New-York tribune., 1878-10-11
THE EXPLOSION on THE ADELPHL.

A VERDICT OF SEVERE BLAME.
INSPECTOR BLAKE, ENGINEER ROWLAND, AND THE
STEAMBOAT COMPANY HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE ACCIDENT.
South NORwALK. Conn, Oct 10.--The Coroners
inquest into the causes Of the explosion of the
boiler Of the steamboat AdclDhi on the 2Sth ult.
ended to-day. long verdict was rendered, and
blame is awarded to many people. The following
is the document which has been handed in:
We do oaths say that they to their death
by the explosion Of defective steam boiler on
board Of tho steamer AdeIph owned by the Columbia
Steam Navigation Company, on the morning OF
the 2sth day Of September 1873, in NOrwalk
harbor; aud we hnd that the said steam
boiler exploded because Of overwOrk and Overpressure
legallzed by United States statute, increased after
shess Inspection and persistenly used by the attend
ants charge after sufficient evidence OF dangerous
defects.
We find that the rules Of Supervising Inspectors Of
steamboats, require them ascertain the tensile strain
of the plates used in manufacturing marine boilers the
Inspector shall cause two pieces 10 oe taken IRON edSn %
sheet to be tested. 1hst piece showing tne
the test pieces taRcn' This rule we deem
inJudicious. as the whole plate is strong OILY 0hiy
ABB title 52 United states revised statutes provides
the working steam pressure allowable on ooleIS con
sructed OF plates inspected required by this tltle
when single ryeted, shall not produce strain 70 exceed
Onesi1th OF the tensile strength OF tns ron 2. sS
deem this law unsafe IN the extreme and contrary 70
the best mechanical authorities 69th a TINS country ana
that the ryeed point Is the weakest point OF the whoe
& osnf snS ws S1 nd % tho tho bs t practice allows
the strain not to exceed Onesxth the strength OF inc
solid plate Under this section no: 443Z we ma tlat
pressure than is the practice OF other reputable me-
We further find that the steam boiler of the
said steamboat AdeP6i was single 1,dmstsT mTsea
sGS nine hng 4Seisd shell Isf Twelve ee IN
diameter, and that section No. 4433 provides that u
no more SS but tIS We also ind that inspector H. rsa
in 1875, ana Supervising Inspector ADDISON Low IN
nnS Sn sad no
in 1877 still further increased this pressure from
without the semblance of a reason for dong; aud
that he again 1879 fixed the pressure at 40 pounds
TO the square inch few months before the msastrous
explosion. We also find that all the aforemen9aed Ger,
tcates OF inspection Of 1870 1870 ls. anu hsIS are
false in stating the longitudinal seams OF the boer 10 DO
We further lind the inspection of John W. Blake, In
1878 to have beenyery superficial in many OF iss most
vital feaures and that he is guilty OF gross negligence
We find JAMES A. Howland, the en- yineer in charge,
TO have been a capable IN the ordinary care and
and the highest degree OF responsibility in the
care such boiler in that hohas shown either disregard
OF the United states law by not following the directions
OF inspector in regard to certain repairs aso that
az the time OF the inspection he did not report TO the IN
spector any time since certain serious defects
In said boiler. We furthermore lind that he Is
guilty. OF gross negligence, IN that 6e ,,,, 10,
i
his personal attention and also that he adopted and
use, for considerable time varieties OF repairs such as
soft patches OF bridge wall known to be unsafe and
particularly Objectionable TO Chief-Engineer Pease OF
| tho steamboat company.
We find that the OF said steamboat required OF
the chief engineer Pease by appointing him as captain
OF the steamer Grand Republic, duties which interered
with his proper oversight OF the machinery
| OF tho various steamboats, OF snid company;
and that by doing they trusted too much TO the eng
neer in charge OF said boiler and did not use the degree
of care which the public have a right 10 demand We
believe that the certificate OF inspection was wronguy
obtained by the cOmpauys agents making false repre-
sentattons regarding repairs ordered by the inspector
We find there exists In the steamboat Inspection
service rules OF mechanical practice at variance with
the highest mechanical authorities also thai system
of pey bribery adopted by transportation companies
I'm Inc suance to inspectors Of free yearly passes, pas
| sage and excursion tickets, and iavoTs which
arc NOT granted TO the general public. We
| further nnd that OF late years many inspectors
do not Use critical care by neRectng To employ their
steam gauges In making their inspections OF
| boilers We also mud thaJ the steamboat
nsuection service has not eyinced the high
| respect which should be expected, but that the
| annual inspection is termed by SOME familiar
| with its workings merely performance. by others
farce We recommend that boiler covering be put on IN
sections readily removable aud easily handled. We
recommend to the appointing powers the high
est degree OF care In tbe appointment OF In
spectors We recommend TO the Honorable Sec
reIary OF the Treasury of the United States that the
steamboat inspection service be thoroughly inspected
by a competent commission endowed with proper
power and particularly free OF all political taint or bias