The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-04
THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY
BOAT EXPLOSION.
The Government Investigation.
NEW YORK, August 3.

NEw YORK, August 3.
The Government investigation Of the
explosion OF the ferry boat Westtield was
resumed this morning,
Henry Robinson, Colored engineer OF
the Westfeld, testified that he had been
u steamboat engineer nearly Is years.
Witness said he could not exactly explain
the difference between q high pressure
boat and a low pressure boat, save that
one used steam at high pressure-lhe
other low pressure. lie explained the
working OF the engine on board his boat.
Being called upon to define vacuum, he
declared il to bO foul air. He was inter
rogatcd Ms to the different ways In which
vacuum could be formed, and mentioned
that one could be mado by sucking with
ones lipsat the end oil q pipe, either end
of which was stopped. He believed that
in that case the pipe was made to
adhere to the lips by suction He was
aware that the atmosphere excrted pres.
sure, but did not know how much. He
said he had never read any scientific
hooks, TOR he could pot read writing or
print but very little, For asceFtaining
the amount of steam the certificate OF the
boiler permitted, would be obliged to oh.
tain the assistance of some other man.
Capt. las. w. Bruisted, Superintendent OF
the ferry line, testified that he had the ut
most confidence In the fidelity and ablli.
" of Robinson. lie had often threatened
TO discharge him for carrying more than
twenty.seven pounds oGsteam. "Ten years
ago on the Wyoming, ] discharged him
for carrying u little too much steam, but
never had occasion to reprimand him
for doing 50 since then; have been
compelled TO caution my engineers
from time to time for carrying ~ pounds
Of steam rather than 25. believe be.
fore God that II my engineer had not car.
ried more than 81 pounds Ol steam that
day the boiler would not have exploded,
! still have no idea that he had more than
81 pounds. My presumption Is that If he
had not gone above 81 pounds the boiler
would not hav9bu The breweriGs on
the island have been in the habit Of
transporting wagon loads Of lager ION
board the boats and have no doubt the
deck hands have been recipients 'Ol p0r.
tons Of that beverage | do not know
that there was any last Sunday. Several
times have found empty kegs on board.
Passengers sometimes give the men liquor
from bottles. | had suspicion that such
might have been the case chen for ] asked
il any beer had been on board during
that trip. | am perfectly satisfied
that the engineer and fireman had none
on that day; beer never had anything to
do with tho explosions l did not hsk
about whisky; the engineer was perfectly
sober, 30 far as ! could Judge, hall an
hour ai(er the accident, my confidence has
not been shaken in that, and now, despite
the accident, would M soon trust him
with my life as ever"
This closed the days investigation
The names or'ninety.onc dead victims
of the explosion was published this after.
noon, together with those Oi seven miss.
ing who are supposed 10 be- dead. Tim.
Othy Buckley died today, and four others,
including o German named Fred. heining
and wife, were taken home by their son,
who escaped unharmCd, and who were
not known to be injured until To- day,
whose recovery Is impossible,