New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-21

sommodate tv oS nv the laps and rvets, and tneTp
n then necessarily be concentrate n is very
sey o9lS 6at at this point the shell OF se
r was subjected TO much STRAIN as any It able to
he eoually apparent that II was , n was
top W. We have no doubt whatever but ns theory is
af that point the explosion commence
sutaineu ~ No. not fliv coincide with the SpVtha Thai
either Mr. Copeland or Mr. iaswe S testimony,
there Is nothing that seriously c1hd ov or crack and
both agree to the existence OF ~ the boiler in conse
he depreciation OF the strength OF otb and others as
n,ca and only disagree with Mr. SntHn Mr. Copeland
10 the initial point of The rupture nure commenced on the
Ton of the boiler in the 5 NV line OF rivets i'm;
had been gTSSyS HS o"SSs his line Of We, UDe
down the side Of the boiler Hn same view
nal detect o a r. der with these and While
40 with great Difference 70 All the theories set FORTH
u opinion founded on edsi ~, ynorv
H. testimony that The dct6 y re- rtIpifre staried from
s snt e. OF he explosion, ana p''' "''
Aat point -,,v AMOUNT OF PRESSURE.
nrc that caused the explosion there ap-
AZ W 'n' 81 difference Of opinion among the VIII
pears " racipg il al a very high point As gen
beSSes ~ boveyer. among those having the most
'i IN these matters, the pressure is placed from
~ 20 "a .o,r. ron very careful review Of the
= 49, on this point we are OF the opinion 'n W ~
could MOI e evidence that the boiler was well sup
ne With water at the tm and that the aes were MOI
p0 tban ordinary, think the pressure dld NOT
re Than three or four pounds above whsI was ias
p nv the engineer, who, I'm his testimony sIaeu lat
shout one and half minutes before the eSPoslon ae
stearo-guage In the engine room Indicated " pouhuS
Making due allowance for an estimate OF u9e on SUN
on occasion, with the evidence thas tne s nsnH
Snage was In working order, and an aDund
dance OF water in the boiler with but ORDINARY nIs tI
furnace doors being open the explosion was
We think hy pressure not much in excess OF the en-
gneers statement This is substansed ny tle caf ft
tOn made by Mr. Copeland ON the area Oh thS suoS
valve and position Of the ball on the lever ana nU bo
the tests made by Messrs FLETCHER anu 'Sieafn The
state that from the marks on the lever the
position Of the weight while in use on the stSaie, We
aware that an ordinary sfetyvave such as the one
in this steamer, would not unueI ,nioss as
sisted by the engineer Who was not present to attend TO
''''S WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE.
We como now TO the responsibility Of the disaster
This we woud gladly pass but as we cannot u Is our
desire 10 deal honestly with the question what are the
fatsi The boiler tested on the 18th or June last
with hydrOstatic pressure Of 81 pounds to the square
Inch. and the maximum working pressure allowed oy
The United States Inspectors certificate IS pounds to
the square inch. This is admitted by an concerned.
