The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-03
TnE INSPECTORS, INVESTIGATION.

VEctr WCrA-VeSfltnOny Oh JOAh IA H10ss
thews aud Jacob III. Vanderbilt.
Yesterday morning at ten O'Clock Messrs Leonard
ii. Boole and william Hill, OF Boston, two local
United States inspectors OF steam boilers, were con.
stiruted board or inquiry under the direction OF
Messrs. Low and Belknap the chiefs OF thai service,
and commenced what, 1t has been alleged, will be
thorough investigation In the causes that led to the
late lamentable disaster OF the Battery great
number OF gentlemen assembled OF the 01nces OF
Messrs Matthews and Booe. In Pine street, being
chiefly witnesses or interested persons who had
been requested attend in consequence Of the order
transmitted from Washington by the Secretary Of
the Treasury. There was no undue excitement and
everything was conducted IN the most orderly man.
ner.
After the members Of the Board were seated Mr..
Low said
| GENTLEMEN-I am directed by the Secretary OF the
Treasury TO make thorough and searching investi-
CATION Of the causes attending the sad disaster to
! ihe steamer Wesrteld. For that purpose, and for
the purpose OF having full and minute examina'
moned Mr.. Hill to assist and to near the evidence Of
the witnesses summoned. Isuppose it VIII not he
occurrences which could be loreseen, 1t Is one that
was perfectly within The bounds of human ingenuity
TO prevent There IS q responsibility resting upon
some one, and the aim II our Investigation will be
TO TX the responsibility In the proper quarter.
INSPECTOR MATTHEW'S TESTIMONY.
| The first witness Tor examination was John X.
/
port.
LEONARD w. BooLE--Mr. Matthews, IN testing the
boiler OF the westneld will you be good enough to
maze your statement as to that
MATTHEws-I tested the boiler Of the Westleld at
South ferry, on the Brooklyn side, on the 18th day
Of June last and subjected IL to pressure OF thirty
four pounds to the square 1nch allowing the vessel
to carry twenty five pounds Of steam.
Q. On the 18th day Of June last9 A. Yes. That
pressure was put upon the boiler by hydrostatic
pump; saw the boiler and made thorough ex-
animation all round; / saw nothing wrong, no
signs OF weakness or alteration OF shape; set the
perfect valve for that pressure OF steam.
q. What was the pressure allowedS A. Twenty
FIVE pounds to the square inch.
Q. Mr.. Matthews, in making that test did yon
allow the usual time in tensionY A. did, Sir. 1t
was os close an inspection as ever made.
@. Was there any weakness pointed ont to you
by anybody before you made the inspection, or was
there anything said in reference to the condition Of
the boiers A. No; tested it myself
O. What was the position of the gauge' A. The
gauge was not quite at the top OF the steam Chin
MES; probably little more than half way
q. Are the dimensions Of the boiler, given,
rects A. Ten feet in diameter; that is correct l
think.
O. Where was the gauge7 A. About half way
high up toward the steam chimney.
O. Was the pressure put the boiler by the boat
pump, or did you use your own pump A. 1t was
put on by the BrooKlyn water ana regulated by the
stop COCK from the dock; the hydrant had pres
sure OF about sixty pounds tested 1t by that water
Q. Do you know the age OF the DoilerP A. be-
lieve 1t was built at the same time as the boat-ln
1862.
@. In this test what was the temperature Of the
water in the boer-was it cold or how A. The
wafer ia the boiler was at some considerable tenn.
perature The boat had just come In and the fire
was not out only lowered, in order to allow the
test to be made. or course the water was not at
the full heat, Whatever it might be. They allowed
q. When you lett the boat had you any mlsgivlng
IN Sour MIND as to her safeiyi A: None whatever.
Had desired to travel or gone on that boat on Sum
day should have thought 1t perfectly safe.
O. DID you use any test gauge when you inspected
the boatf A. used the one belonging 10 the boat
@ DID you know the condition OF that gause9
A. had every reason 10 know 1t was correct, and
ao w e @ Which wond
correspond with the pressure OF the column OF
water used and 1t WAS very sensitive , In Its acton
cared when the boiler was full ? A. do not at pres
ent; understood 1T at the time 1t was used SO as
TO satisfy myself IT was correct
Q. In testing this boiler how did You prevent the
full pressure coming on or going beyond what you
required In the hydrant2 A. By regulating 1t from
Q. When the hydrant pressure was on either
you yourself or some one attended TO that par' A.
Yes
q. Did you use the safety valve when it was in
orderf A. imagine it was In order. We lowered
IL down when we had got the wafer In the boiler
an4 allowed the water to escape; 1t worked very
well.
Q. She had lookup safety ,valve9 A. She had,
SRA three.inch valve.
Q. was II set to any particular pressure' A. 1t
was set at pressure OF twentyseyen pounds,
allowing two pounds, which is the rule:
Q. Was the weight on the lookup safety valve set
that 1t would not allow OF TWENTY-FIVE pounds2 A.
1t was al that time; that is, did not touch 1t at
that; u was set as it always is set.
Q. What was the character OF the waiver A. 1t
was the America Valve.o
Q. In your experience did these valves work
essilys A: never had much Of an opinion OF them,
@. DO you know If this one had worked vcIa A.
6 S Io be e and weight
man could llit them on when there Is no steam on
Q. Mr.. Mathews, has not the governmenrvalve
the means OF raising at any time by the engineer
A. There is one winch wouio be ample for onesman
Q. understand that at pressure OF twenty-five
pounds 70 the square inch on that valve II should
Hpsq yGu not % he S s.e
not.
Q. Did you know that 1t was free-at liberty to-
9. How did yon know thats A. By the look Of it.
@ Did YOU feel or lift it' A, No, sir, did not;
o. Mr.. Matthews, think you said this valve was
three inches in dlameter; what is the OF THAR
A. The area is about seven square inches.
Q. II there were means OF Hitting 1t at the time
could you not have lifted the waiver A. Isuppose
could II man got purchase on IL ne could lHt IL.
q. Is not that TOD tof valve) In such q state OF
order that 1t can be raised By any taking hold
OF it2 A. The engineer could tel that.
O. When you tested the boiler did you have occa.
sion 10 fasfen II DOWN A. had II locked; had It
IN a line about one-nalf the height of the steam
chimney; had II partly locked whcn 1t got neces-
sary.
O. understood you TO say you tested to thirty
four pounds You took the gauge hall way up TO
the steam chimney, and you determined that by
taxing of half the 'man the guage Indicated.
Or how did you do IT. A. by allowing the differ.
a M
the gnage Indicated.
q. Wien you had got the pressure from the ny.
drant hew much above thirty-four pounds ali the
gauge indlcate7 A. II Indicated the difference be-
tween the height OF the gauge and the top OF tie
chimney. / don't know exactly how much; IL
might have been four or i've feet. Having this
work to do every day u is impossible to remember
o. Where was the gauge located9 A. ] took the
steam chest OF the engine, and drawing q line
where that was, striking probably one-third below
the bottom OF steam chimney, four, five or perhaps
Elk feet below stock Of steam chimney; that