The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-17

AND WILSON, on TIE EXPLOSION OF THI
MCCoRNIcE, IN MusKtx0uM RIVER. Local
Inspectors Hiram Young and Thos. O,
Wilson, having finished their investigation
OF the explosion OF the steamer L. o. Nc
Cormick, In Muskingum river, In Febru.
airy last, have submitted the following re.
port Of the same:
LOCAL INSPECTORS OPEICE, [
PoRr or WHEELtNo, VIVA, July u, 1870. !
John Fthrabaich, En-, Supervising IppteiOr,
Sersnh DiSldel, Cincinnati, 0hiO'
DEAR Sm-We herewith submit our re.
portpf the explosion Of the steamer L.
Z. Mccormick, which occurred February
10Th, last. The Mccormick was 0 passen-
ger packet built at Pittsburgh, Pa, In the
year 1875, and measured 40 IS tons bur-
den. Her power was two 1OA inch cylin.
ders and 81 feet stroke OF piston; was pro.
vlled with two double flue boilers, three
feet In diameter, made OF lawful iron by
Jones 4 Co., OF Pittsburgh, in the year
1866.
On the 2lst day OF May, 1873, We sub
ected these boilers to hydroStatic pres
sure OF 100 lbs, to the square inch, the
test proving satisfactory In all respects,
we accordingly issued certificate allowing
u working pressure OF 1913 lbs, to the
square inch. The L. O. Mccormick was
engaged as a passenger packet plying tri.
weekly between Palkersburg, W. Va, and
GAINESVILLE, Ohio. The explosion &C.
Cured while in motion on her up.
ward bound trip on the Muskingum
river, at or ear Beverly, Ohio, between
the hours OF 10 and | l o'clock A. ". For.
tunately her cargo was light, having on
board at the time but little freight, three
passengers and nineteen Of crew, all OF
whom escaped without material injury,
save the fireman, who was missing. The
hull sank soon thereafter, carrying down
with it all that remained, in ten feet OF
water. She was valued at $500; loss,
g, 900.
We were promptly notified Of the occur.
renee by Captain Martin and the Engineer
in charge, but postponed immediate &C.
ton until al examination Of the hull,
then submerged, could be made. On the
18th day OF March following, while On an
inspection tour In the vicinity oil the dis.
aster, we took the statement under oath
Of L, W. Webster, Engineer in charge,
and under whose watch the explosion
occurred. Other evidence was ELECTED
having no special significance, save that
Of n. W. Kinkade, Chief Clerk, who tes-
titled that on the morning OF the disaster
the doctor ran of twice, thereby eyincing
arrangement. No effort having yet been
made to raise the hull, and the water not
having sufficiently reCeded to enable us to
make the desired examination, we returned
without accomplishing the full purpose
OF our mission. Mr.. Webster was First
Engineer OF many years standing, and
this is the first serious accident that has
ever happened to vessels while under his
watch.
He says that on the morning in question
he observed nothing unusual. Every
thing was working satisfactorily Says
they encountered heavy slush ice occa-
sionally; was carrying but l25 pounds Of
steam; water was flush in the boilers, hay
ing tried it but few minutes prior to the
explosion; considered tho boilers safe,
and attributed the occurrence to defect
i've sheet, caused by being patched but q
short time previous, cracking the riyet
holes, as he alleges, by the operation
observed it leaking from the first, and APP
piled the usual preventiyes successfully;
had no doubt as to its safety.
Having been advised that the hull was
raised, we availed ourselves OF the earliest
opportunity to examine the same, when
we found it damaged beyond the possible
ity Of repair, while the boilers presented
fragmentary appearance, proving the
explosion to have been one of more than
common violence, forcing portions OF the
same great distance from the scene. Tho
examination, unfortunately for Mr.,
Webster, also revealed the fact
that the patched sheet, to which he
charged the explosion, was, SO far from be-
ing forced of, firm and undisturbed, and
furthermore the water line was distinctly
traCeable on one OF the Aues, having fallen
some 8 inches below the top thereof.
Here then, we have positive evidence Of
the condition Of the water In the boilers
at the time Of the explosion, having seen
it with the naked eye; and while various
theories have been advanced and causes
assigned for explosions, all seem TO agree
that to let the water get out OF sight is q
dangerous experiment, attended too fre-
quentlY with the most disastrous results
That suCh was the case in thisinstance we
feel no hesitancY in deciding, We might
derive profit by ConCeding, for the sake
OF argument only, that q defect did eX-
list in one Of the boilers, as Mr.. Webster
maintains. With supply Of water It Is not
difficult to conceive how detective sheet
or sheets, might give way under either
a moderate or excessive pressure, the
effect in either case being the same as the
cold water test provided by law for the
very purpose OF pointing out defects, and
which in every case OF rupture is attend.
ed with results comparatively harmless,
but that IN explosion can take place nm
der similar condition, are things which
have never yet been clearly demonstrated.
The opinion that other causes exist for
explosions than an insuffCiency of water
is derived mainly from the fact that cngi.
nGers under whose watch they hayp oC-
red, and who were SO fortunate as TO es.
cape with their lives, invariably have tes-
titled to the abundance OF water at the
time. To this rule there is recorded but
one single exception 80 far as we are ad-
vised. The pleasure steamer MAY Queen
exploded Its boiler recently near Mime
uItOllsI IebulLlIS WIFI ULueE ChbuHlLleS IN
the death Of Hayes, engineer in charge.
Just before death he confessed that when
the boat landed at Rockwell's Island, the
water was low in the boiler, and that
when he started the machinery the pump
was set in motion and an explosion fmme-
diately followed.
Now, as against n repetition OF these
disasters, we have nothing new to suggest,
We believe the law Is as near perfect as
human wisdom and ingenuity can make
it, and in the strict observance OF It's pro-
visions consists alone immunity from dam
ger. That Mr.. Webster was guilty Of
wanton neglect is not charged, but that he
failed to exercise that watchtulness which
the character Of navigation at the time de-
manded we are convinced, and on that
account his license as first engineer Of
steam vessels stands revoked.
Respectfully submitted,
HIRAM YOUNG,
Local Inspector Of HaLLs.
THOMAS G. Wilson,
Local [nRDpctor nf RoiLers