The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-21
THE LAST ACCIDENT.
AS TO THE CAUSE OF
THE LESSEE TAYLOR EXPLOSION.

New Question Presented-whO PAYS
the Damages.
The Supervising Inspector of Steamboats,. Geo,
L. Norton, Esq, on Wednesday ordered an in
vestigation into the causes which led to the ex-
plosion OF the "donkey" or 'nigger" boiler of the
Lessie Taylor. and on yesterday the
BOARD OF LOCAL INSPECTORS
met for the purpose of hearing evidence.
VIM. Applegate, assistant boiler inspector, was
deputized to act in the place OF J. A. Moftt, who
was injured by the explosion. and will be called
as witness.
G. McCan being called and sworn, testified to
being machin!st employed by D. O. Nc
Can, foundryman, and had been at work on the
Lessie Taylor nearly week; was waiting until
the inspection WAS completed for orders from the
first engineer about more work.
He WAS standing just aft of the main boilers
when the explosion took place. He was paying
little attention to the donkey boiler, still he re-
membered hearing several orders given by the
first engineer relating to it, such as ''How is
your water2 Open your fue caps and doors, -
etc.; also heard them opened.
Did not see the steam gauge OF the donkey
boiler. but was Watching the government gauge
on the main boilers then under cold water pres
sure, which, at the time Of the explosion, showed
between 180 and 2C0 pounds pressure.
The exploded boiler had been in use for various
purposes during the week he was employed on
board the boat experimenting repairs to the ma
chinery, and had heard no complaint about it;
considered 1t at all times in
CHARGE OF THE ENGINEER
on watch. He was positive that while the inspec-
ton was going on that the first engineer was
looking out for and giving all orders relating to
the donkey boiler, and consider it his duty
whether under inspection or not.
The next witness was John Hennessey an en-
gineer and blacksmith by trade, who testified
that he was employed as second engineer on
board the Lessie Taylor. At nc on on the day of
the explosion, not being familiar with the bo.lers
and machinery OF that boat he merely acted in
spector and engineer, as directed by them. He
saw the inspector and first engineer looking in
the fire-d6 )rs as the explosion took place. He
stood alongside OF the forward end Of the bat
terry OF boilers, and starboard side.
He knew nothing about the donkey boiler. but
stated that the first engineer was attending to it
and giving. all necessary orders; considered the
engineer the proper person to superintend the
steam employed and used to get pressure on
the main boilers for inspection; consider the
piece OF iron shown me here Ia part OF the boler)
very thin.
VIM. McGreery, first engineer of the steam
boat Frank Pargoud, was called and sworn for
the purpose of ascertaining the custom and the
relations existing between the engineer Of the
boat under inspection and the inspector. He
testified that he considered the donkey boiler
UNDER HIS CHARGE
and when absent, in charge of the second en-
gineer under all circumstances, whether inspect
ing or not. He also stated that in case Of acci-
dent or disaster to the donkey boiler, he would
be culpable II it was caused through neglect.
The sample OF boiler iron here shown has the
appearance OF being heated; has been good iron,
but Is not now.
Besides inquiriDg into the cause of the explo-
sion and the loss OF lfe it will be observed that
the testimony 80 far shows that where the hydro
static pressure is given to boilers of steam vessels
the force or power used in obtainiDg that pres
sure, the controlling power or authority over
that force is brought in. This is done doubtless
from the fact that the question has arisen as to
who Is responsible for the damages sustained by
the owners OF the boat, the government or the
officers of the boat. If the former, the govern
ment will, of course, be held liable.
1t has been claimed that pending an inspection
OF HYDRosTATIc TEST
the boats machinery entire is under the control
Of the government inspectors, while on the
other hand. some of the evidence inclines to the
belief that it is under the control Of the boats
officers.
The explosion Of the Lessie Taylor is the fret
instance, in this district at least, where the
question has arisen, and, as the damages to the
boat will be from 5000 to $4,000, the case, inde-
pendent of the evidence, will be carried to the
United States District Court