The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-21

Another Fatal Boiler Explosion.
Yesterdays catastrophe on the North
River is but the repetition for the ten
thousandth time Of the production of
similar effects from similar causes. For the
sake Of humanity in general, and apart from
the natural sympathy we must entertain for
the victims Of this appalling calamity, we
have reason to regret the death of NIL the
towboat's crew that could have thrown any
light on the cause of the explosion, because
it is only by the knowledge and experience
that can be gained concerning the predis-
posing conditions that attend such accidents
that we can hope to avert their repetition.
Fortunately some intelligent eye-witnesses
of the disaster furnish clew to
the nature of its direct cause, and
this, we are satisfied was the over pressure
of steam in the boiler. How that undue
pressure came to be created or permitted
must necessarily remain forever in doubt,
for the only witnesses that could inform us
on the subject are dead. It, therefore. only
remains for us to surmise what these fatal
causes were, basing our opinions on the
meagre evidence that could be furnished by
those who Witnessed the accident.
The violence of the explosion, which COM
pletely demolished the tugboat Workman,
with an adjacent grain barge, and scattered
fragments Of the boiler to immense distances,
proves that tremendous pressure of steam
must have been created by rapid evapora-
ton Immediately previous to the rupture of
the boiler shell. This pressure could not
have gradually accumulated, because, if we
arc to believe the certificate Of the govern
ment inspectors, the boiler was equipped
with the necessary safety valves, and was
otherwise in good condition We must there
fore assume that the development of pressure
was sudden. and this could only occur un-
der one or other of two conditions. The
water level in the boiler must have fallen
below the danger line and uncovered the
crown plate, exposing it to the direct action
of the fire, and the steam space, therefore,
became charged with superheated steam,
which is a highly explosive gas, and which,
on the failure OF the overheated crown plate
by cracking, exploded with the violence de-
level having fallen and the steam becoming
perfectly dry and superheated, but without
m increase of pressure while in that condi-
ton, the fireman in charge, perceiving the
want of water, incautiously started the
pumps or injector, and supplied, in the
shape of cold water, the element necessary
to raise the pressure instantaneously to
many degrees beyond what the strongest
boiler could sustain, though it was fitted
with hundred safety valves, and SO rent it
into thousand fragments. The fact that
danger from superheated steam, induced
by deficiency Of water, can exist
without any extraordinary increase Of
pressure being indicated by the gauge
is seldom recognized, except by well edu-
Gated and experienced engineers; hence the
frequency of explosions similar to that of
the Workman. But in the face of this fact
we find men placed in charge of these reser-
voirs of destruction, to which we can only
compare well stocked powder magazines
or large bodies of nitro-glycerine. who are
either wholly ignorant of their danger or
reckless enough to disregard it No precau-
ton can protect life and property from
destruction by boiler explosions SO long as
engineers" leave men in charge who ''they
think are careful and vigilant" A positive
knowledge of the fact OF these mems fitness
for the great responsibility is worth all the
thinking that can be done after fatal
accident Human life is too sacred to be
left at the mercy of a sleepy or ignorant fire.
man who is placed in charge of that giant
power, ''steam, which experience has proved
to be a docile servant when controlled by
intelligence, but q fearful master when trifled
with by Ignorance