boiler explosions a
special study, till again l am satisfied that with
proper precautions we may be much more safe
against boiler explosions than against lightning;
the steam is under our immediate control-ne light.
ming Is not. ~ .,.e
have quite recently given illustrated descrip-
tous OF steam boiler explosions In the Manufacturer
ana Builder, monthly edited by me, and am pre-.
par1ng the same OF the West1eld boiler. After
careful inspection OF The debris I have arrived at
some important conclusions, which naturally de.
sire to give the wide circulation only afforded by
paper like the NEW York HERALD.
will state Of the outset how I consider all So
called theories in regard to steam boiler explosions:
for instance, decomposition OF water into its COM
ponent gases, forming an explosive mixture; water
in the spherod condition, electricity, &c. These
are mere ingenious inventions for the purpose OF
lieving the guilty parties from their liabilities
whether they be ignorant or careless engineers,
avaricious proprletors, &C.; aud set down as q
maxim that the cause OF all boiler explosions Is
that the cohesive force of the weakest part OF the
boiler has become smaller than the strain produced
on IL by the pressure Of the steam. E
The causes OF the unfortunate AFFAIR will prove
to be nvefold.
First-Defective design of this style or the boiler
Sec0nd-Bad workmanship.
Thtrd-lpjudici0us and careless method OF testing.
PourN-Negligence oil engineer
Flnh-lndinerence OF pr0prietOrs.
am aware that these are serious charges there
fore Will give some OF my reasons, proving that
there has been cupable negligence oil round.
Frst-Defectve designs. Boiler cylindrical ten
feet diameter, twentyf0ur feet long, sixteen nues OF
fifteen mon diameter, heating surface over 1G00
square feet When carrying twenty-five pounds
steam the boiler heads. each seventy EIGHT and q
half square feet or H. a06 square inches surface were
p0unds-much more than q quarter or q million
pOunds or over l4l TONS this number represents the
force with which the two ends OF the boiler were
forced apart or the longitudinal strain TO which the
cyhndical part oil the boiler was continually SUD-
ected; ana as In this style OF boiler there are no
longitudinal stays TO keep the heads together and
bear part OF this strain, the shell OF the boiler
had alone 10 Dear II, and the nrst time this
strain became greater than tho cohesion
OF the weakest seam, 1t ripped up, ahd did this In
but that the whole old AFFAIR was weak all round.
The set Of plates going round the middle OF the
boiler, and OF which the upper one PROVIDED Win
the man hole, was stripped on entirely ana thrown
sidewards against the starboard side OF the hull,
while the two halves OF the boiler separated 10 o
distance OF some forty feet. The furnace portion.
with the return 1ues attached, was pr0lecteu ten
feet forward, till stopped by the umDers surIounu-
Ing the engine, this motion throwing the machinery
backwards rom It's seat. 'phe other lighter nan oi
thirty feot backwards, till stopped In the stern OF
the boat, where II wcdced itself between the tim.