The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-30
Explosion Of the Sam Roberts.


Explosion Of the Sam Roberts.
Report OF MeSSrs. Hiram Young and
ThoS. @. Wilson, Supervising In-
spectoTs OF the Wheeling District,
as 10 the Cause.
LOCAL INsrRCToR's oFFIcR,
PORT OF WHEELING, WEST Va,
October 10, 1874.
70 John $. Dsrenney, Esq, Supervising
Inspector Of Steam Vessels, Rttiburgh,
Pa:
STR-We have the honor 10 herewith
transmit the evidence, together with our
action in relation to the explosion of the
tOwbOst Sam Roberts, which occurred on
the Ohio river on the morning Of the 9TH
OF August last. She was on her return
trip from 81. Louis with tow Of three
barges loaded with iron ore, and while at.
tempting to pass up through Guysn
Shoals, immediately opposite Guyandotte,
W. Va, the explosion occurred, during
her hull 10 such an extent as to cause her
10 sink to the depth Of one foot over her
main deck, after which she took fire and
burned to the waters edge.
By this disaster three OF the crew were
almost instantly killed, viz: Alfred Hol-
land, Waterman; Samuel Fitch, fireman;
aud Frank Roush, ash.hauler and en-.
gineGr's assistant, while six Of the officers
and crew were more or less injured, viz:
Daniel De Wolf, master and pilot; VIM.
Healy De Wolf, steersman; Charles An
dCrs6n, mate; Jacob Hunker, first engI-
neer; David Williamson, pilot; and John
W. Thompson, steWard-the three latter
very severely, being thrown q considers.
bic distance. II affords us pleasure 10 say
they are convalescing, and no doubt Is
entertained, We believe, Of their ultimate
recovery.
TIE "sAM ROBERTS"
was built at Pittsburgh Pa, In 1866,
and was first inspected there. She meas.
ured 4O615 tons and was valued OF
100000. She was substantially built and
equipped with all the appliances required
at that date. She was provided with
Jour high'pressure boilers 90 feet long and
40 inches in diameter, made by ]. Thorn
" Co., Pittsburgh, Pa, in 1865, with two
II and two 8 inch 1ues in each, con-
slruCted OF wrought iron 10 4S OF an inch
IN thickness, made by G. L. Baily s. Bro,
Harrisburg, Pa, stamped G. II. No. l.
She had two non.condensing engines
with cylinders Q feet in length and 90
inches in diameter. On the 31st Of DC.
tober last We tested these boilers, sub
jecting them TO hydraulic pressure OF
100 pounds to the square inch, and al.
lowed her a working pressure Of 1876
pounds 10 addition thereto she was al
lowed by special permit authorized by
law and pertaining to towing boats ex.
clusiyely, IS pounds, making $50 pounds
The Roberts was owned by the
PoMERoY SALT TRANSPORTATION co.
Il. r. Hudson, President, they having
purchased her in 1878. They have raised
tho hull and contemplate building TO it
She was valued at $25, 900, they estimate
their loss at $4,000. Agreeably to in-
struCtious contained in your letter Of Aug.
ust the 7th last, we proceeded to Middle
port, Ohio, as soon thereafter as practi-
cable, 1t being the most eligible point, in.
asmuCh as the officers and crew principal.
ly all reside In or near there, for the pur-
pose Of hearing evidence and collecting
such facts as might enable US to deter
mine the true cause of this disaster. We
did not at this time make an examination
oil the wreck owing TO ia submerged
condition. Subsequently, however, the
desired examination was made, when We
found the larboard boiler had exploded,
hurting the remaining three overheard
uHinjured, except where connections were
severed and few slight indentations
caused by coming in contact with oppos.
ing obstacles. Their submerged condition
had obliterated all traces Of water lines.
An examination Of the fragments OF the
exploded boiler proves the accident to
have been one
OF MORE THAN ORDINARY VIOLENCE,
twisting and tearing It into all conceiva-
bic shapes, throwing portions Of It great
distance. She was al the time Of the ex.
plosion equipped according TO law and Of.
fcered by Daniel DeWolf, master and
pilot; David Williamson, pilot, Jacob
bunker, LIST and Peter ZeiSse, Sd engineer.
Dir. Zcisse was on watch at the time OF
the explosion and makes the following
statement under oath, the Importance Of
which We think lustihes its presentation
In full.
STATEMENT OF PETER zEIssB.
reside in Middleport, Ohio; am SO
years Of age, and hold a license as Second
Engineer OF steamboats,; was employed as
such on the steamer Sam Roberts, and on
watch at the time Of the explosion; had
been engaged on her about nine months
prior 10 the same. She was on her re-
turn trip from st. Louis with q tow Of
three barges oil ore, and while ascending
Guyan Shoals, or about the time she sp-
preached the same, became unmanagea-
BILE. In answer TO the bells | stopped and
backed down q short distance, when !
stopped and shipped up to come ahead
Before coming head, however, the doctor
ran oil, occasioned, think, by sand get
ting under the valves. Immediately
shut the doctor valve; the bell OF this mo-
ment rang to come,ahead. l accordingly
started the engines. After doing 30
started the doctor, when everything APP
peared to work satisfactory. l now
walked forward to the bulk head and
tried the water, which was arranged with
triggers connected with the guages Of the
Two outside boilers, and found Two flush
guages. This occurred about twenty min.
utes prior to the explosion, She had by
this time approached the point In ascend
ing where she was when l first stopped
and backed. again stopped and backed
down far enough to straighten up. Aftel
backing short time
STOPPED THE DOCTOR.
will here state the doctor was liable
10 run of while backing. Inow opened
the fire doors, when the stopping bel
rang. Immediately stopped her
shipped up, and came ahead, probably
100 yards or more, when We SgaiE
stopped and backed now came ahead
III Il NVtal NN,n, to-,