Evening journal., 1901-09-28
BAD PLUG ON
TRENTON'N BOILER
This Defect Believed TO Have
Caused the FTighiIul
Accident

The result of a test of the fusible plug
of the City Of Trentons exploded boiler
was submitted Yesterday at the Coroner's
inquest upon the twcnty-four victims Of
the DISASTER When the plug was pur-
chased by lhe Federal steamboat inspee-
tors the composition ofwhich IL wae made
IL was supposed. would melt at a tenn
peranre Of 43G degrees Ia the test or
dered by the Coroner st melted at 695 de-
grees. and was. therefore of no use as a
safeguard. if not positive source Of
danger as deceptive TO the engineer. As
has been said, the composition was not
that prescribed by law; that is, Banca
tin. Inspector Vert, on the stand yester-
day. again admitted that he did not know
what the composition was, but took the
word of the manufacturer, aud made no
test of II before supplying the boiler
maker. Moreover, the searching and in
gcnous examination OF Foreman Nau-
claim made IL appear that the plug was
not placed at that part OF the boiler
which was exposed TO the greatest heat
a bridge wall was placed in each Of the
City of Trenton's boilers 10y the makers.
Such a wall was not on the blue print
submitted TO Inspector Vert and he ad-
mitted ON the stand that he was NOT
aware of its existence in the boilers. yet
he said be gave certificate for THEN
operation. Tie had seen the boilers but
twice during their construction, aud had
taken the word of his assistant that the
boilers wcre constructed according To the
blue print That assistant. David II
Howard, testified that he knew there was
a bridge wall in some boilers. but wai
NOT certain about the boilers of the CITY
of Trenton. ON other points. both tn,
inspector and his assistant confessed un
certainty Of knowledge.
TESTIMONY ALL IN.
The taking Of testimony was ended YES
terday. but the verdict will not be an
nounced until Monday. Only three wit
nesses were examined. Foreman Van
CLAIM asked nearly al the questions. Ii
answer 70 his inteTogations Mr. Yer
said the law directed the fusihie plu
10 be placed M the highest surface of tn
boiler. In the case under consideration
was placed near the tube sheet Wa
that the hottest place? 1t was difheul
10 say, be answered : he hadn't that muc
experience. lie admitted having seen th
boiler bur twice during the course of II
construction and as to the bridge wal
he relied upon his assistant for such il
formation
inspector Howard was questioned as
the appearance OF the boiler after the e,
plosion. He said the crown sheet was
"a reddish appearance. which con,d resu
only from low water. He could not s,
how there could have been one ana la
gauges or seven and half inches of WI
ter in the boiler. as was testified TO /
Engineer Murphy and Oiler Bryson
MANUFACTURER on THE STAN
Edward Webb. the manufacturer of Il
safety plug. had testified ON Thursd.
that the plug would melt AZ iS6 degree
as q plug from the same lot had be,
tested by Queen & Co.. with that 7
suit a report was then read TO the jur
written by Chemist Vincent. of the Bal
7e.u Locomotive Works. II stated tn
the plug taken from the wrecked boil
grew limpid az $40 degrees: az $50 il
tanned its shape, and reached the meltil
POI at 6s5 degrees.
Asked to explain th's. 3ir. Webh cou
rot do so. and said IL could come fro
some haw In the process Of manufactui
With this testimony the inquest uded