Evening journal., 1901-09-10
Inspectors Are Investigating
The Trenton Explosion
ENGINEER MURPHY TESTIFIES
His Evidence COrrObOraled by John A.
BrYSOn, Oiler-NO Conclusion
Vas Reached

phia, and the outcome is awaited with in
terest by residents Of Wilmington, a num-
Der Of whom had friends and relatives ON
the Inflated steamer.
The inquiry was conducted principally
by Inspector Of Hulls Garrison A.
Thompson and Inspector of Boilers Chris
topher Vert Eight witnesses, all mem
bers of the crew, were examined, but six
OF them could throw no light on the sub
ject. The principal witnesses were Chief
Engineer Edward Murphy, Of this city,
and John A. Bryson, oiler, of Philadel-
phia. Both Of these men were in the
boiler room when the explosion occurred.
STATEMENT or ENGINEER
Engineer Murphy swore positively that
there was plenty OF water in the boiler at
the time OF the explosion.
In reply TO a question, Murphy said
that he had inspected the gauges and
tested the checks about two minutes be-
fore the port boiler blew up. He said
that the water in the wrecked one was
lower than in the starboard, and the main
feed pump had been going constantly. 1t
was necessary to keep the feeders going
on one boiler or the other all the time,
Murphy said, because Of the type of boil
ers, which he regarded as perfectly safe.
They needed careful watching, he said,
because Of their extreme shall0wness
over the crown sheets, the portion of the
boiler directly over the firebox. 1t was
the custom, the witness testified, to try
the gauges every five minutes to see II
the water was according 10 the amount
indicated in the glass tube.
Both boilers were feeding at the time
of the explosion" he said, "and, from
the test had made about five minutes
before the crash came, there were from
four to four and one-half inches Of water
over the crown sheet Of the port boiler.
"The assistant engineer" continued
Murphy, "was with me in the engine
room until we got Strengthened out and
headed up the river. There he went on
deck, and only the oiler was left with
me. There was one fireman on watch in
the fire room. The pressure was $50
pounds when we left the dock; it was in
creased from 155 to 100 pounds, but did
not 90 higher than 160. never had a
pressure at any time on the City Of
Trenton higher than IT'S pounds, and then
but for n minute.
II was looking after the water in the
forward fire room, and the after part Of
the boilers tried the gauges right away
after starting out on the trip and found
the water all right. l tried them three
OF four times before we got to the bridge
and every FIVE minutes after that. About
FIVE minutes before the explosion / made
my round of the glasses and the gauges
The water, l found, was lower in the pori
boiler than in the starbOard, but the pori
boiler was feeding faster.
I'VE carried a solid gauge and half to
two guages of water. If there were tive
gauges the engine would lift water, s.
We never carried two solid gauges. Th'
gauge and a half forward indicated therC
were four and one-half inches at the low
est on the crown sheet. There were 81,
or seven inches over the after part Of the
crown sheet.
"There were three feeds, main feed
and two auxiliary feeds. The main feed
was open all that day. There were two
check valves on the main feed, but they
were, fixed tight, so as not to check the
flow of water into the boilers. We were
not using the auxiliary feeds, which were
a donkey pump and the injector"
THE CAUSE UNkNowH
"To what do you ascribe the explo
siong'
Il don't know. All know is, 1 did my
duty and kept watch"
He was shown report, and identified
it as having been made by him.
"Who wrote it2" asked InspeetO
Thompson.
Agent Greer, of the Wilmington
Steamboat Line, at Wilmington"
1T was written on September 3. VIII,
didn't you make it beforeT'
Il was too much worried and shakei
up"
''You know what the penalty is, don
your
'No, sir; 1 made it as soon as 1 though
was necessary. Besides, my arm wa
scalded. and l was hit on the ribs
Have you not rehearsed your test
mony or spoken to any one about this in
vestigationf"
No, sir"
Murphy, in answering Inspector Yer
said that he carried water both by gaug
cocks and glass. There were four an
one-half inches OF water above the crow
sheet" he said, Il did not use the inje'
tor or donkey pump for feeding. We di
not drop any fuse metal on our trips
never to my knowledge. We had regull
fuse plugs.
The water wasn't out Of sight at an
time. The boats draught was about fV
and One-haf rect forward and Tour Re
aft. The trim Of the vessel might NAL
some difference in the water level.
gave strict attention for the reason tn
there vas not much room above Il
crown piece The boiler was safe enoug
only it needed hooking afrer."
John A. Bryson, the oilet when exal
ined practically told the same story
the engineer He said:
Two minutes before the accident
looked ut the after gauge. There W
just a little bit over half a glass in {
after gauge In the fire room gauge the
was an inch or an inch and a half
water, indicating four and one-hi
inches above the crown sheet"
Bryson said he made no report to t
chief engineer. BE did not handle I
pumps in any way or shift the valves.
had never beard the chief engineer s
there was any trouble about carry
nerfe other witnesses were Captain w