The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-30

fire doors how long did they remain so
Answer-They remained open from tn
time we backed down tho second time
until We came near the place we bscket
to the third time.
Question-What steam was you carry
ing prior to and at the time Of the ex
plosion?
Answer-About $50 pounds, which
was the amount allowed. The explosion
occurred about 10 o'clock A. N. ! OBJ.
tanned the renewal Of the license now
hold at St. Louis, Missouri, November
18th, 1873.
Question-What, in your Judgment
was the cause oil this explosion?
.Answer-1 think as soon as the doctor
stopped or soon thereafter, or about TIT
time the slow bell was rung, circulation
ceased, and when circulation ceases there
Ia no absorption Of heat; no conversion O.
water into steam, the doctor,stopping cir.
Culation ceases, when started circulation
commences, generating steam too rapidly
to admit Of relief through the valves
hence the explosion,
CAPTAIN DANIEL De WOLF TRsTIFIEs
he assumed command of the Roberts
while coming up at Shswneetown, and
that nothing occurred to excite alarm
He does not remember oil having the
water tried; does not know whether she
was carrying more steam than her certifi
cate authorized her 10 or not. He asked
Mr.. Zeisse day or two prior to the ex-
plosion how much steam he was carrying
when he answered that was sitting mat
tiers down rather close, and finally an.
swered had enough 10 come through.
This conversation took place after coming
through "Big Bone" His object in ask.
ing the question was for the purpose OIL
knowing whether or not she could stem
the next chute without breaking tow
Mr. Zeisse, after the above conversation
remarked to him that with plenty Of
water in the boilers he would consider
them safe at pressure of two hundred
pounds or more. He further says that
Mr.. Zsisse is mistaken as to the number
OF times backed down, which was but
twice.
JACOB bunker, FIRST ENGINEER,
was asleep at the time Of the explosion,
having retired to bed about three hours
prior TO the same. Re says he heard the
water tried, which was satisfactory, as he
required his partner 10 try the same often;
says the boilers were cleaned out on their
way up at Cincinnati, and again exam
ined at Portsmouth; was on the Roberts
when last inspected; filled and inserted
the metallic plugs; considered the boilers
perfectly safe, and had no idea as 10 the
cause Of the explosion.
DAVID WILLIAMSON, PILOT,
had been asleep; got up, and stepped out
on the boiler deck 10 watch her going
through the chute, when about three
after, the explosion occurred.
Did not hear the water tried in the boil
ers; does not know anything about the
cause oil the explosion.
CHARLES ANDERSON, MATE,
was in the pilot house at the time Of the
explosion; heard the water tried, and
thought it was flush in middle gauges.
Says they generally carried 1856 pounds Of
steam; the greatest pressure he ever OBJ
served was 1870 pounds, carried by both
Mr.. Hunker and Zsisse on the trip before
the last. He is Of the opinion that she
backed down but twice.
JOHN W. THoMPSoN, STEWARD,
states that he frequently had occasion 10
visit the engineers, and often observed the
steam gauge indicating $50 pounds; hard,
ly ever less than that when towing. He
called Mr.. Zeisse's attention to the sur
plus steam carried, and remarked to him
that he would blow her up some of these
times. He did not feel easy, and was
frequently called cowardly. He Is Of the
opinion that she backed down but twice
WE HAVE ALSO TIE EVIDENCE
of VIM. Heslcy De Wolf, steersmau
Lewis L. Fountain and Wyatt Burgess,
tlremen, Harmsn Stedger and John Hol-
land, deck hands, which is immsterlal
save as to the amount Of steam carried
prior to and at the time OF the explosion,
fixing 1t at 1870 10 1916 pounds. From the
evidence before US, together with the ex-
animation made Of the exploded boiler,
we are not at a loss in determining its
true cause. MIR. Zsisso states he had
trouble with the doctor, sand getting IN.
der the valves, and plug blowing out
three times while backing and going
ahead in an attempt to pass up over the
shoals. 1t is reasonable 10 suppose the
above arrangement Of tho doctor inter
fered with and prevented the necessary
supply Of water. We think here Is the
beginning Of the trouble. II anything
more was wanting 10 convince US Of the
absence Of water in the boilers, 1t would
be the unparalleled violence that chsrac-
terized this explosion, intensified no doubt
by an over pressure Of steam. For the
purpose Of giving you an idea OF Its force,
We will state that six rings OF one Of the
14'inch fues was found distance of al
least $50 yards from tho scene In q cylin-
drical shape, while the remaining section
was found In a collapsed state. The
remaining flues were torn 10 such
an, extent as 10 be almost un-
recognizable, while the heads 10 which
one and two rings were attached were
found $50 yards distant. We are not pre
pared, sir, 10 admit that an explosion sc
terrific can take place with a supply o
water in the boilers, simply because We
think 1t impossible for steam TO generate
so rapidly as TO produce results SO disss.
trous. We are not disposed TO rest thu
case with this mere assertion, but are pre-
pared to give q reason for the faith that Il
10 US. We desire here 10 reafllrm prin'
ciple laid dowA by us in former repor
on similar occasion, which time and oh
servation has served TO strengthen, to'wiI
THAT BURSTING OR PARTING MAY AM
DORIS TAKE PLACE AS THE RESULT Of
TREASURE WHILE THERE IS A sUIFI
CHENEY OF WATER, But NOT AN RXPLo'
SION SUCH AS THIS.
There Is a theory which Is not withou
It's advocates, viz; that there Is q some
thing that we know not OF and underlined
and, II you please, an uudeflnable cause O
explosions, deriving its support mainl,
from the fact that In all cases there ar
nArties willing to testify az IN tho antir,