New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-22
THE HARLEM BOILER EXPLOSION.
NEW AND IMPORTANT FACIS-THE BOILER An OH
ONE THAT HAD NEVER BEEN TESTED.


ONE THAT HAD NEVER BEEN TESTED.
At the continuation yesterday of the Cor0n-
er investigation into the OF the fatal boiler e.
posion Harlem NOV. IL, the most important facts
elected That tine boiler an old one having oeen
made 40 least long 1906; that 10 had never been
tested had been left exposed TO the weather for three
months that was put up and several years after
without being tested By any one. All the witnesses
thought the boiler a.goOd one, but no one knew it.
Sidney Dillon Of No. West Tbirty-seveuth-st., con-
tractor with Others, 10 build the Fourthaye. improve
men from Harlem River 60 FOity-secondst., deposed
that ne personal knowledge Of how the work
conducted his partner Mr.. clyde having charge of it,
Million A. Clyde Of Springfield, Mass. testified that he
was associated with Mr. Dillon in the contract with tho
Harlem Railroad Company and that they had sub-let
portions of the work, and that that part Of it
from Harlem Bridge to One-hundrcd-andtwenty fourth
ST. gwen Bemer & Coyne who furnished their own
engines, boilers, teams dcrricks tools OF any sort
needed the contract had been given to Bemer Coyne
because they had presented very satisfactory letters
from engineers OF various railroads for which they had
worked; there was no provision in their agreement
TO the KIND OF boilers they should use, and witness had
never heard any complaints TO that matter they had
no control over the the sub-cOHtracOr did the
work. the witness examined length By the Jury,
to ascertain his responsibility the foreman OF the jury,
Mr. Jackson, asking the witness number OF long, alb
and argumentative questions, which the witness
anything IN tue specifications by which the railroad
company could hold them responsible for accidents. The
Coroner requested that the contracts and specifications
be produced for the examination of the jury.
William Hall Of No. 223 East Onehundredand-twenty-
hh-st having charge OfIpart OF the machinery used
by Dillon Clyde, master mechanic, to LOOK after en-
gineer and boilers drilling MACHINERY, had nothn
to do with the,machnery ,.used, by the sucontracor
had never been sent to examine any Of the machines
usp nv q e. Z.
ploded boiler previous to the accident.
John Balmore the ownerlof the boiler and construct
ing engineer Of the Harlem Gasiisht Company, gave
testimony to the effect that he bought the boiler from
A. S. Cameron Coz Oct G. he had used it for Il days
before that when,t appeared to be be perfectly
OF the counsel for the contractors here objected
the relevancy of these questions. making insinuaton
about poopo watching with eye to suits FOR damages
Mr.. Bassord. father OF the young lady who killed.
started up Indignantly whereupon the Coroner sharply
rcbuked the lawyer and said that he should permit no
interference thereafter from counsel.
witness continued, that he thought the boiler very
strong being in fact too heavy To about;
Oct Mr. Bemer 10 witnesses place and hired the
casually remarked that IL could be safely much
higher pressure witness bought the boiler from Came
Co for $3.50. and let TONI Bemer at s. day;
Mr. Ridley engineer used 20 have charge OF the
holster asked witness TO tell Mr.. Bemer that ne would
not run the holster with boy attending the boiler Rid
ley left and Barnum who then Running boiler for
Mr.. BeIner at one-hundred and tnirteth-st, was
never saw anything wrong with the boiler
and could not that no had anything wrong
tue engineer not there and only Mr.. DaSgett and
the boy were around there was crack in the boiler
witness had never had his boiler tested. and did
not know that there was any law requiring him TO do
witness dd not do engineers work, except
ally little pumping; did not employ any men 10
the boiler who had no license; the men whom he
it. when witness passed by the boiler on the day before
the explosion, the engineer was not there; all the
charge, and they all compelled show certlh-
Gates witness as supervising engineer aid not need
license witness examined the boiler before buying IT,
and understood that It had been tested.
Joseph A. Kinney. OF No. East Twenty fourth-st..
poyers bought the boiler with lot OF old ron and
machinery, about twelve months ago, from the New
York Steam Englne Company, VINO had formerly
ped the premises adjoining Cameron Co. The boiler
mad never been used, 80 far AS witness knew, until
Balmore bought it, and 1t had never been tested.
letter was here reao from Dr. l.. J. Bradley OF Jer-
sey City, stating that he had been conducting ex
connection with Prof. Chandler OF the College, that
he had demonstrated the fact that steam
tact with red hot metal hume diaey converted nto
dangerous aud explosive gas, composed OF mixture
OF oxygen and hydrogen. aud that IL would the
explosion OF the boiler In which t was confined. The
jury were invited 10 witness these experiments at
Columbia College any day next week.
HUGH g. Cameron of No ia East sghteenth-st OF the
firm Of Cameron Co.. deposed that the boiler upon
tho premises they moved H. In 1865 belonging 10
operations '66 81 ;ttne boiler wastunder cover; 1t
afterward came into the OF tie witnesses
witness threw OF the rent Of g. day about three
months the boiler had been exposed 20 the weather
standing out OF doors but nsd not been injured any
way; witness stlll Thought the boiler had been good
one IL was L. W. DIckInsOns patent knew nothing
to the quality OF the iron used IN H. but had heard
OF the pest quality never had the boiler tested II
usual 10 have boiler tested before It Ia bought; be
leved The law required boiler TO be tested before II
was PIT Into POSITION but did believe IL obiigl-
tory the maker IL.
James q. Ridley living at No 303 East One-hundrcd-
andnnthst steam ana gas hitter in the employ OF the
Harlem Gas Company deposcd that some tino ago,
about Oct nG Mr.. Bamores direction he put up aud
lifted the boiler FOR Bemcr * CVyne connected the
boiler win rotary engine aud found that the engine
dll ne work vel hc thep connected IL with AIR. Bal
nores holster aud ran IL fort few days ana then they
stopped 10 build the platform which stood at the
Time OF The explosion Mr.. mer lsked the witness II
he could Mt the holster and have boy 20 attend the
boiler the witness told him that he would rather
run the boiler himself. The further proceedings were
adjourned until Monday morning.
TwEEDS ANXIETY