The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-05
THE EXPLOSION,
Testimony as to the Cause.


New YORK, Augusta. The investiga-
ton as to the cause of the Westfield dis.
aster was resumed this morning before
Inspectors Hill and Boole, at the eUnited
States Circuit Rooms, Chambers street,
w. A. Lighthall appeared on the
stand and stated that he thought it must
have taken 81 pounds of steam to ex.
plode the Westfield's boiler; based his
assertion upon the supposition that the
crack in the boiler was only eighteen
inches long; if it had been larger very
small amount of steam would have
caused the explosion, or if less it would
require still greater pressure to
burst it.
NJ. Newton, an engineer of the Union
Ferry Company thought the explosion
might be traced to the crack in the
boiler; considered the Westfields boil
er good one and calculated to bear a
strain of sixty ponnds; would not have
hesitated to put thirty pounds Of steam
pressure on the boiler, in case circum-
stances called for it, but considered less
advisable for safety; said it must have
taken at least thirty-two pounds to rup-
ture the boiler.
Joseph Perry, United States Inspec-
tor Of Steam Boilers, stated that he
examined the boiler after the explosion !;
considered the iron of the boiler good !;
generally would allow such a boiler to
carry thirty-eight pounds; observed the
flaw or crack IN question, and knowing
the circumstances, would have consid-
cred thirty-four pounds a dangerous
pressure; thinks a hydrostatic pressure
of thirty pounds would have broken
the boiler; the hydrostatic pressure of
sixty pounds, to which the boiler was
subjected at the test, would have ten
dency to increase the fracture and rem
der 1.-The boiler generally liable to rupture.
Thomas Connolly, practical engineer,
was examined and stated that the
greatest pressure he ever saw on the
Westtield was twenty.nine pounds per
square inch; as a general thing il was
never over twenty-five.
Inspector Mathews was examined
and stated that the certificate was
granted to Robinson, engineer of the
Westfield, after examination by Mr.
Reynolds, Inspector Of the District.
A. c.. McVereand, Master of the
steamer Westfield, was examined. He
stated that there were upwards of 200
passengers on board on the day of the
explosion. He considered the West
field as safe boat as any the Company
had. Never gave any instructions to
the engineer; that was the Superin-
tendents duty; never saw colored engi-
neer Robinson intoxicated; considera-
bic lager beer was always carried
across; never heard of any being miss.
ing, nor of any barrels being tapped and
beer extracted
Charles Franklin, boiler maker, Jer
sey City, examined: He stated that he
built the boiler Of the Westfield-in
1861, Of best Pennsylvania iron, all
being OF the very best material. If
salt water were used in boiler it
would last three years if fresh water
alone, it would last twelve years. He
thought the boiler was calculated to
sustain a pressure OF forty pounds. he
considered the boiler of the Westfeld
was very nearly worn out
The Board here took recess.
During the afternoon session John
Smith was examined. He testified that
the explosion was caused by an over
pressure of steam; he was and had been
an engineer for eighteen years; agreed
with Lighthalls theory of the explosion
The next witness was Jefferson
Young, First Assistant Engineer in the
United States Navy. He had been an
engineer for twenty-three years; he said
| have examined the Westfield's boiler,
and do not hesitate to say the explosion
was caused by low water in the boiler;
have come to this conclusion from the
condition in which found the furnaces;
they were driven down and torn from
their places several inches there could
have been no explosion unless the fires
were uncovered; if they were covered
and under weak spot in the boilers,
that weak spot would have acted as a
safety.valve and saved the lives Of the
people it would take fifty pounds Of
steam, in my opinion, to have caused
that explosion l cannot say that the
safety-valves were once strained; ]
think they were obstructed and would
not work there was no indication that
the water in the boiler was not low.
Henry Libback, the next witness, said
he had made thorough examination
ofthe Westtield's boilers; he believed
that the boilers exploded with fifty
pounds of steam on; he had been an
engineer since 1889.