Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-16
Catarrh often destroys the sense of
smell. Hoods Sarsararilla cures cBtarrh
by purifying the blood.
TIE CORONA DISASTER.

NEW ORLEANS, La , Oct. 15.-Duriug the
examination by the United States local
inspectors Of steamboats, into the cause of
the loss of the steamer Corona, which ex-
ploded near Baton Rouge, La, on October
g. James w. Handley, chief engineer of
the fated vessel, today made startling
declaration in reference to the cause Of the
disaster, and the matter will be thoroughly
Investigated. Handley's testimony was in
Substance that he went on duty not more
than two minutes previous to the eXplo-
sion. Second Engineer Shook had been on
watch about three hours and twenty min
utes before he took charge. He noticed
the height of the water in the boiler by the
lower water gauge. 1t showed the water
to be at the proper level. Was on his way
to the gauge cocks when the explosion
took place. Shook said everything was all
right and that he had Just tried the water
and it was at the second cock. The boil
ers were in good condition when the
steamer left. They had been examined
by number OF authorized persons, as
well as the witness, and all neces-
sary work was done. The safety
valves We're in good order when the boat
left port, and were not loaded or OBJ
structed in any way at any time during
the trip. The low water gauges were also
in good order, witness having repaired
Dictated by the steam gauge during the
trip was 40 pounds. Everything about
the machinery worked well up to the time
of the explosion. Did not notice any
foaming of the water IN the boilers. The
feed pumps worked well and fed the boilers
easily. At the time of the explosion wit
ness was about twenty feet from the end
of the boilers. toward which he was
walking. He noticed no water escaping
from the boilers He was buried under a
lot of freight thrown on him by the con-
cussion. Saw no signs of water having
escaped and saw only one person who had
been scalded.
Il do not know what could have caused
the explosion" said Mr. Handley, ''unless
it was some explosive material i'll the coal
or fuel; there was one or more dynamite
bombs found in the coal on the steamer
Cherokee, by my brother Alonzo b. Hand
ley, and his firemen last summer The
bombs are now. as | have been informed.
in charge of the local inspec-
or ut ST. Louis. Ny brother
found one of the bombs while coaling at
Memphis. The rest of them were found
10y the firemen on her way to st. Louis"
Continuing. witness said the safety-fuse
plugs were renewed on the trip. Shook
the second engineer, was sober and indus
trious and about 80 years OF age. He had
been an engineer for nine years. The
boilers when repaired We're stripped naked
and examined all over Inspector Young
blood ordered all necessary repairs
These We're done in good
manner From where witness was
standing he could see the gauge plainly.
Could not see the low water guageS on all
three of the boilers because freight was
piled high up in the deckroom. The ex-
plosion sounded like the report "A cannon.
The investigation will continue some
weeks, or unul every person who can
throw light upon the mysterious cause of
the explosion has been examined by the
inspectors.