The New York herald., 1871-08-01
THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION.

y Engineer or the Boiler Itself s-A Strange
Way Of Giving Out Certificates ard fsHf0rc-
ing tnc Lnw--Thc United States Inspectors
Not Responsible for Their own Certificates
Given 10 S'Lo'nP' EOats.
A HERALD reporter yesterday called at the once
OF The United States Supervisor OF Steamers ana fc
qacsted to see Nj. Matthews, the chief INSPECTOR
gentleman, who was busily engaged III hiiing Out
The blanks OF steamboat certificate stated that he
was nor in hut when ne would return lie conld not
for the life Of MIN say. The fact Ia that the news
PAPER reporters wantel to see Mr. Matthews about
the explosion of the boiler Of the Westneld, which
he himself Inspected and declared In GOOD condition
last June, and he didn't care very much about get
ting pumped on the subject. The pumping would
no doubt nave been done with all due regard to
steamboat rules and regulations II 1t had been al
lowed: but as 1t was not allowed the public must
needs wait for some time 10 come vet before they
can ger Mr. Matthew's opinIon as 10 what he thinks
/ Of The Hft
CAUSE OF THE HORRIBLE ACCiDENT.- ~
1t should be stated in all justice TO himself that
Mr.. Matthews feels that he did his duty thoroughly
when ne inspected the boiler which exploded on
Sunday, ana that it was no fault OF his it did not
hold out good after he had Inspected 1t as 1t was
wnen he tested its worth.
.'what do you think was the cause OF the expl0-
sionfr inquired the HERALD reporter OF the gentle
man whom he found IN the Office In the absence OF
Mr.. Matthews.
'.well, couldn't very well give decided opinion
npOn the subject but my idea Is that there was gross
neglect somewhere" uat
q. ION the Part of the inspector~
"By 10 means. feel confident that the inspec-
uon made by Mr.. Matthews was thorough in every
respect
..How, then can you account for the thinness of
That piece Of the exploded part OF the boiler which
was picked up anu taken TO Police Headquarters by
che polcef' o, f
r 81 have not seen that piece, and cannot say.
What may have been doue to the boiler since the
inspection It would be hard 10 tell without an eX.
animation being made"
,.'COud any injury have happened to the boiler
aimee the inspection Of such serious character as
10 have made an explosion possibility
'Certanly; but am satisfied OF ths-tnat the
inspection by Mr.. Matthews was thorough, ana that
the certificate signed by him was true statement
of the condition OF the boiler when he saw II. Now
here's registered copy OF the certificate the docu-
mcnt was here produccd) You see that The hydro
stanc pressure was lhirty-four pounds but when
tne examination was made II went up to as high as
forty-twO, owing to one OF the guages not being
stopped at The proper time.
THE MAxIMuM PRESSURE
allowed, You by that line was twenty I've pounds.
Now. by his own conession the engineer shows
shat be mad twensy-sevcn pounds OH when The ex.
piOsion to k place."
''Were the extra two pounds saflcient to cause
the explosion9'
.sOb, no, l don't say thai.-
''lben, DON'T you think II looks rather strange that
. boiler, If in good condition, should explode with
twenty.sevcn pounds OF steam on when it could
stand hyirostatic pressure OF thirty y-fourf'
''lt does iOoK rather strange, but then who knows
how much the pressure was when the explosion
curredY 1t might have been fifty-seven instead OF
twenty-seyen for aught anybody knows. If toe en-.
glneer violated the condition of his certificate ny al
lowing two pounds' pressure more than the boiler
entitled 10, and makes bones OF IT, 1t Is quite
likely that ne would have, with the same inpunily,
allowed ten pounos more II Le had o mind TO. A
VIOLATION OF THE CERTIFICATE
n violation no matter how sllgnt the violation
"Do You believe the engineer was to blame s,'
I'll tniiK he ought TO have been near his engine, in
his proper place, in the engine room. He comedies
tina wle the boat was at the pier he went up to the
pilot house, and also on the deck lie had no bus-
ness 10 leave The engine room. VINO KNOWS now
long lie was away from It, and what might have
happened during hls absence TO cause the eXpi,-
SION He tells his story but who can tell 1t for
ilm the same way he told itl / don't mean to say
mat the engineer Is an incompetent one or actually
snglae.. .,.- 49,. .,.uro. ,,,, 49,. ,o.. -.
made againsl The United states Inspectors in regard
10 this exploded boferi' .3a.4t q fh..-atf
'.They arc very unjust; we are not responsible for
the condition OF
THE BOILERS OF LOCAL B0ATs." s' q
eft has been decided that the local inspectors a,-
thorizel by state authority, and not We. are The
''Who are these inspectors T' ur ai.u ry
"Men attached ,,a to the Police Department. They
''f the tinted States inspectors believe that they
have mo- right to Inspect the boilers OF these local
% Wesfied ai made BY MI NaSaws 8 'nc '0''c' 0' ''
"Well, ycu soc, tne COMPANIES like 10 get certi-
fcaie II ON United States Inspector after an
examination has been mQC uOiica n
= TnE NAME or THE THING, ,os
think more than alyh hing elss.' ~ .t
''fhen you mean TO say that although certificate
may be given py United states Inspector, certify
ing that the boiler OF local boat Is In good cOnd-
rion ne does not consider himself responsibleY'
'fhat's my view OF IT, trs-o-.a ro a,I
''Can yOu tell me when decision OF this Kind you
refer TO was given and by wbOmYv
~ do not aow remember, but such is the case,
Are you positive abo1t that?r -. s....-
Il am; there can be 10 mistake about IT,"
'Did Congress pass law at Its last session
regulating In very stringent manner the duties OF
inspectors and tie use OF boilers, stoves &c., on
'it did, but tnat law s not practically working
yet. We nave received no onlciai copy. When the
tive enforcing It it VIII be enforced The oniy
proyslon now enforced Geo Sy MS orders Is that relative
: bat tue law Is law. whether the Secretary IN
structs rs enforcement or nol--do you not think
..Well, We have TO await instructions.vi
Zone OF the clauses oi tho law, believe, IS that
every captain and engineer OF steam vessel must
he licensed by The Board OF Inspectors aud that no
person can serve as such unlicensed Without iii-
ciIriDg severe pcnaltos.n
"fhht Is correct'
..Did The engineer Of the westGcld have a certia-
cate from the Boardl'
s'He did not"
From any United States Inspectors %. -rF
"lc did nVt.r
This cosct the conversation between the gentle
man in Mr.. Matthew'S Office and the reporter What
the scope OF the law referred 10 above IL, IN
2s II relates TO the examination OF boilers, may DO
necprsained from portions the C!Ct cutl
which read us iVows:- I'
Fic-upon application IN wrinl p' the msNer or owner
thrv the least
inspect hun of within their respective
trea and shall satisfy themselves that such
submitted 10 their structure suitable the
service IA which she to be employed, has suitable accon
tnonions and tho crew. and IN cOudifon
10 warrant the bele that lie used IN navigation as
steamer with safety c and that all tue requirements Of
law ~ regard TO boats hose, ncprcservcrs
floats anchors, cables and olhr things iatbfny