Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-08
DELAWARE CITY DISASTER.
Investigation by Coroner's Jury Of the Ac-
ciaept on the Yacht Csperon.
specinl Dispatch to Gazette and Journal.

as result of IN explosion Of one OF the
tubes in the boiler, the injuries to
Capt. George A. Cleaver terminating
fatally. As matter of fact, the
coroner's investigation has been in
progress ever since the death OF the
captain, and esen before that time the
government began to look into the
matter. Experts have been at work on
the case, with a view to determining
the cause of the explosion and placing
the responsibility, IL possible.
James Crosby and Bayard Gem, the
former Of the Pussy n Jones Go. and
tho latter of the Pennsylvania railroad
shops, will be called as experts on the
proper construction of boilers.
Yesterday Deputy Attorney General
Peter L. Cooper, Jr., directed Coroner
Vandeyer to Insist upon all employees OF
| the general government who may be
summoned as witnesses, answering fully
and positively all questions that may
be propounded to them. A report was
current to the effect that these en-
ployes had been ordered by their su-
periors to he very gualded in the testi-
mony they give. Should they refuse to
answer they will be committed for con-
| TEMPT.
The jury assembled in the Robinson
House at 10 O'Clock. 1t is composed
| of Francis Mcintyre, foreman; Ferris
| Giles, secretary. f. A. Pennington, W.
| A. Jester, James Clark, W. X. Smith
and Giles Fl. Rose.
The first witness was Arthur Coy, a
soldier and one of the victims of the
explosion, by which he was seriously
crippled. He identified the boat on
which the explosion occurred, which
was lying OF the dock. He said at the
time the boat was covered with canvas
awning, top and sides, with but one
opening.
Major Z. Van A. Andruss said the
Caperon was under his control. He
was witness OF the accident, having
been standing on the quay at the time.
Major Andruss said that recently he
had received from Coroner Vandever a
request not to remove or touch the
tubing of the boiler of the Caperon, but
that the government did not permit its
work to be interfered with. the launch,
he said, had been provided with new
boiler since the accident. The duty Of
officers in the event Of an accident was
to make full report OF the facts In
pursuance Of his duty he had removed
tho tubes from the boiler and sent
them to the armory in New York City.
Mr.. Higgins asked who was the in.
spector who inspected the boat after
the accident, and was informed that ii
was Lieut.. Farrar.
Coroner Vandever, addressing Major
Andruss, said: "You acted in direct
opposition to my request.
81 fall back on the United States
government and the United States dis.
trict attorney" was Major Andruss
! reply. .,..
! The witness further said that the
, object in sending the tubes to New
York was to show at headquarters the
cause and extent of the accident. He
| could not tell the size of the break In
the tubes. Being asked il the canvas
covering of the boat interfered with
the occupants getting out, he replied
, that he supposed so.
John N. Fail and Henry B. Farrsr
who were on the boat at the time o
] the accident, were SO badly injured
that they did not know much about tn,
| accident. Farrar, however, is lieu
tenant and was commissioned after th,
} accident TO make an examination of tn,
} boiler and boat on behalf of the gov
eminent He believed II the curtains
; had been up on the morning of the nc
cdent the people would not have beef
) so badly scalded. BE did not Iemem
+ Der whether he had been ordered Il
take tho exploded tube cut of the boiler
d but he took cut two tubes, for the put
| pose OF making his report. He SAT-
/ this was not done for tho benefit of tn
/; government, but simply for his owl
| report.
: Capt. W. Eugene Reybold, who is ii
i the employ Of the government, haI
used upright boilers in boats similar :
, the Caperon for Is years. In hi
opinion the boat should have been fire.
o OF curtains on the morning of th
+, accident. He believed, had the weathe
9 been stormy on the day of the accident
the curtains should have been down
! but he did not think tho curtain
t should have been down on that day.
II Fl. W. Gladfelter, recorder Of tn
United States engineer corps at Della
ware City, saw the injured people an
II testified to the nature of their injuries
John 4. Price OF the Delaware
g Chesapeake canal, gave an account G
n the accident, which agreed with wha
j. has already been printed.
It One of the most important feature
!, OF the evidence was the testimony {
e James Crosby,a marine engine builder
s who is in the employ Of the Pussy
y Jones Co., Wilmington. He said b
had made thorough examination {
10 the boiler and found that it was filthy
% contained much SCOT and ashes and wa
|. rusty. He was subjected to cruel,
n examination by Anthony Higgins, a
d toiney for Engineer John Swan, whic
N brought out facts concerning the col
>. struction of the boiler, size of til
tubes, SPACE between them, chance fl
keeping them free from ashes and 500
size of the fire doors, the proper way
Al which to keep boilers clean, what
" do in banking fres, how to rrever
freezing and in relation to appliance
ID for cleaning. He said there were r
+ appliances for keeping boilers Of IL
Is kind in shape that would preyel
=. corrosion. He found the tubes to |
l. 3-16 of an inch thick.
1. Bayard Gem, an employee Of I'll
: Pennsylvania Railroad Co.. who is al:
f. an expert, gave similar evidence to thi
of the preceding witness. He said
was very difficult to keep boilers of tn,
kind clean; the only way being /
ri means of steam jet, and Jets are nj
as used on vessels as small as the Caperol
). At IL. 10 O'Clock the jury TOOK r.
\. cess until l.