New-York tribune., 1880-06-30
STATEMENT OF THE ENGINEER.

see1S1sbn vRRKs,s FORMAL REPORT TO THE INSPEC-
q a s,<xps or srrAM yEssHIs-PROBABLE CAUSE OF
" 3HE wxPiOsION--wHAT THE INSPECTORS SAY.
~ ,se . wners of the Seawanhaka did not report 10
~ Local inspectors of Steam Vessels as to the
disntar of Monday night. Engineer Edward
Hsshs however, presented the following state
JUNE %, $780,
~ ~ Local Board Of Inspectors of Steam Vessels,
S xse-Y FORK. ---
8 8eSTLEMEN: respectfully submit to your no
tice Che following my statement relative TO the
esswanhaka. We left ThTty-third-st, East RIVER
- car usual time on Monday, Ju;.e 2S which was
about 4:30 p. n., and proceeded on onr way until
- arfived at Hell Gate, where first heard rum
k)has noise which seemed to come from our star
Neard boiler and similar in sound to very distant
tAnnder. l Immediately proceeded to the lire
reosn entrance to shut off the Jet, ana
thsre first noticed sheet Of flame and
gss issuing from the ash pans nnder
the crate bars and also from the cracks aronnd the
farnace doors which remained closed all the tine'
Iaean opened the jet in the hose TO carry paek the
esosping gas and fame by the increased drait tpeFe
By made.
Nv this time the wooden partition between the
turse-room and fire-room bad 1gnited. s'arteu
"A ssd did start the donkey fire pump Dnt was al
uoss as quickly driven away by the names ano hau
~ nG0nd0n my posi- HUN eh"s N'"'O' w.
.s;usbed to the hurricane deck and TO the
tsot-aouse and communicated with the
esseain and advised him to run the
hOas ashore as quickly possible, which he did;
fkea proceeded aft and assisted in DISTRIBUTING
fyfe-pfeservers. etc, until was cOmpeiiea ny tne
8zEaoA to Jump overheard to save myself, Dv WDlch
0ne she boat was agtouDd and envelOped IN tHes.
- sonclusion, would remark that did not see
eey escapc OF steam or water, wnlch gives n,n re-
~ driven out to be rather from accumulaiea gas
So4 not from any defect in the iron OF the Dohei.
Kgspocffully submitted, EDWARD WEEKS,
80. Engineer Seawanhaka.
INSPECTOR JAYNE was asked yesterday whether
kSe Government inspectors OF steam vessels were IN
ary way responsible for the efficiency oil the crews
Z ~ steainers which come under their Inspection
sa m that th ssS Su Ter9 mae6nery ama appoint
Uentt Of the boats and had notnng wnateSer "
3o with the state Of discipline maintained on board
Z IS was no part Of the inspectors DUTY 70 see that
B 60 crews were practised in fire drlI ~ 20
nsfkN Seaw anhaia was last inspected on March ~,
sfsl,{A bv Assistant inspectors Craft and Caldwei.
q TSr reftificate states that she was owned by te
656E Island and North Shore Passenger and Freight
8 kTEaHsportatiOn Company. Sue was built ny A. IL;
TAR at Keyport, N. j., i'll 1856. her hull was OF
: Voud aud her burtben was 611.74 tons. Her dl-
4 menssOns we're: Length. 22O feet: depth " noid,
4eet 8 inches; breadth OF BEAM 70 ieet ancnes.
iSaStsrn, each being 21 feet long. With
Sdiameter of seven feet. They were built IN 1856
!. 8efsengiue was compOunding condensing. she was
4 alt0ged to carry steam pressure 81 IOriy pounuS,
nnd was licensed to carry $50 passciigerh Her
& eSosr was composed Of fifteen men, including Tour
0oloefs and watcbman. She had three hre pumps,
3 - ferward, one amidshp and one af.; one Ot
St1sp was worked by team: she bad thifIy-nve M
tYe beats one of metal and the other OF wood. She
nsss Tad 36J le-preservers, and they were carried
in rSaks.