The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-09-05
CITY OF TRENTON
EXPLOSION.

After an all.day examination Of tho
wrecked boiler Of the ill-fated City Of Trsn
ton. tho United States Inspectors Of
Steamboat B pliers were last night unani.
NOUS 10 their. opinion as to what caused
the disastrous explosion. The conclusions
reached will not. however, be made pub
lie at this time, but the inspectors will
Immediately begin q sworn inquiry at
which witnesses will be examined with
view to asoertainirg who was responsible
for the explosion which resulted In the
loss Of a6 lives.
r. S. f. die Chief Inspector OF Steam
boat Boilers Tor tho Second district
whose headquarters are it, New York,
personally examined the exploded boiler,
which ut an early hour yesterday morn
ing was to- we'd from Torresdele to Neafs
& Levy's shipyard. assisted by local Uni
ted States Inspector Christian Vert and
Assistant Inspector W. S. Howard, Mr..
Rodie made an exhaustive investigation.
Ha examined every tube In the boiler
took tho measurements of the big
iron plates connected the bolts and braces
and noted those missing and finally made
u REORGANIZATION of this hull Of the wreck
cd vessel City of Trenton. .lsA
After he had completed his work ate
O'Clock last night and compared note,
with those who assisted him. Chief ln.
spsctor R)lie said:
"On the first day came here to inves.
tiagte this matter form Vi M opinion as
to the cause Of the explosion, aud now
that my examination OF tho boiler and
the hull is practically complerei may
say that my first conclusion Is borne out
by what havs seen. We are ali three 0!
one mind as to The cause What rom aims
to be done now Is to ascertain who did
certain .hinsa which affected tho boiler
just previous to the explosion.
'"rhe explosion was not caused by any
foreign, sabitance in Tho coal or by any
force from Without, The crown sheet OF
the furnace was blown out tearing away
with it over 40 bolts aul bracs. Tho
tub. sheet which was rivetol to the
crown sheet of the furnace, was also torn
out and shattered. The crown shoot was
half inch in thickness, which is the thick
ness required by law. ami Al by l Il
feet. 1t was torn loose at the back Of. tn
furnace.
From what Chief Inspector Rodlo said
as well as from what was gathered r.om
other officials it Is generally believed
that the explosion was caused by inject
ing cold water su idenly into the body. of
the boiler at a time when tho water was
very low. and whom tho crown sheet OF
the furnace was red hot. lu such an event
seam would generate so rapidly that
bolts and bars AMI iron plates II d DO
as straw and paper. Who injected tho
cold water INTO the red hot boiler or
who savo the order which caused 1t to be
done is what the Inspectors arc now Oh
doavorng to ascertain
The big boiler lay on its sid, Oh the
pier. 1t is ncary 81 feot long and weighs
IA tons. The body of narrow barrel Ike
portion is intact with the exception Of
small rent in the far end Of it, Tho crown
sheet over tho furnac, is curled out Just
as ii 1t were pasteboard or the corn er Of
of sardne can af or tho opener has done
its work.
Among those present during The exam
ination of the boiler were General Man
a5er Horace Wilson Of tho Wilmington
Steam boat Company and General Agent
Edwards. Mr. Wilson said after the ex
animation: II bav, not bson informed
OF the result OF tho examin u:ion. Within
the next IS hours the coiEaany may have
a siutomont for the public. Just now we
have nothing TO say.