The San Francisco call., 1898-12-06
OFFICIAL INQUIRY INTO
 THE WALKER EXPLOSION
DAMAGING FACTS BROUGHT
 OUT BY THE INSPECTORS.
Assistant Engineer Murray Noticed a Small Leak in the Seam of
 the Steam Drum.

Two important facts were brought out by Inspectors of Hulls O. F. Bolles and J. K. Bulger in the official investigation yesterday into the cause of the explosion of the California Navigation and Improve ment Company's steamer T. C. Walker, which occurred Sunday morning, Novem- Der 27 near Fourteen-mile Slough. As sistant Engineer R. J. Murray, who was in charge of the vessel on the morning of the explosion, testified that he depended on his fireman to test the gaugecock and note the amount of water in the boilers. Fireman Cassidy testified that the steam gauge in the fire room indicated 1S0 pounds pressure although the Walker was registered for TO pounds. The admis- sion by Engineer Murray that the top row of tubes in the starboard wing boiler had been dry heated and burned out and that a fusible plug in the back of the boiler had been entirely melted Is not of much importance unless the inspectors de- termine whether 1t occurred before or af- ter the explosion. If before, it would show that there was little or no water in the boilers before the disaster.
 The first witness on the stand was Hen ry Potvin, the pilot of the Walker. Be- fore he went on watch he went down in the engine room to have a talk with Chief Engineer Watson Henry, who was killed in the explosion. He noticed nothing un- usual and would have seen any new leak if there had been any. After leaving Fur ners Landing the steamer backed and filled twice, but had not got her usual rate of speed. He did not hear the safety valves blow off. At the last bell the ex- plosion came. After ascertaining that the hull of the steamer was all right he pro- ceeded to Stockton for assistance, leav- ing the vessel in charge of Captain Schu- Ter.
 Assistant Engineer Murray was next sworn. He said the steam guage was all right at l, and 3:3O o'clock, though he did not try the gaugecock, leaving that as has been said, to the fireman. Three inches of water showed in the glass. The engine room steam gauge registered III and 172 pounds and the safety valve blew off. At seven minutes past the fire man looked at the feed pump and reduced its speed This would show that there was plenty of water, but he could not tell anything about the steam. He had noticed a small leak in the center of the hori- Zontal seam on the steam drum, but thought it trivial At the end of the week and the boilers had lifted the water two or three times on the morning of the ex- plosion. The fireman had charge of the boilers and the trying of the water in the pump.
 The electrician also attended to the oil- ing, as the engineer had other duties to perform.
 At this juncture Inspector Bulger asked this pointed question:: If you had an as- sistant could. you pay proper attention to the boilerSY
 Murray replied: "Yes; there are times when you can't leave the engines and you must depend on the firemen."
 In Murray's opinion, the fusibe plug would never have melted had there been enough water In the starboard boiler
 Ex-Chief Engineer Charles Sampson testified that salt water was sometimes used in the boilers, because the tanks did not always carry enough fresh water to make San Francisco Although the cleo trician was not licensed man, he con sidered him competent to test the water in the gauges. pressure of ITO pounds blew off the safety valve.
 Fireman Patrick Cassidy went off watch at midnight, and noticed that the steam drum leaked in the top of the cylinder seam. It blew considerably when the Walker was backing and filling. He dld not notify Engineer Henry, who was on the watch, because he supposed he knew all about it. On Saturday night, when the steamer was at Black Diamond landing the safety valve blew off at 1S0 on the steam gauge in the fireroom, although he inc utmost The boat was running two nntches over the usual speed and ha thought she was little behind and that yras fhe reason for running so hard
 A. this point Assistant Engineer Murray asked Cassidy: Did you ever know me to ask for excessive steam?"
 The witness replied no. and also that he understood from Fireman John Canty that the latter had been reprimanded for carrying oyerpresSure. 4.
 The investigation will be resumed this morning. when Fireman Canty will be placed on the stand.