Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-23
MORE TESTIMONY TAKEN.
CAUSE OF ENGINE NO a EXPLODING
is STILL A MYSTERY.

several Additional witnesses Heard by
the Deputy Coroner's Jury on Thurs
day-Another Session to be Held at
HazIeton This Evening.
On Thursday evening Deputy Coroner
McCoombs resumed the hearing of wit
nesses in the inquest on the death of the
four d. S. & S. employees who were killed
by the recent explosion. The Plain
Speaker gives the testimony of those who
were on the stand, as follows:
O. l.. Muchler, of Freeland who is
employed by the ID. S. & S. Company
as trainmaster, testified: "It is my duts
to run trains, see that each train has
cars and keep tracks clear. The trains
pulled by the engine which exploded
were loaded. Do not consider nine cars
too many. The crew reported for duty at
SO a. m. and usually worked fourteen
hours. / considered Chambers Il reliable
man. | have nothing whatever to do
with testing engines. He would not
report to me in case of accident but to
the master mechanic, although | woulC
act in the absence of that official. !
directed the crew that brought the
wrecked engine to Drfton."
Henry Tully was recalled and stated
that theyhad drawn eight cars from below
the breaker distance of nearly mile
and stopped at that point and picked up
another car. 1t was nothing unusual to
draw nine cars.
George Wagner, of Drifton, for four
years in the employ of the D. S. & s.,
and formerly in the Drifton machine
shops and now round house manager.
said: Il have charge of repairs when
the machinist is i'll. Was present when
No.4 was repaired and tested in February.
My duties are to look after work reported
necessary by the engineer. Had one
order pertaining to a leak in the tiues.
Cannot state positively whether or no the
boiler was burned. Examined the crown
sheet carefully at Drifton and did not see
any bad bolts. | can form no idea as to
the direct cause of the explosion, only
that there was strong power to force il
downwards. 1t is safe to test Il boiler by
steam power above the 140 pounds. We
test by water power every six months.
No. was always considered good
engine, one of our first-class engines.
Do not know of any law in Pennsylvania
requiring that an engine be tested at
210 pounds. Neither do | know that
report of the test must be posted in the
cab. She had three safety valves to re-
ed with the remains of the wreck to
indicate what was the cause of the eX-
plosion. There may have been ten or
twelve broken bolts near the mudring.
The engineer was a capable man. No.
was tested with 170 pounds of steam and
195 pounds of water In an engineers ex
animation the fourth gauge is to show
both water and steam. New engineers
test the water oftener than older eXper-
fenced ones"
John Rowland, employed by the Cross
Creek Coal Company: Il am responsible
directly to the general manager and
superintendent. Knew of repairs of No.
the beginning of February although
it did not come under my supervision.
She was purchased as IA first-class Bald
win locomotive Examined the boiler
after the wreck and did not discover
any bolts that were broken by the ex
posion. There were two tears in the
crown sheet. The bulges were evidently
caused by Il lack of water. Either the
round house foremen or engineer would
have noticed the bulge had it taken
place previous to the accident. The
fireman was a capable man and had
been in our employ about two years,
All members of the crew were young
and faithful employees, the liremen and
engineer being well experienced. Two
guages of water would have proved in
sufficient in going a half mile without
replenishing it. The engineer would
Intentionally contrary to the general
rule, although it may have been an over
sight. | think the force of the explosion
was downwards. Fifteen of the stay
bolts were broken, all near the mud
ring. The safety valves should be ex-
amined at least once Il month. The
tubes were all in good condition"
John r. Wagner was next sworn. Il
. am mechanical engineer" he said, "for
the Coke Manufacturing Company.
have nothing to do with the testing of
the locomotives. | was familiar with
engine No. 4. A boiler steaming heavily
and in operation can be exploded only
in one way, and that an overpressure.
This pressure can be caused only by
overEf" .-lg the crown sheet. The
watel that has been used think had nc
effect whatever on the boiler. An analy
sis of the water was made in September
and on March l and found to contain
some acid although not enough to trace
its part. 1t would not be necessary to
wash our boilers in year. Our water
supply is fit for use at all times. My