The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-03-27
rHEsIDNEY DISASTER.
The OmslaI Report Made BY the Local
inspectors.

inspectors
Local Inspector Captain Hiram Young
on Saturday kindly furnished the following
official report Of the recent disaster 10 the
Sidney, that resulted so fatally. The complete
exOnoration Of the officers Of the boat will
be read with pleasure by the many friends Of
the steamer In this city aud along the river
0TrcE or U. s. Local Inspectors !
WHEELING, W. Va, March %, 1882. !
John EehIeabdich, Esq, Supervising Inspector Of
Steam Vctset, SereHh District, Cincinnati. o.,
stG-We beg leave to report that on the
morning OF the 10Th inst, about the hour Of
y O'Clock the passenger steamer Sidney"
while ascending the Ohio river, twelve miles
below RayenSwOOd, W. Va, burst her main
steam pipe, resulting in the loss OF life.
Fifteen In oil were injured; Of the number
twelve have died, including three attaches
Of the boat. The remaining three, We are
informed, Will recover; they were passengers.
The pipe is G& inches In diameter and com.
parativCly new, having been in use less than
two years; 1t was constructed Of ninty pound
copper sheets and brazed. Neither pains
nor pexPense was spared TO make
1t u hrst class Job, both US TO material and
mechanism. II was manufactured by u j.
DuHleld,ot this city, whose skill as n worker in
copper, no one ever questioned. II was no
experiment or newly.wFOught device, but
Just such pipe HS custom has long sanction.
cd and the law approved. II has twice been
subjected to the Government test; first, July
2lst, 1880 and July nd, 1881, successfully
resisting in,both cases u hydrOstatiC pressure
OF 40 pounds to the square inch, while u
working pressure OF 1850 ponds was allowed.
But Il short time prior to the disaster slight
defect was visible In the forward bend near
the steam drum, 80 tritiRg indeed as not to
produce any alarm. II was securely banded
and new section ordered, which was con.
neGted as soon US practicable.
The fatal rupture occurred In the straight
part about nine feet from the throttle bend
and Immediately forward OF the heaters Il
being on the top Of the pipe or nearly so, the
burning steam forced Its way through the
deck into the ladies' cabin penetrating the
stateroOIhs where the victims were sleeping,
killing two outright and resulting Us before
described; but for the efforts OF Capt, Charles
! List, the chief clerk, who was promptly on
the spot and implOred the occupants OF the
stateroOms not to open the inside doors, the
fatality would have been much greater.
While some In their CONSERVATION opened
them only to meet death,
John W. Cummings, Of this city, q gentle.
man Of long aud favorable standing rs first
engineer was on watch; his statement under
! oath is, that at the tine OF the occurrence he
was near the throttle with his eyes resting on
hesteam gauge which indicated ll5 lbs pres.
sure; Comprehending the situation and en-.
tirely sclf.pOssesSed he placed one hand on his
mouth while with the other felt his way TO
the furnace and commenced hauling out the
fire. he was uninjnred aud attributes the nc
cident to defect in the pipe not observable.
The reported racing with the steamer
Wyoming at the time is by him as well nS
other officers OF the boat disclaimed; 1t seems
without any foundation in fact.
To alleviate rs far us possible the condition
Of the sufferers Capt. List and officers turned
their attention. The steamer Emma Ora.
ham downward bound rendered invaluable
service. by returning to kavenswood for
medical aid and supplies; as soon us CirCum.
stances would permit the Siney was towed
to this port and before reslming business
will be provided with new pipe entire. To
give yoM M idea OF the appearance and ex-
tent OF the rupture, 1t is spherOidal or canoe
shaped thirty.seven inches in length and
fifteen inches wide at the centre at which
point we infer the break started coursing
the weld or seam as close US possible not 10
disturb II, anu uiverglhg thefelrOm when
within six inches OF the ends. The damage to
the upper works was trifling, demoliShing u
small section OF cabin floor and one state
room bulk head. The closet visual scrutiny
OF the fracture fails to reveal any unsound-
ness or inperfection OF material; It Is Just
such n pipe as custom has long sanctioned
and the law approves Yet II is significant
iact that the trouble with this pipe AS well MS
Others coming under our observation occurs
with equal nearness to the seam which sug-
gests the substitution therefor of the seamless
copper or iron lap welded or rivited pipe.
WeClose by exOnOrAting John ". Cummings
and Capt VIM, List from blame in this most
unfortunate affair md doprononncc 1t Nh aC-
cident which human foresight was pOwerless
to avert. Respectfully submitted,
HIRAM NOCSG,
Tuos. c. Wilson,
Local Inspectors.