Evening star., 1905-11-03
RESULT OF ACCIDENT
Power House Explosion Un-
avoidable Occurrence.
VERDICT OF THE JURY
DISCLOSURES BY coRoNER's IN
vEsTIGATIoN.
Feed Pipe Said to Have Been Forced
Apart by Formation Of
"Water Hammer"
VERDICT OF THE JURY

"Water Hammer"
Like a crushing thunderbolt from a
clear sky" was the description given today
before a coroner's jury of the terrific ex-
plosion which occurred Wednesday after
noon at the plant of the Potomac Electric
Power Company, at 14th and b streets
northwest and which resulted In the In
stant death of two men and the injury OF
several others.
searching inquiry was made this fore
noon by Coroner j. Ramsey hewitt. and six
representative citizens, comprising the jury
of inquest. into the causes which led TO the
disastrous happening. At the conclusion OF
the taking of testimony the jury rendered
this verdict:
1--WE find that Clarence Abraham Whit
ley came to his death, November ], 1905,
at the Potomac Electric Power House. from
burns of the body caused by the explosion
of a steam pipe in said power house. the re-
suit of an accident which unayoid-
able"
This verdict signed by these members
of the coroner's jury: f. NJ. Sunderland,
Dennis Mullany, G. l.. Slodd ard. T. L.
Ogram, l.. L. Williams and ID. NJ. Thayer
Coroner hewitt began the investigation
about 1890 o'clock, after the jurynen had
been sworn the charred remains OF
Whitley, which occupied a slab in the dead
room of the morgue adjoining the inquest
chamber. The body of William II. White.
the other victim of the catastrophe. was
released from the morgue by Coroner
hewitt yesterday to be prepared for burial
Before the jury was sworn Coroner NevitL
asked IL any member of that body was con-
nected with the Potomac Electric Power
Company or was related to the deceased.
Il am n small stockholder in the Wash
ington Electric Railway Company" replied
one of the jurors
This did not disbar the juryman from
serving and the members took their places
in the inquest chamber.
Attorney Charles II. Merrillat and VIII
liam E. Ambrose appeared before the in
quest representatives of the family of
William H. White one of the men killed
Lackey appeared as counsel for the Poto-
mac Electric Power Company and Attorney
w. Gwynn Gardiner represented the FAM
ily of Clarence Abraham Whitley.
The First Witness.
The first witness called was C. L. Heath.
who said he had been chief engineer of the
power plant for about two years. Mr..
Heath's hands were burned and blistered
a result of the recent explosion. He
exhibited a section of steam pipe and a
fiange similar In design, but somewhat
smaller than that which gave way and
resulted in the death and injury of several
men. With this piece of pipe and fiange he
illustrated TO the coroner and jury how. in
his opinion, the explosion happened.
The witness explained that he made
investigation after the explosion. At the
point where II occurred there were fianees
secured by heavy bolts. which joined to-
gether the two sections of pipe, making
what is technically known as "steam and
water tight door" He found the fiange at
the place of explosion had been cracked in
five places, which allowed the connecting
pipes to pull apart 1t was found that the
thread of the pipe was intact. and there
was no break in the pipe itself.
"It is my opinion said Chief Engi-
neer Heath that the breaking OF the
fiange, and the consequent release of the
pipes. was caused by an extraordinary v pres
sure of steam accumulated within, Snd re-
sulting in what is known a water ham
mer.' In other words, an accumulation of
water in the steam pipe. som" dimes half
filling and at Others totally filling The p.pe
In such cases the accumulated water with
the steam pressure behind II goes forward
with great velocity and something must
give way"
Mr.. Heath further explained to the Jury
that water hammers frequently occur in
steam radiators in dwellings. causing the
rafting and ganging sounds that are SO
often heard The government is now maxi
ing experiments in an effort to obvia.e this
difficulty
Engineer Heath was at the scene Of the
explosion five seconds before II occurred,
but fortunately for him he was called away.
The great volume of air forced ahead ~
across the engine room. He said $50 po nds
pressure to the square foot is carried nor
mally by the exploded section, Du- At the
time of the accident the chart showed that
the pressure was only III pounds.
Only Warning Possible.
The gauge of the safety valve is SUP
posed to blow eff and give warning wlien
the steam pressure reaches $50 pounds.
This is the only warning that could have
explosion came with the suddenn-es of
lightning from a clear sky, caused by the
sudden choking of the pipe by the water
hammer" then the fiange was split open IN
five places by the great pressure of steam
caused by the choking.
The exploded section of pipe was instaile
about four years ago, but had only been
in actual service about three years. 1t was
inspected last June by government in
spector, also by the Hartford Boiler In
spection Company.
Had there been any defect in the nange
pipe there would have been a warning
in the shape of leaking water or escaping
steam. When the fiange was split the pipe
came apart like the pulling of glove from
ones hand.
Witness said a new boiler was installed
in the power house about two weeks ago.
Steam from the feed pipes was then cut
off and the pipes packed.
Inspector Vermillion's Testimony.
Mr. Edward F. vermiliion. the District
boiler Inspector. gave the results OF his in
vestigation, which was begun short time
after the explosion. 1t was his opinion that
the accident was caused by a water ham
mer." He found five different cracks in the
connecting fange This released its hold
ing power, and IL was forced apart by the
internal pressure releasing the two sections
of pipe.
could there have been a warning given
the victims of the explosion, IN your opin-
ion?" asked Coroner hewitt
There could not have been any warning
given in time to save the poor fellows" re-
piled Inspector Yermillion.
Inspector Vermillion's Testimony.
What is a water hammer, Mr.. In
spector?'' asked juror.
You have doubtless heard the banging
and hammering in your steam pipes and
radiators replied Mr. yermillion. We'll,
that is caused by water hammer, which