Was the certificate of the Inspector, ana consequently
The law Violated The engineer states he frequently had
"a pounds OF steam and has had % pounds pressure on
this boiler and the last time he saw the pre-
vious to the explosion 1t Was q pounds ko3elt OvTr,
board the Westned on sunday one Week previous 10 te
explosion, and the trip from New-IOrk TO stateh
leland he looking into the engne-room saw that tDe
steamgauge was 29 pounds While according 10 the tes
mOny of James BREASTED, the superintendent OF the
allowed by the Inspectors certificate was not uncom
mon. Mr. Brasted said he frequently had
in excess of that allowed by law The
testimony this point goes plainly to show that the en-
of the superintendent than they had for the United
Inspectors certificate. This ts clearly brought
out in the testimony We cannot of course say that tins
boiler would not have exploded during the time Of one
year from the date of the last inspection had the pres
Inspectors certificate; but the inference Is legitimate
one that It would not have exploded at the time 1t did
until the end Of IL months without accident
"a DIRECT AND wILLFUL VIOLATION OF LAW
We therefore emphaticaly declare that there eds q
direct and toia colaaon Of the lar, ana this dreul
catastrophe the result Mr. Braised the superntend
en by his own evidence and also that OF Mr. Vanderbilt
President of the Company shows that the responsibility
Gf employing all the hands, including engineers IN the
employ OF the Company, was brought upon ~ Mi9p
Although he testifes that he Is not an engineer hmse
yet the entire management was with him. ana u Is clear
that although holding this Responsible posGn ne va
discipline in bis management IS shown by the repeated
@ 9 9T Fe We r. id' e Ropnson
could not read the INSPECTOR certicate tor nse ea
Ease IL IS not unjust therefore, that the superintendent
should share with the engineer VI his own training TIC
responsibility Of the explosion
WHAT THE LAWS SHOULD REQCIRE.
In view of the facts would suggest that no
person licensed for position as engineer VINO cannot
read and write; and, order TO secure strict conform
ty TO the requirements Of the Inspectors certificate
in reference to the amount Of working pressure
anowei the responsibility, we think, should be
thrown entirely the engineer in charge
and the carrying Of steam in excess OF
that allowed 10y law be sufficient cause for reyoca-
ton of his license. And on each vessel pr0peued IN
whole or in part by steam, carrying pas Sengers there
should be one individual held Responsible a. MAS
ter and not as in the OF our various ferries one
appearing as master OF all the BOATS OF 1ne cOi
pany. A. regards the materials ID the a.
marine boilers think ample provision has peeh inae
FOR the future in the Steamboat law approved eUui!
In closing this report we feel it due ourselves TO say
that i'm prosecuting this investigation We have keeny
felt the btv OF our position and have endeav-
red TO the best OF our ability, 10 discharge Tue uu nom
csty The testimony, we think, Is exhaustive. IL GER
tairIv IL volmninOis and from the circumstances IL
could not been otherwise. We have Thought II ne
evan for this considered by many an ex-
ceent opportunity 10 vent9te some pet theory or ad-
%iTn nIo We tb'nF b9Wever INT we would 90
the public a great wrong should neglect TO
speak of the valuable services rendered by
snne ~ Tie gentlemen who have submitted their test-
lnOny on thi. occasion. Much valuable Information has
been obtained bv this Investigation, such as could not
nave bae secured under any other circumstances and
we feel personally indebted TO those who have furnished
,uany have contributed Will desire TO do good would
most earnestly aud respectfully recommend that you
Will suggest TO the Department the pOpet| OF printing
ths testimony that tie information it contains may be
made available I'm the future 10 the inspectors ana TO all
parties interested IN tie manufacture ana management
with our earnest prayer 10 Almighty God that our
country may he spared another viston OF so sad and
Mort; We are very e.Dsctfuy your obedient servants
i. II. BooLE,
United States Local Inspector New-York'
United States Local Inspector, Boston.
TIE NEW LAW MUST BE ENFORCED.
WASHINGTON, Aug 19.-The Secretary Of
The Treasury has issued circular letter to Collectors OF
Customs and Inspectors Of seamvesses relative TO the
PRONUNCIATION Of the act Of Congress relative 10 steam
vessels and the rules and regulations adopted by the
Board OF Supervising Inspectors, in which he says "The
5'cpdIlmeut taxes occasion 10 cujCm upon Coz
lectOrs ana Inspectors the importance Of re-
curing pomp. ana strict compliance with all the pro-
Visions OF TIE act OF Congress, and rules and regulations
now 10 DC promulgated, upon the part OF al concerned
sld act ana rules being in full force and effect
attention j. also invited TO section 80 OF the act of July
p MI requiring every steamer carrying Passengers 10
De sunlol WIN ~ Lea.l nOnDs OF lnI and the