New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
MANY TOPICS DISCUSSED.
THE CAUSE OF MANY SHIP COLLISIONS.
MACHINERY MADE HELPLESS BY LEAKY
PIsToEs-AN ENGINEERS IDEAS

MACHINERY MADE HELPLESS By LEAKY
PIsToEs-AN ENGINEERS IDEAS
To the Edftor OF The Tribune.
Sir The alarming frequency OF collisions botween
steam vessels OF all sizes makes the question Of the
cause and prevention of accidents which entail such
vast loss of life and property one OF the most I'm
portant presented 10 the owners and oncers OF such
vessels as well as the general public. Whom we
take consideration the character and skill OF the
men who have charge of steam vessels and whom We
anayze the evidence given in tho Investigations which
follow accidents Of this character, IL would be the
height OF absurdlty 10 attribute them. save in
few exceptional cases TO incompeteDcy or careless-
thr,y-fve years experience as an oper-
ating and constructing engineer has given the
writer opportunities TO observe large number OF
such accidents and the result OF his observation has
been the formation Of opinion on the cause OF
such accidents could not be accounted for by the
careessness or incapabnty Of tho pilots engineers
While the opinion has been formed only after
long and careful consideration the writer, In order
TO learn the views OF others who might have had
similar opportunities for observation, has, since the
recent collision between the Umbria and Iberia,
interviewed a number of pilots and engineers, who
agreed almost unanimously that the theory which
follows is we'll founded
When a steamer is approaching pier or another
vessel with which she might come in collision, the
captain pilot signals the engineer 70 slow, stop
reverse tho engine, and II the order Is given In
time and obeyed promptly tho momentum Of the ves-
sci should be arrested and the danger avoided; but,
II tho signal is given In time or not obeyed with
sufficient promptness, the vessel Is carried onward
by It's momentum, and tho collision takes place,
causing outcry of Indignation against those In
charge OF ore or both vessels Now what does IN
vcsugation almost invariably dsclosci Simply this,
that while the signal is properly given and promptly
obeycd. the expected result Is not obtained by the
arrest Of the momentum. which. in consequence,
carries the steamer onward TO destructfon-a result
which puzzles only the general public, but the sx
pers who investigate the accidents, well as the en-
gneer pilot in charge.
In the writer's opinion, this failure OF the engine
to respond promptly to the action Of the steam Is
caused by lesky pstons which permit the steam
TO pass between them and ethe cylinder so that
when the engineer attempts 10 reverse his engine,
the piston has steam at both ends, and Is therefore
neutralized ami Inactive during the most critical mo
ments. when such lnactlon Is fatal Every well
Informed engineer knows that pistons which arc
tight under ordinary circumstances become lraky
when subjected TO sudden and greatly increased pros
sure IN the OF stopping and reversing In rapid
succession. The obvious remedy Is the construction OF
pstons which will be absolutely tight under all
circumstances without increasing the friction 20 such
degree to lessen the power Of the engine Yours
very truly, ROBERT II. SPEARS.
No. 100 Eagle-st, Brooklyn, E D., Dec. 81, 1885.