Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-12
OF
BOILERS MAY
BE APPOINTED
Explosion Which Caused One
Death and Injured Three Is
Now Being Probed

/ r..
! Whatever may be the result of the
Investigation by Il board Cf inspec-
! tors OF the boiler explosion at the In
! ter-Island Steam Navigation CoIa-
pany's Coaling station Saturday,
which sent one man TO his death and
! three in serious condition to the hos
! pltal, one thing was predicted this
morning, which was that the ten itory
will be called upon TO establish an
office of an inspector of stationary
| boilers
There is no officer either in he ter
rit0rial or federal government having
authority over such boilers, it was
brought to light this morning by r.
| j. Heeney, United States inspector
of hulls and boilers one of the three
men requested by James A. Kennedy,
president of the Inter-Island COM
pany, TO head the investigation The
other two members of the special
board are Joseph Jordan and George
f. Campbell, both thoroughly expert
enced boilermakers.
They have all agreed that the ter
ritory is in flagrant need of such an
inspector. While ii is understood
that they hold the company blameless
for the Saturday tragedy, believing
that it was due to the negligence of
one of the employees in not keeping the
boiler properly supplied with water,
they contend that the present situa-
ton which makes it necessary for q
volunteer board to act is a sufficient
instance to show the great need of
the territory having it's own inspec-
tor
Held Company Blameless
The investigation was made by the
special board this morning and it
will probably be handed in to the COM
pany tomorrow. The substance of
the proposed report was not express
ly given this morning, but it was
learned that the board will attribute
the cause of the disaster to the lack
OF water in the boiler, and will also
mold the company blameless in the
matter
The inquest over the body of Ed
ward Malaihi, the engineer tending
the boiler at the time of the ex-
plosion, who was almost instantly
killed, will be held at 2:30 tomorrow
afternoon. The report of the in.
spectors may be presented to the
jury, and the members of the board
may also be asked to appear.
Boiler Not Defective
The report that the boiler was de-
iective. and that it had been SO
found by the United States inspectors
of hulls and boilers. was denied this
morning by the federal officers. who
stated that they had no Jurisdiction
In the matter and had never investi-
gated IT. In addition to this. Mr.. !
Heeney stated after he had thorough !
ly gone over the ground of the ey- !
that in his Judgment a de- /
fective boiler could not have with |
stood as this one did. the terrific !
torce OF the explosion without be- /,
ing shattered to pieces.
Other rumors current that work !
men had refused to remain near the /
boiler, and that number had Quit /
because of the danger they believed |
imminent, were also denied this morn |
ing. When John s. Muirhead. super !!
engineer for the company. I
was seen he refused to give a de-
tailed statement of the cause of the !
disaster That it was probably caus- |
ed by the boilers lack of water he /
did not deny.
The other three victims of the ac-
cldent, taken TO the Queens Hospital. |
A. Hale, a Hawaiian fisherman. Joe
Mckay and Private c. Boyle of the |
marines are reported to be out of |
danger and will soon recover.
Actions may be filed against the !
company by these men for personal t