The New York herald., 1873-11-13

night arc liable to walk of the surface, and, falling
il perhaps, no danger to persons walking up or
down the sidewalks, which are about thirty ieet
from the excavations; but 1t would cost but little
'There Is no Danger except to intoxicated per.
sons You or would not walk over" persisted
Nj. Griswold.
Assistant Sanitary superintendent James was
IN e a tse 1a
and doing all he can for the protection OF llle lie,
to too, insisted that the contractors n;ao nave a
means required for the safety OF life and
have promised to do whatever the District lnspec-
man connected with the Board, who resides IN the
nelghbOrhood OF the Improvement, assured the re-
porter that there is criminal negligence on the part
ninth street at the northeast suddenly ends
over yawning chasm, about twenty feet deep,
and tnat there is not even rope or light pole AT
the point where 1t terminates to prevent pedes-
trlan hurrying home across the avenue rom
pitcning headlong down the perpendicular bank
twenty feet.
Engineers' OpiniOns-A Serious Charge
Against the United states inspectors Of
Steam Botlers-The Prevention OF Ac-
eide More Can Be Done.
The opinions OF the engineers OF the Harlem
Railroad Company were sought for yesterday after
noon relative to the cause OF the boiler explosion
in Fourth avenue between l2Sth and I20th streets.
HERALD reporter found Chief Engineer Buckout,
Resident Engineer Lebon and Assistant Engineer
Curtis In the engineers oces ut the Grand Central
Depot and ascertained from them their views.
In reply to question as to the cause OF the ex-
plosion Chief Engineer Buckout said:-
have not examined the boiler since the explo-
sion, and am, therefore, unable TO give you any
formal opinion as to the cause OF the accident so
that what say you must consider as speculative
merely. l was, however, in the neighborhood OF
tha INN diuta a1u hat lee,
and as matter OF curiosity, went over
to see the engine at work, as it is constructed
in peculiar manner, and is new
one. From what saw OF the engine considered
ii working well Since the explosion occurred /
have been thinking how 1t was occasioned, and my
opinion is that the water was allowed to run down
too low, and that, an extra quantity OF steam be-
ing thus generated, the pressure became too
great for the boiler, and the result was that
1t burst. 1t is not true that the boiler was
being filed or had just been filed with cold
water. The fact is that at the time OF
the explosion the engine was being moved by
gang OF wOrkmen, and 1t Is important to remem-
ber that the hose was disconnected with the en-
gine SO that it would be impossible that the boiler
could have been then receiving water.
Resident Engineer LEBoN-You win understand
that no boiler could receive water except from the
injection pump. and when the hose Is disconnected,
ii was in this case, the theory that the explosion
occurred by the filling ofthe boiler with cold water
becomes groundess.
CHIEF Engineer BUcKouT-There can be no
grounds for that theory at all. think, so far
can be judged without actual examination, that
the water was allowed to run down lower than the
man III charge OF the engine intended, and that,
as some twenty minutes must have passed in NOV
ing the engine, the water in the boiler generated
steam so last that the pressure became unbear-
able. Assistant Engineer Curtis was on the spot
and may have observed something to the point
In reply to questions, Assistant Engineer Curtis
said:-"I was within some forty feet OF the engine
when the boiler exploded. saw
BITS or THE BOILER FLYING IN THE AIR
and, as you may Imagine, would have got away
somewhere II had only known where to run to.
Under the circumstances, was compelled to
steam that dirused itsell all over imme-
diately upon the occurrence OF the explosion.
have no doubt in my own mind as TO the correct
ness OF Chief Engineer Buckout'S theory. When
the mist cleared away picked up some bits OF the
boiler and found them TO be galvanized, fact that
the water must have been down very low and
too great pressure OF steam been thereby
eppo1t OF tins theory is tSa, aoDe
the workmen were scalded, fortunate circum-
stance which could not have occurred otherwise
than under the theory that there was but a small
quantity OF water generating large quantity Of
steam in the boiler At every side OF the engine
worSmen were engaged, large number being at
WORK at the gas pipes near by, and yet none Of
these were scalded. Those that were killed and
wounded, at least the greater number OF them, re-
ceived their injuries from the nying bits OF the
boiler.
REPoRTER-Do you know whether or not the
man In charge OF the engine was o trustworthy
engneer2
Assistant Engineer CURrrs-I believe him to be
competent man. have seen IL stated that he was
not licensed engineer, but this is not So He had
received his certificate as an engineer. Further
more, know that previous to his being engaged
as engineer he had been fifteen years fireman on
the Harlem Railroad. lie had charge OF two en-
glnes the second being some distance up the road
from where the boiler explosion took place, and at
the time OF the explosion he was attending to this
engine.
KEPoRrER-Have you heard or do you know that
Assistant Engineer CUErIs-Mr. Hail. the gen.
eral superintendent for the contractors for the
work, has told me that three different times re-
quest was sent to the Inspectors Of Steam Boilers
but these officers iaed to put in an appearance TO
do their duty.
Chief Engineer BUcKouT-That is a very import.
ant TACT. trust that wherever blame belongs in
this case it shah be attached.
REPoRrER-Considerable comment OF very un-
favorable nature has been made relative to the
WANT OF PROPER PRECAUTIONS
against danger on the work now in progress on
Fourth avenue
Chief Engineer BrcKouT-I am aware that we
have been very roughly dealt with by some OF the
never was harsh criticism more unjust, and indeed
the slightest consideration oil the difficulty would
must remember that the work in progress
on Fourth avenue is on the very largest
improvements OF the city. We are not doing doing
that work, as you know; II is in the hands OF our
Contractors Fully $500 men arc employed on that
work, and feel confident tnat the contractors so
far as IS possible for them, endeayor to employ
careful men, at least as loremen 1t would be I'M
possible TO get so large numDer OF workmen to-
gether without having among them some careless
ones and perhaps a few whose Indifference
might be more than cupable. But | am
persuaded that the contractors have done and
are doing their best to prevent accidents OF any
kind. so far as we are concerned nothing has
been lett undone by us TO protect the public from
danger, and nothing more could be done except we
were absolutely to interfere with the progress OF
the work ana by impeding the contractors
TO put an end to the Improvement ali ogether
Resident Engineer LEBoN-This matter assure
you. has caused both Mr.. Buckout and myself
MANY RESTLESS NIGHTS.
venture to say that in WORK OF such magn-
tude as this Fourth avenue Improvement We NAV
congratulate ourselves that 20 few accidents have
occurred. don't believe that at any time IN this
country, ON work OF such proportions as this in
which we are engaged, has there ever been SO
little loss OF life or accident 10 limb. Since the
beginning OF operations TO the present moment not
single train has ever got or the track in con.
sequence OF the excavations or Of other work
That Is saving a GOOD deal think for tba cara