The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-22
acknowledgement:
,,,,,,,,,,r Of the wheeling Steam:
boat Inspector: ~ inc snse VI
the Steamer J. S.Roberts.
LOCAL INSPECTORS OFFICE,
WHEELING, Dec. 10, 1876.

SIR Having obtained the lacIS neceS'
.ss IN a finding in the caseOt tho explo-
' 90! NJ The steamer ]. n. Roberts, we beg
i. Or To submit, the sane for your consld'
sration. The Roberts was Of propeller
coE,truction, and measured 81 tons bur-
I Ian She was built at Murrayyille, W.
Va ju 1875, and was owned BY Capt.
Wm A. Roberts, Of l.eIart Falls, Ohio
w niI.iime s,esmboalman and the pro-
,ec,or Of the new famous ParEerSbnrg
and Gallipolis packet line; Being
large produce raiser and dealer, he Dullt
her more especially for the purpose OF
loving his own products TO the Southern
markets. At her completion, he applied
for inspection, whereupOn, on the 4!h DAY
oi November, 1875, We performed that
duty according to law. She wa'proVided
with box tubular boiler, s feet in length,
Ss inches in diameter, with 90 24.inch
mbes and made By Griffith X Wedge, Of
ZInesyille, Ohio, in 1864. Wesubjected
the boiler to hydrostatic pressure Of
$50 pounds to the square inch, the same |
as in previous annual inspections. 1t was
originally built for and used on the pro-
heller Sirene, and allowed working
pressure OF ITO pounds. Having COM
pleted the inspection, which was entirely
satisfactory, we issucd her 4 towing GER
tifcate soon alter, with which she depart.
ed under command Of Capt. Roberts with
fleet Of produce boats for New Orleans.
On his return home last spring, prefer.
ring rather to uSo his boat than lay her
M, he conceived the idea oil engaging in
short daylight trade between Ripleys
landing and Mlddlcporl. This necessa-
rlIy involved the carrying Of passengers,
which could not be done legally
without first obtaininga passenger GER
Iifcate. Upon application for the same
by Captain Roberts, we on the 10Th day
Of June last, reinspeCted the Roberts,
.ubecting the boiler as in the former
case, to $50 pounds test pressure, which
proved satisfactory. Being provided with
a neat and comfortable apartment for
passengers, and having procured the adj
ditional ontfit rendered necessary by n
change Of certificate, we accordingly
without altering the working pressure,
Issued passenger certificate. She then
entered the trade in command Of Captain
Roberts, with Charles L. Gresnlee as
pilot and John P. Dcgman as engineer, all
considered competent officers, After
running few weeks her boiler exploded,
completely demOliShing the upper works
and causing what remained TO sink in
% feet of water. On receipt OF the news
Of the disaster We addressed letter 10
John 7. Degman, engineer in barge, 10
appear before this board, Tor the purpose
Of hearing any defense he might make In
hi. own behalf. Failing to appear, hay
ing as We are informed, left for parts IN.
ERown, We proceeded to PomerOy, Ohio,
where on Tue 10Th Of October, an in.
vestigaliOn was had, and the following
facts elected. The explosion occurred on
the 18th ofSepte,nber, last, on her up.
ward trip, while laying ut the Pomeroy
whArtboat. There was but one passenger
on board at the time, who escaped with
slight injury. One life was lost. The
victim was attending 10 the shipments Of
apaekage Of goods, and while on board
the explosion occurred. He survived but q
lew hours after being extricated from
the ruins. The boiler was driven endwise
downward, SCATTERING the bottom planks
audcausiDg her 10 sink. Wo were unable TO
make Il personal examination OF the boil
CT as it had not been raised. II is in EVIL
deuCe that the head waa torn entirely
from the she'll with such violence as TO
completely strip, the vessel Of every yes.
Iige Of her former beauty, leaving
nothing but the hull and that
IN a damaged condition. Captain
Roberts has since raised the hull,
provided new boiler, had her inspected,
and now en- route for New Orleans with
atOw oil produce boats. lie estimates
hia loss al $1,000. Now as to the
cause Of the explosion. A lumber Of
witnesses were examined, the most i'm.
portant oil which was WIN. P. Philips, Of
PonerOy, an engineer OF good standing,
who vas on the vessel at the time cop.
veF'ing with the engineer. His language
TaIOllOws.
was standing in The engine room door
1tshe time Of the explosion. She had been
laying at the wharfboat about thirty min
ale' prior TO the explosion. stepped on
board as soon rs she landed. Was in con-
VeF:atiOn with John P. Dsgman who was
engineering the Roberts. lie wished me
5omAke atrip for him, rs he was not feel
ingTelI. Degman walked to the furnace,
picked up the fire-hook and commenced
taLinG the fire; after which no threw in
one ortWo ShOvels full Of coal, and shut
NE door; simultaneous with which the
oo'Ier exploded. | had paid no alton
nGh TO. the steam gauge, and do not know
wat steam 1t indicated. In about fl
! %sn minutes after the explosion she sank
ne boiler was upendcd, tho aft end
MiElnS and forcing It's way partial
y through the bottom, tho head
otIng entirely torn loOSe. l feel confident
T ny there was no water in the boiler
'aete was no Indication Of water any
mere to be seen after the explosion
N!aas was blown into the river, Had
Were been any waterl could not hayo "a
apeG being badly scalded. As II was
rsNsnghsly covered with ashes. Do no
H NOV whether the pumps were in working
u 'pe next important witness was Chas
u, H. TfoSs'r, who was acting in the capaoi
" ", Of . S!etk, lie testified that the pam
sM slight! out Of order, and that The
% mn5Iis coming down to liz il. But VIII
,SS u.'PIy evidence OF this kind. Ths
mere a.. v" an iusuliciency Of wAtcI
t %s iIcI and character Of the explosio
WS, FINISHES the nO,tincontestible eyidenc,
wiz NJ assume such an explosion as thi
M, ""E - supply Of water to be impossible
Ib "S a ny. Variance with every principle G
Wb,WW e'l'keOwn laws governing steam
NJ. %IF a. enEinects learn that explosion
mil, w neld as ptima iacia evidence {
vii much greater degree Of safet
viii T Os obtained. Then and not Till the
WI WI eIPlosiOnsccaSe. With us ,Sis Ia 1 N
GsT talng. The same views Were embo,
Ss cum 10 similar report, which We had Il,
I 1SaSI q, 81 submitting and in y" which " v
IL ~ axe occasion 10 reaCEirm our iaitI
Y, SS &c therefore attribute this S USa