The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-07-02

we were rudely awakened from our
peaceful slumbers by an awful COM
motion and hollering, and in the midst
of it could be heard the watchman's
voice, "hey, you fellers, roll out, for
heavens sake; that old boiler is going
to blow up" The engineer and myself
hastily pulled on some clothes and
rushed out to see what was really the
matter. Well, we had only got little
way from the caboose when my mate
hollered, 81 know what is the MATTER"
as we then could hear Kissing noise
and sound of rushing water; and what
do you think that idiot of watchman
had rudely disturbed our rest for.
Why. simply because a>water glass had
burst. All that was necessary was to
throw something over your hand to
protect it from the water and steam
and to close the valves on the water
glass, and then if no other glass was
handy, to go by your gage cocks until
morning. II ever heard man swear
it was certainly that engineer, as he
fairly made the air blue for a little
while.
Well, as to the worthy watchman, if
it was possible to see at the time l feel
safe in saying that his dim form could
be seem on the horizon travelling at
about forty miles an hour, and he
never was seen again or put in an ap-
plication for wages due. So you can
see when such green hands are en-
ployed and sent out on the road how,
thru their ignorance, things lead up to
what might be serious and costly
disaster, because if the water glass
had not been closed before all the water
had escaped from the boiler, it is pretty
near q certainty the crown sheet would
have cracked and possibly be followed
by an explosion.
OF course, as was once told, green
hands must be employed. l do not
dispute the fact, but they should be
kept under constant supervision until
they have been fully instructed IN the
work, and in mo case should be sent
out on the road where they are placed
in such conditions that should any
thing happen they have no one within
reasonable distance to refer to and
therefore their own lives and possibly
those of many others would not be
placed in danger. Maltreatment due
to thoughtlessness and Ignorance CAN
not be regarded as very potent cause
and this may often be due to disre
gard OF all principles Of mechanical
decency in the setting of the boiler
whereby stresses are set up, and they
may manifest themselves in leaks, bu,
too frequently develop incipient crack'
that hold on until some critical mo
ment when a disastrous explosion fol
lows. Here is an example taken from
the Railroad Gazette of May: A small
vertical boiler was set up with the feet
pump delivery in the bottom of th'
water leg. The water was taken direc
from driven we'll and had tempera
tt,,re of about fifty degrees Fair. WheI
in full action it was not an uncommon
thing to see the lower part of the boile
sweating like pitcher of iced waite
while the gauge indicated q pressure
of ninety pounds. When it was pumped
up previous to shutting down the mel
complained that the water as draw
from the blow-off cock was too col,
to- wash in. Fortunately this treat
ment developed big blister on tn
. inside of the water leg, which was Gu
, away and heater put in the feed pip
SO that mo disaster occurred. Blu
while this abuse lasted it would Gel
tainly have been interesting coul'
anyone have ascertained the actual il
ternal stress on that boiler.
Il These causes are merely given a
awful examples of bad design, gros
: neglect, abuse and ignorance, and
can assure you the journal of ever
: boiler inspector is filed with multi
/ tude of just such cases. OF course q
r time progresses these failures will b
e3 eradicsted, as in years back Other
f have, but it takes time and study {
Q the conditions leading up to then
8 Now look how long it took to abolia
t the lap seam on locomotive boiler
9 1t was one Of the most dangerous par
}. of . locomotive boiler, and it seen