The Portland daily press., 1871-08-01
NE " YORK.
The Rerrv R0af ExulOsinm

NEW YORK, July 3-The total number of
deaths from the explosion of the boiler on
Staten Island Ferry Boats, yesterday, is thus
far fifty seven. Seventeen OF the killed and
twenty four of the wounded were residents of
Brooklyn. Thomas p. Powers, Inspector of
Boilers in Brooklyn, and an examining en-
gineer inspected the boiler of Westfeld, to-day,
and stated that the explosion occurred from an
over-pressure of steam, as there is no appear
ance of low water. On contrary, there is
every sign that there was plenty water in the
boiler. The afternoon papers are filled with
additional details OF scenes at hospitals and
battery. though they add little of Importance
to the facts already published. The leading
editorials are also all devoted to the great topic
OF the day, and all agree in demanding thor
ough official investigation into causes and Cir
cumstanceS OF the disaster.
The Evening Post, ans wering its question,
"Can the responsibility for the disaster be
fixed?" says: "The boiler of the Westfield,
this morning, was carefully examined for us by
an expert engineer. He discovers no indica-
ton whatever that there vas low water in the
boiler, or that the iron of it was burnt. 1t had
at one time been patched to strengthen it, and
the break began Just at the PATCH SO that this
must have been precisely the weakest point OF
structure. Either it was too weak at this
point therefore to bear the proper pressure or
else the pressure actually applied at the time of
the explosion was excessive and unsafe" The
| Post also says United States Inspector Mat
| thews, who certified, June 18th, that the boiler
was sound and might be sataty worked und, r a
pressure OF twenty five pounds to the square
| inch, has served the Government for many
years as Inspector of Boilers, and is believed to
| be a competent man, though he sometimes has
| been accused Of making superficial and careless
| examinations. Presumption is that his inspec-
| ton was as thorough as that OF the Govern
| ment officers usually is. Concerning Robinson
| and his share in the disaster the Post declares
/ that the facts, as they have been ascertained,
| indicate that he was terribly at fault He ad-
| m.s that when in charge of the boiler It was
permitted to wear working pressure of TWEEN
| ty five pounds. He not only let the pressure
/ rise to twenty seven pounds, but left it under
thisexcessive pressure aud went to the deck for
/ considerable time. This fact alone is enough
| to raise strong suspicion. That he was Grim
| inally negligent; but when we add to this fact,
| which we are ready to establish, that on Sun
| day July 23d, one week before the explosion,
this same boiler was actually worked under
pressure of thirty pounds to The square inch,
| we cannot avoid the conclusion that Robinson's
conduct demands thol oush investigation.
James A Whitney, an expert in matters OF
steam boilers, also publishes, this p. M, the re-
suits of careful investigation this morning OF
the exploded boiler. He says he found flaw
four feet six inches long extending from point
on the right hand side of the boiler eighteen
inches above tbs upper tier OF fues to point
about over the centre of the bOiler-the metal
having been parted clear through along line
OF rivets. 1t is here, undoubtedly, that the
ooler hrst gave way. The fracture having
oeen remotely caused by the expansion and
contraction of temperature. Mr.. Whitney
also 1ound the safety valve apparatus appar
emily neglected, SO it would require a much
greater pressure to lift the valve than wher
originally fitted for use. The boiler was made
fifteen years ago.
Commodore Vanderbilt publishes a card tbi,
morning, stating that he has nothing wbateyel
| to do with TIE Staten Island Ferry COMPANY
nor with any other steamboat or ship com pany
| nor has he for the last year.
r. Lowe, the diver VINO . recovered re owe the bod!
neer at the New Hamburg disaster, is search
ing for the bodies lost by the explosion.
Bernard Smith, age 80, of Is Hamilton ave.
Brooklyn, his wife % and two children, one
little girl and other an infant, we're on West