Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-15
THE CApERON INVESTIGATION.
Coroper's Jury Exunerates the Captain anu
Engineer From Blame.


Coroper's Jury Exnnerates the Captain hpu
Engineer From Blame.
The coroner's Jury which met yester..
day at week Delaware City and heard
the evidence of numerous witnesses con-
cerninp the explosion on the govern
ment yacht Caperon, at the locks, on
January 18th, gave verdict IN accord
ance with the facts, so far as the Jurors
understood, concerning the death oil
Capt. George A. Cleaver. who was
fatally injured, and exonerated the
captain and engineer.
The inquisition attracted much atten.
tion and Proprietor Edward Milne OF
the Robinson House, where the inquest
was held, had his hands full, so many
people desiring to hear the examination
of witnesses.
Samuel Weaver, assistant engineer on
the launch, appeared with both hands
tied up in bandages, his head wrapped
and right eye covered with casing.
He testified that ne was on the yacht
at the time of the accident and that
steam was only high enough to carry
the yacht to the regular destination.
The full complement of water was car
ried at the time OF the explosion. John
Grosscup, now 10 the employ OF the
United States government, and an
engineer by occupation, formerly OF
this city, stated that he was standing
ON the dock at tho time OF the ex-
ploson. He afterward cut the tube
out of the boiler and found that IT was
as thin as tissue paper where the break
occurred. He stated that the break
was ON the side facing the fro and that
the piece was sent to New York. The
| pieces taken out were about four inches
in length An affidavit made after the
accident by Mr.. Grosscup stated that
all of the boiler tubes were faulty.
He also said he examined the tubes
rs soon after the accident as possible
and found break two and half
inches in length. This was about
three inches above the water leg of the
fire box. He found the tubes ready to
burst at any time.
William j. Wingate testified to the
explosion and the people jumping over
board and his attempt to save Mrs.
Weinholdt.
james O'Roilly, a fireman in the
employ of the government, was scalded,
but knew nothing of the particulars Of
the accident.
Peter Juarez, soldier at Fort
du Pont, stated that he jumped over
board, but knew nothing of the acci-
| dent.
William Murphy also was one who
knew nothing of the accident other
than that he knew there was two and
half gauges of water IN the boiler.
John r. Swan, engineer, stated that
the boiler was in good condition and
that with the new boiler there were
special means now by which the tubes
can be cleaned.
AT this juncture somebody in the
room informed the jury that the boiler
was being moved, and as the jurors in
tended to inspect ii they made the
inspection before it was rmitted to
be taken away. When the discovery
was made that it was about to be
moved Coroner Vandever rushed out
and in his hurry picked up DIR. Bell
ville's hat, which was much too large
for him and covered his ears. This did
not cause him any inconvenience, how
ever, He succeeded in preventing the
removal of the boiler until the jurors
could examine it.
John H. Collins testified, when the
hearing was resumed. that everything
had been done looking toward the
proper care OF the boilers. The ashes
now adhering to the old boiler and
inspected by the jury were forced there
by means of tho explosion.
Anthony Higgins, who was patient
listener, now took hand in the hear.
ing and questioned as TO the thickness
of the tubes and was told that the tubes
were very thin. He then asked about
the cause and it was stated that cor.
rosion would with the heat cause the
tubes to become thin. This was due
to the small water space and the great
heat The tubes would scale from this
cause by the water being driven out o.
the tubes by the heat and the iror
crystallyzing. He stated that the bi oker
tube was in the inside.
Capt. George A. .Reybold said he hac
been IN the business as a river man fol-
% years. The government inspectors
would not allow any person to Use {
boat like the Caperon for the carrying
Of passengers. When questioned Ii
relation to the awning on the Caperor
ne said the inspectors would not allow
any boat to use such an awning His
opinion was that fewer people would
have been injured had the awning beer
up lie gave as his opinion that the
yacht and covering were to blame.
Frank Ii. Jewell of New York, who
placed the new boiler in the yacht, said
the boiler was perfectly safe and only
needed cleaning about once month.
J After considering the evidence the
Jury adopted the following:
Resolved, That George A. Cleayei
came to his death from shock, and b,
lnhallng steam, received on Wednes
day, January 18th, 1900, about 8 a. m.
The. accident was caused by the ex,
plosion of tube in Seabury boiler
on the launch Careron, United State
Army, Quartermastei Department al
Delaware City, Delaware. The aociden-
occurred in no way through the negec
or fault OF the captain or engineer, fol
7 there IS no way in this boiler of know
ing certainly whether all the tubes ar,
clear of sediment These boilers hay,
been condemned for yacht purposes OF
account of the great liability 10 al
accident of this kind, it being liabl,
|; to occur In SPITE of all care and pre
caution taken by the engineers. Live.
OF men using these boilers in launcbe,
are continually in danger"
Coroner Vandever said Thursda,
that he will write to the Quarter
masters Department of the United
States Army, at Washington, piyine
the result OF the finding of the Jury,
The officials, jurymen and witnesse,
We're well entertained by Mr.. and Mrs
, Milne of the hotel, who took ereat
pains to provide accommodations. Five
mad a line dinner, also,': said Corope,
: .Nandeyer, In speaking Of the matter