The New York herald., 1871-01-05
THE WILLIAMSBURG EXPLOSION.
Opening OF the Coroner's Inquisii1oR-Tcsti-
mony OF Experts.

Opening OF the COrOner's InquisiilOR-Tcsft-
mony OF Experts.
The iDGuisiton in the or the boilcr explosion
at the iron works of Miller, Defreese Co, Williams
burg, the evening OF the Goth ult, ny which Mich
oias Stephens Francis bossien and Daniel Mulhol.
land lost their lives, was commenced last evening
by Coroner Whitehill. The following testimony was
eliclted:-
TESTIMONY or WILLIAM L MILLER.
William L. Miller, sworn Geposed--r reside at
ia Oak street, areenpoiut; am one OF the pro-
prieiors of the works where the explosion took
place; the firm name is W. l.. Miller De-
freese Il Co.; was present when the explosion
took place; the boiler was constructed by Caldwell
OF Newburg II twenty feet long, five feet on the
rear, SIX feet the 'front.' 1t locomotive tubu.
lar boiler; had used 1t about two months; bought
it from a Pine street broker named Mitchell; had
been informed that the boiler had been only used
for three SIX months before / purchased it;
Nicholas stephens was my engineer; he showed me
a certificate before / employed him. was satisfied
with his recommendations; in the main shop
when heard the explosion l thought at one time
that my engineer did not carry water enough and
told him so that was the only time that mad
reason 10 complain OF him; he was temperate
man.
in answer to q juror had the boiler repaired
once during the months that used IT. il was re.
paired by Mr.. Vogt; did nst ask Mr.. Vogt 10 the
condition OF the boiler at that time; my engineer had
nothing 70 do but look after his boiler; think that
Mr. Kennedy told me that he was a competent engi-
neer bought the boiler speculation, not intend
ing TO use IL at the time; i don'l know how long
there hre under the boiler before 1t exploded:
we used cea for luel: my orders to carry no
onId nax nay ha Pnnmh y s m H. my nap pouds pnt ~
carried l00poun1s where had been previously
dis not have the boiler insured because did not
believe that IL was necessary II was not used the
day previous 10 the explosion; we only used every
other day; don't know whether the feed pipe was
frozen or not. + have run an engine myself; the
crown sheet OF the boiler had been burned aud
repaired; tue repairs were pronounced well done by
my engineer; have had three engineers IN nf eni-
plogmeat; one lett me voluntarily. one discharged
the last was killed: tue latter never complained to
me OF the condition OF the boiler; nctided the in
spectors TO inspect the boiler before It put up,
but tDey never did so.
TESTIMONY OF HENRY voGT
Henry Vogt, sworn deposed:--i am a boiler
maker; went to lOnkers with Mr.. Miller 10 exam
Inc the boiler in question before he purchased II: |
examined the inside OF the boiler. and found 1t well
constructed; found one patch on the bridge wal,
but no evidence OF leaks; next saw the boiler III
Williamsburg: was called upon to repair IL about
two months ago; did not see II myself at that time;
about six weeks ago | received an order to repair
"A leak III the crown sheet, 10 caulk 1t; saw the
psiier at this time, and went into the furnace: found
that there was leak on the crown sheet ana the
two sheets composing IL were sprung; saw two bs-
ters near the seam; did not examine the boiler
thoroughly.
In answer to juror-When found the seam OF
the boiler sprune concluded that It was done by
carrying low water: Mf. Wan was the engineer at
that time; the crown sheet was perfectly straight
when examined the boiler at Ionkers: think the
boiler was as well constructed as any OF Its kind;
have seen the boiler since Its explosion: think il
exploded from a lack OF water; the top OF the
crown sheet looked as II 1t had been burned: when
first saw the boiler thought IT could safely carry
seventy-hve pounds or steam i believe that the
befer parted, AT the tune OF lis explosion, near the
centre or the furuace as the seam Is the weakest
part OF q boiler. the parting ably occu rred
there; / think that II there had been penty OF
wafer In the bsler 1t would have been safe from
EXPLOSION at pressure OF seventy-hve pounds or
steam after 1t had been repaired by me.
TESTIMONY OF THOMAS +. POWERS.
Thomas +. Powers, sworn, deposed:-I am an en-
glneer and machlnst and inspector OF steam bolIers
saw the boiler In question after it exploded but
not previously; Miller, Deireese L. Co. mad reported
their boiler 10 office In the latter part OF Novem
Der; then ordered Mr.. Farron to cali on the firm
ana make sn external examination or their boiler
ron reported that the boiler appeared TO be good
and safe one; on. the I'D OF the month
the engineer cailea al the Office for per-
sonal examination ] asked MIN then in
boiler, and found that his answers were cerrect
when examined 1t after its explosion there were
about seventy-two braces in the crown sheet;
should consider the boiler safe al a pressure of
eighty pounGs If 1t had been properly suppaed with
water; think that low water the cause OF the
explosion; the water used n the boiler was hrack-
fsh aud therefore likely 10 loan; under such cir.
cumstSnces II Woud require an expert and careful
engineer TO know how the water stoed in
the boiler generally. The witness detailed at length
the various causes OF boiler explosion but concluded
that want Of water was the cause 10 this case. He
had been told by young man named Miller that the
engineer Stephens had been In the habit OF holding
down toe safety valve when letting or sixty pound
steam pressure. because the noise OF the escaping
steam was dlsagreeaDle to him, i think that there
must have been pressure OF over seventy pounds
OF steam on the boiler when 1t exploded.
Al late hour the inquest was adjourned until
Monday evening next