National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-23
lie Did Not Understand His business.

The inquest over the remains Of Dougla,
Pendleton, the engineer killed Tuesday night
by the explosion of the boiler at william NJ
Galts feed and -four mill, at First and streets
was held by Coroner Patterson yesterday after.
noon at the seventh precinct station house. The
jury was composed of Josiah Simpson Ben.
jnmin Clark, John Holmes, John IL. Gates,
Richard Morgan, and Jacob X. Miller.
William NJ Gait the owner ofthe mill, testi.
fled that the deceased came TO him several
days ago for work ms an engineer and claimed
to be perfectly familiar with his business The
regular night engineer was sick, and Pendle.
ton began work the same evening he was killed
Witness thought the boiler was in good con.
dition and safe. Did not know deceased before
he applied forwork, nor did he present recon-
mendations.
Charles ii. Smith, n miller at Galfs, stayed
at the mill Tuesday evening until 1880 ON ac-
count of there being new man at the boiler
Az u p. m there was 50 pounds of steam, but
when he wanted to start another burr there
was not enough steam, only 60 pounds.
Passed Assistant Engineer Charles r.
Rocker U. 3 n, had carefully examined the
rupture of the boiler yesterday morning, but
could not tell the cause of the explosion. The
explosion seemed to be lateral, near the point
OF hre contact of the boiler but there was no
evidence visible about the boiler of recent
ovcrheating. A bulging appeared along the
seam Where the fracture began, as lift had been
overheated there at some time. The rupture
began at the seam and extended across the
sheet along the fire line about one.quarter OF
the height above the bottom.
Smith Petit looked at the boiler yesterday
morning and could see no defect. 1t looked
strong. He had done work on it about year
dgo and considered 1t strong and good.
Daniel Jordan, the colored engineer whom
Pendleton relieved at 5:6j p m, has been en-
glneer of this boiler nearly three years. When
he turned II over TO Pcndleton there were two
gauges of water in the boiler and go pounds of
steam. He told PendletOn to run up his
water, and the latter went at the injector as II
he was unaccustomed to it. When he came
witness tried to tell him, but deceased claimed
to know all about his business as an engineer.
witness usually carried from 50 TO IS pounds of
steam, and sometimes II would run up TO 90
pounds, when ii blew of itself The boiler
was inspected to lao pounds, and allowed to
carry 30 pounds.
Richard Cooper, the miller whe relieved
Smith, was In the basement when the eXplo-
sion took place. lie had not long before
asked deceased for more steam to run another
burr. Soon. afterward the engine room bell
rang to go ahead, and the boiler exploded at
once. When he went to the engine room Pen
dleton was handling the injector, and there
was only ten pounds of steam. Deceased did
not WORK ike other engineers employed there,
and witness went away when he saw him
putting In cold water.
A. NJ. Renshaw knew deceased as a work.
man for the Swan.BriIsh Electric company,
but he never did work, while he knew him,
as engineer or fireman.
company, knew deceased, who fred Tor him
several weeks, Did not think he was prac-
tlcal fireman, but would do well with an en-.
gineer TO direct him. He was not an engineer.
John IL. Wilkinson, United States inspector
Oi steam boilers, inspected the exploded boiler
oct %, 1883, and would have done so yesterday
Dut Tor the disaster. He examined the boiler
yesterday and found no defect whatever there
was no bulging or burned surfaces; tested the |
boiler for liO pounds and allowed 90 pounds |
steam pressure. Thinks 1t was one of the best |
boilers Ia tho district, and thinks the cause of
the explosion was low water in the boiler. The |
Dpller mad only an Injector, but all boilers
should also have pump.
The jury found that Douglas Pendleton came |
to his death from fracture of the skull and
other injuries from the explosion. They be-
lleye that the boiler was in good condition, |
and believe the accident was caused by the |
engineer ,9 neglecting to keep the boiler supplied
Atter the remains had been viewed by the |
Jury they were removed to Speare's under
aking rooms, and the funeral VIII take place
~ ,, M to-day at the chapel of Oak Hill |