The San Francisco call., 1910-08-16
SURVIVOR TELLS
OF THE WRECK
OF THEPHOENIX
Assistant Engineer OF Ill Fated
Steamer Tells of Trip
Into Hold
Break Is Thought to Have Oc-
Cured in Forward Head or
Combustion Chamber

the only authoritative ISS-
timony that will ever be given relative
to the cause of the boiler explosion on
the steamer Phoenix, which turned
turtle off Point Arena early Sunday
morning, after having caused the
death of four men, was given in an
affidavit brought to Inspectors of Hulls
and Boilers Bolles and Bulger yester-
day by George P. Murphy, first assist
ant engineer of the wrecked vessel
Until Murphy appeared with this state
ment it was a complete mystery to the
owners and inspectors as to what part
of the boiler gave way. Now it seems
reasonably certain that the break oc-
Cured in the forward head or the COM
bustion chamber. and not, as was at
first surmised, in the welded section
that was put on the front sheet by the
Union iron works last May.
The welding was done by the cleo
trio process, a method rather recent In
San Francisco, but thoroughly tried in
the east. This process was tested by
the government and found satisfac-
tory, and its use was sanctioned by the
federal board of supervising inspec-
tors. According to Murphy's statement
the welding proved satisfactory in this
instance.
w n
Judging from the character of the
explosion, engineers believe that it
could only have been caused by low
water in the boilers. In previous ex-
plosions of this nature investigation
has disclosed that the water was low,
and that the explosion results ed from
the contact of the overheated steam
and water.
1t is thought that the official inves
tigation to be held tomorrow morning
by Inspectors Bolles and Bulger will
disclose the fact that the body of the
chief engineer was not found in the
engine room, but above the fireroom.
At tomorrow's inquiry all the survivors
of the wreck will be called.
Henry Templeman, owner of the
Phoenix, said yesterday that he ex
pected the steamer to be washed on
the rocks near Point Arena, as the
latest intelligence he had of the vessel
was that it was being driven landward,
bottom Up.
MURPHX,S AFFIDAVIT
Following is the affidavit telling of
First Assistant Murphy's descent into
the boiler room after the explosion:
When [ went down / thought
that the welding of the front sheet
had probably given way; ! found
overhead. Then l saw the furnaces
standing out of place at an an
g9 tbs she had es TO TO the the
staybolts on the forward head;
either that or the combustion
chamber. That is all 1 could see
My candle at that time went out
The ship now commenced listing
heavily and / thought it best to es-
cape in order to save my life. l
couldn't get to the forward part of
the boiler on account of the water
that was in the bilge, and on ac-
count of the deckload shifting and
the ship lying on her beam ends.
answer. l tried to get along the
sides of the boiler, but could not on
ACCOUNT of the breeding being
much wreckage there and the bulk
heads were torn out Of place. Our
were the stairs. Then | went to
the forward end of the house and
removed the bark so l could look
the house. I showed my light in
the port where the firemen's room
was, The flooring in the room
In fact, everything was gone. 1
shouted, but got no answer:
! was present at the ,, last Ia t. inspec-
Assistant Inspector of Boilers
Wolters inspected us, and | think
we counted or during that in
found 1S staybolts gone. The
boiler maker also went through
and located all he could and re-
newed them. After the inspection,
laid up and put out of commission.
She went to the Union iron works,
where she lay from May 20 to June
S, when all repairs, as ordered,
were completed and she was again
placed in commission on June 10,
having left the Union iron works
with everything tight.
When the Phoenix was examined
May II last by Captain Frank Turner.
assistant inspector of hulls, and John
B. Wolters, assistant inspector of boil
ers, she was sent to the drydock to
have IS staybolts and fiat brace put
in and the welding done. At that
time a hydrostatic pressure Of 210
pounds was put on the boilers, and a
pressure of 40 pounds of steam al
lowed.
SURVIVORS ARRIVE
The survivors of the crew of the
Phoenix arrived here early yesterday
morning on the steam schooner Brook
lyn. They brought with them the bod
les of Chief Engineer Thomas Houston
and Second Mate Randolph c. Ras-
mussen. Chief Officer Larson, who sus-
tanned burns Of the left hand, and Sea-
man Eric Olsen, who suffered a sprain
OF the G1SDI dnhle, were taken 10 the
harbor hospital where their injuries
were dressed before they were taken
to their homes.
Captain Peter Halverson of the Phoe-
nix declined to make any further
statement. His report made by tele-
phone on Sunday, he said, was as COM
plete as he cared to make 1t.
Seven laborers were passengers on
the Phoenix. They were uninjured by
the explosion, but so badly scared that
they were unable to lend hand in the
boats The crew of the Phoenix had
to literally throw them into the boats
in the bottom of which they lay, shiv-
ering and helpless, until land was
reached. They refused passage on the
Brooklyn, saying that they had all the
sea experience they wanted for a long
time to come.
The Phoenix was valued at $4,000
and very little insurance was carried
by the owners.
When last seen by the crew the
Phoenix was floating off Fish rock
bottomside Mp. The tanker w. S. Por-
ter, bound from Monterey for Nome,
passed the pilot house of the Phoenix
and lot of tanbark about o'clock