New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-05
THE FERRY-BOAT DISASTER.
THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION.


the investigation to the cause OF the westned expo-
sion yesterday in the United States Circuit Courtroom
in the presence OF about spectators The examination
was chiefly Of experts.
THE OLD FLAW IN THE BOILER.
william ]. Lghtall, engineer, who examined the eX-
poded boiler by order Of Supervisor Lowe, recalled
by counsel for the Ferry Company He said there
"skin" OF good iron outside the crack lsinch crack
might bear pounds pressure but he could not tell how
long the crack was and the longer the crack the less
pressure would rupture the boiler the "n" OF outer
iron was about onesixteenth OF inch thick and Of
material; good boiler, 30 feet long, would bear
10000 pounds Of steam TO the square inch hoop an inch
wide and quarter OF inch thick 10 feet six inches
long fastened with testmacbine, should bear 1900
pounds tensional strain and, II one inch square,
would bear 10000 pounds
VIM II. Martin, Chief Engineer OF the Union Ferry
Company, testified that he examined the exploded en-
CINE; the accident caused by scarcity OF water
thought he observed fracture about Is inches long
OF the longitudinal sheets, but IL did not go
through; the explosion might have commenced there
the of the ordinary quality; the boiler
good one I'm every OF the word it is good boilers
that explode with such terrible resultsthe weak boilers
act az a kind of rent; tho break began crosswse on
the line OF the rycts the strength OF the iron is reduced
by rivetng; If he didn't know about the sheet being
three-quarters cracked through he wouldn't be afraid
OF 35 pounds pressure that engine; even with the
crack, If emergency called FOR it, he wouldn't be
afraid of 80 pounds; supDosng the rupture began at
the crack IS pounds would cause IT, might rupture with
pounds there must have been 80 pounds TO cause IL
have known Of gauges such they had the Wosted
90 seven or nine pounds incorrect sometimes indicating
too little sometimes too much witness in testing the
safety-yalyes finds stuck and liable to stick; no
later than this morning Of their boats was laid up
and examined for leakage Of the valve, when II was
found the stem bent they stick from various
and have to be looked after frequently he wouldn't give
four copper for steam gauge to place reliance on Them
all he would want if running boat would be good
safety-yalve and four gaugecocks.
To Mr.. BooleOur certificate allows go pounds, but
instruct the engineer to run at 20 pounds; found
there pressure OF 80 pounds, would caution the
engineer for dsobedcnce of orders and if he exceeded
the 20 pounds again, would discharge him, 1t being
matter OF great Importance; supernend all the boats
make them try the valve twice watch; 1t Is not
necessary for the engineer to ask leave to blow off, it is
all under his control and he must his Judgment.
To counsel for ferry ownersThe longer the crack the
less pressure would burst the boiler has known of
boilers with holes punched through with hammer and
then filed with fire plugs bear % pounds thinks from
where the crack was situated the Inspector could not
discover It.
Joseph L. Parry, T. g. Local Inspector Of Steamboats,
Philadelphia stated: Had inspected the boiler Of the
Westfed there was no appearance Of want of water;
the fracture made by the explosion showed quarernch
iron it thinner around the hues than when first
made but quarter-inch at the fracture; it No
3 iron; II the iron sound he would allow 3s pounds
pressure to boiler 10 feet diameter and quarternch
thick from the present appearance of the boiler, not
knowing OF flaw, he would allow 30 pounds; the out
side OF the started sheet perfect the fracture
inside and must have been there a considerable timei
it could not be discovered by the hydrosttic put
upon it, though the boiler stood pounds by hydrOstatc
the inspection six weeks ago. the crack have
increased since then and probably 80 pounds hydrostac
To counsel for the owners-The hydrostaic test prob
ably increased the crack. and do not think there
any excess Of steam when the explosion occurred;
have been inspector since 1892 there IL no means
known TO science for discovering the flaw where it was
be nine years cid would have allowed it 80 pounds.
AN ENGNEER's "MARGIN."
Thomas Connolly OF the engineers OF the Staten
Island boats having nine years experience and grldu
ated from fireman. stated he the West6ed, in his
turn last Friday, and found sign Of danger;
read the certificate put up by Mr. Matthews, but
was aware the superintendent asked the Inspector for
IS pounds and he understood he allowed that much
has read the old certificate but didn't make 1t his bust
TO read the new used to run the Westtield
every fourth day was present at the inspection in june
and Mr. Matthew's pronounced u an right ana re,
marked that the boiler bore the test this year well
ever 1t did" the Government valve would blow at
pounds % pounds and the main valve would blow
very strong at "a pounds there was no lock on the Gov
eminent valve the day of Inspections does not know
VINO unlocked pesunles thcre was no lock on Mhen
she exploded the most steam ne ever saw on tue West
field p pounds; the Old certificate allowed - pounds
is able to read and write; he believed they were allowed
a margin of pounds; he under that impression,
though the old certificate placed the measurement at %
pounds; was licensed in 1863 I'm Ncw-YOrk.
Mr. Matthews took the stand and explained that Henry
Robinson six times licensed but his license had
out AT me time OF Ine eAp3si3 anu TINS IL why Ne te
valve in working order, for the extreme test II
began to leak and there was every indication OF It's being
free
TESTIMONY OF THE CAPTAIN AND OF THE MAKER OF THE
BOILER.
Isaac NJ yrceland testified that he master Of the
Westheld the day of the explosions they left Staten
Island at l2t o'clock the explosion took place at 140
o'clock the boat was remaining perfectly quiet at the
time there 200 passengers on board at all events
and how many he couldn't say; was standing at the
stern; the pilot, Magee was at the vince hOuse was just
about start when the explosion took place witness was
lust going give signal by the steam whistle hVe mn
before the time for starting and in pulling the string
seemed the sound was just usual sometimes witness
does MT which boat he is running they are so much
alike and never had fears on any OF lhem; mas n9yeP
noise around the Dock has never seen the coored en-
ginecr intoxicated. ,.,.-,
Charles Franklin testified that he was bolIernaker,
working in jersey City, and was foreman OF me Aure
Works when the Westhed's boiler was Duilt mere IL
made OF the best Pennsy IRON, quI d Ul an
inch thick on top, and The waterDOttom ahu nahYss
were hvesxeenths OF an men IN ma tbe Insid NJ
of the steam chimney was NO. IRON ana e ms sde no
!; the iron in the shell was charcoal NO IL the Doer
was built for Commodore VanderDti lae niIlTss ION
sdered it frstcass boiler OF this knd W0uIu ordina-
ry last twelve years when fresh water was seu
he did not know that salt water was eyer seq a '
thought the boiler would last from hye 20
he mas not seen INC u'iiOi Wy
explosion; IL he had examined 1t, and found
the shell quarter OF inch thick ne snoua nor con
slider the boiler worn out but in good condtion the
boiler was built to bear 40 pounds OF steain ana was
hotter IL fed Constantly with fresh water ought TO last u
yeaps before became useless iron loses u.s. strength by
age even when il has not lost much OF lts thickness
Matched boiler might be good one, but IT would not be
frsclas; had said in conversation since the explosion
that he considered the Weselds Dotr pretty wen worn
ou when me said that he under the impression that
The r ws built Ne years ago; he had patched boilers
over their seams when they were ne"'
The Committee here took . recess unth 2Ocock'
"ExCEssIvE PRESSURE"
John L. Smith said he had been practical engineer for
ls years had examined the boiler OF the Westhed since
the exposion and thought the accident was caused by