The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-08
The Fire Department.

NEW YORK, August I, 1871.
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
| After the fearful boiler explosion OF yesterday
week the public mind is looking in all directions
where steam Is used and specializing as to the COM
Potency Of the men In charge Of engines and digni-
Ned with the classification Of "eDgneers" and their
h.assstants."
our Fire Department suggests itself to me as an
excellent field to discover incompetency. Few OF
the present incumbents will be retained II properly
trust q he suthores VIII order an exaa
Zion OF all assistant engineers, and with Open doors
the There are not iS than SIX engineers
working at fire. Old ''MaxlmLm" OF the West
1ed can be rvaIlsG for ignorance In this depart
Aid for the Sufferers.
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HFRALD:~
lis the idea Of nearly oil the residents Of this
kreat city that the government and all
the rich and generous men OF this city
Should give something for the sufferers
who were blown up on Sunday, July 90. 1t is
} terrible thing to think Of poor working men and
women who have no chance In the week days to
have little enjoyment that when they 60 out on the
ful manner Would it not be good idea II every
place OF amusement In this City should pay one
bights earnings TO aid the sufferers OF the Westned
horror for 1t terrible calamity 1t Is horrible
thng to think that such terrible calamities should
How but 0 chat You ~ viii beeone victim to such
Thing. LOVER OF THE RERALD.
Etnten Island Ferry Company and Attempted
Perjury.
BROOKLYN, August g. 1871.
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Can you explain the reason why the Staten Island
Ferry Company insist and make their employees
pwear that there were not over hundred persons
booard their slaughter boat when she blew up.
Your figures alone show that the dead and
pany's estimation were aboard all together.
{ Are the public to be guled by such brazen imper-
pever on a Sunday afternoon have had less than
Prom seven hundred to twelve hn"a"'a e0'.G 1p a
An IGNORED Communication to the Supervisor.
NEW YORK, August 7, 1871.
BIO THE EDITOR THE HERALD:-
| The Undersigned, believing that even a suggestion
would lead to further the investigation now gong
pn In regard to the West1eld catastrophe sent the
following letter to Mr.. Lowe, the Supervising In
ppect0r of this city. From what is published it
Beems no note taken OF said letter by the Board
Of Inquiry, and, fully believing that 1t would be Of
Importance to give 1t some consideration. he now
requests you to give 1t to the public through the
peans OF your columns
! TOMPKINsvILLE. S. l., August 4, 1871.
10 THE BOARD OF INQUIRY IN THE WESTFIELD
EXPLOSION, 70 Pine street,
Observation-Disclosures suggestions may, per.
baps, contribute to throw some light upon the
tause OF the terrible calamity under investiga
non. l would call thelattention of the Inspector
Pt once to the method the engineer followed
in RreaslnG the cylinders. Instead OF
tallow or oil he may have used GER
tain compound which they are using Oh said
eerrybOatS for greastng the walking beam and bear
lngs refer to special grease, having the appear
ence OF tal!ow or fat, but with peculiarly attrac
tive flavor OF bitter almonds. his compound Is
holhlng else than kind OF saponldcatlOn OF lard
oil other grease by means OF alkaes and favored
with Dltro-oenzOe, which gives TO 1t the bitter
almond smell, which does not add TO Its merits, bat
probably Is done to give 1t the scmblance OF superl.
Ority over other greases aud make 1t more salable.
NItrO-benzOe Is the produce OF dstillalOn OF light
essences contained In coal tar saturated with nitric
acid. (Nltric acid mixed with glycerine makes that
terrible compound called nltrOglycerine Nitric acd
with potash produces nitrate Of potash q terrible
Sulminatcl Assuming that sail compound was used
Tor the cylinder last Sunday, or previ0usy-Or
which have little doubt and which ought to be in
Vestigated-l would hold the opinion that the ex-
pOsOn was not tue result OF over pressure OF steam
neither OF the weakness of the boiler, but resulted
rOm production or illuminate at the bottom of The
boiler, which, by heating Slight percussion, pro-
duced that terrible explosion, and steam was only
the vehicle for said explosive material Tho eX-
Rminer viii readily understand that II that COM
pound was used IN the cylinder, and II the seam
3mpregnatcd with said compound, Is condensed
again. the mixture OF the nltro.Denzoe with the
soda OF potash OF the water viii produce nitrate OF
potas, or other perhaps unknown eyplesiye mate.
fia which would settle on the bottom OF the boiler
end be the mischevCus cause OF explosion. l re-
specially would submit the above the opinion of
Nessrs. Chandler, Doremus or ether scientific par
kies.
Very respectfully, I'D.