New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-03


EXPLANATION, A. b. fines E. point Of initial
Of the water and
steam.
The engineers were also agreed that there was suf
cient supply Of water In the boiler when the explosion
occurred taking as guide the external appearance Of
the ncrusted surface Of the ues The condition OF the
safety.Yalve was however, very
upon. The iron stem OF this valve about one inch ~
diameter was found TO be rusted as apparently 70
prevent the necessary play Under the varying pressure
OF the steam 1t agreedthat the close t Of is ROD
in the opening through which Ii was intended TO move
up and down, had been @ grave error OF COM
struction, and might have materially contributed
in bringing about the explosion. Upon the general
question, why did the boiler explode, tho only theory
which was maintained that immense, undue, and
suddenly accumulated pressure Of steam bad attacked
the weakest part of the boiler and caused to yield
How why this undue pressure came to be exerted
seemed to be problem for which could offer
solution. Said one Of these experts
OF was engineer ona steamboat for 90 years. going
up and down s 90 4d s
an Sss 9cs S
Valves from ' end to end Of boiler and yet when the
time comes one the unaccountaDle freaks OF steam,
the valves win not prevent exposionj everything de-
ponds upon the in chargeJ they must BIO careful,
N see e the W s and Dt the hi
troubles the engineer of the Westhed was absent rom
thing happened"
The engineers do not believe in the theory of Gun
equal expansion quoted In these columns yesterday. IL
seems be their tendency 1t Is OF most OF the od
practical engineers who comprise nearly all Oh those
directly or indirectly concerned in the official nvestga-
ton to fold the hands, admit that the operations OF
steam and to scout the advanced Ideas
of such as believe they found better ways than the
old.
measurement by one of The experts showed that the
line OF initial fracture directly opposite the center Of
the lower e that side. The lower fues half filed
with ashes. lCapt Vanderbilt the President Of the
Ferry Company, stated incidentally yesterday that the
Westfeld was about to be sent to receive her usual
monthly overhaulng.l Those who maintain the theory
of unequal expansion" point to this fact showing
that the line Of cool water must therefore have been
higher than usual. The fracture. 1t must be
bered occurred at the ryeng in the joint Of the Sheets
also opposite the center of the lower ue stratum Of
hot water they rested comparatively cool
water, the dividing line between them being opposite
the rvetiug II to he noticed that the sheets of the
boiler, separated at the rveng In every case, demon
tang that the joints by far the weaker part scen-
tcay 1t is stated that joint fastened by one row OF
rvets possessed only @ Of the original strength. The
joints Of this boiler made by row OF rves.
slight inequality of expansion occurring at that precise
point, while the boiler perhaps strained by an ex
traordnary pressure Of steam is claimed TO have been
alone sufficient to produce explosion.
But those who examined the boiler yesterday, while
evidently reluctant admit the existence OF traces of
old flaw from transverse rupture OF the boiler SHE'LL
the undercoOer and consequently shorter eide, did
not venture to deny the extreme probability OF their
existence Others who have examined the boiler think
that the fact unquesonabe The appearance Of tho
flaw leads directly to the point of initial fracture at the
moment Of expansion The outer surface Of the ues Is
covered by thick scaly deposit from the water The ef
feet Of this would be- IL is claimed to the fues TO
conduct less heat, TO become much hotter, and to
lengthen by expansion to increase the pressure
against the ends of the SHE'LL and consequently TO widen
any old rupture at the under side probably TO create
From these several conditions the conclusion s
drawn that there elements Of weakness centerng
that point sufficient TO have caused the explosion,
independently Of all question to the neglect Of the
engineer.
THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION BEGUN.
INSPECTOR MATTHEWS AND CAPT. VANDERBILT
EXAMINED.
A Board of Inquiry was convened, yester-
day morning al the Office Of the Government Inspectors
of Steamboats, No. IS Pines for the purpose OF nvesti
eating the OF the wesheld explosion The
inquiry was begun under the direction OF Addison Love-
Supervising Inspector for the Eastern District. The
Board consists Leonard H. Boole Of the Local Inspee
ton District and Hin OF the Boston District
Capt Belknsp Inspector General also present The
Staten Island Railroad Company which owns the ferry
was represented by A. c. Brown OF the firm OF Beach,
Daily a. Brown attorneys. Mr. Brown stated that 1t
the intention OF the Company to render every possible
and In the that 1t did regard itself
being on tue defensive" would content itself with PRO
dueing such witnesses as might he summoned by the
H.. In aaflva mart IA