Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-09-10
TEST
MAY Be CAUSE
Of EXPLOSION
Report of Supt. Forbes on Fa-
taIities at Standard Oil
Tanks Adopted
Continued from page one)


|
and T. U. DeFrees. Mr.. Prescott was
not at the plant at the time OF the
accident. The three latter we're work
ing near the scene of the explosion,
but could offer no explanation Of II.
The tank did not show much evil
dence of fire and the pipes we're not
distorted, although somewhat blacken-
ed. The top Of tie tank was charred
near the hatch, showing the effect OF
| fire for radius Of approximately IL
feet. Directly under the hatch cover
showed the effect of fire more than
did the top Of the tank. The tank
was filled within two plates of the
top with distiIlate. On the surface
Of the distiIlate we're floating several
large patches or light 3eolored sub
stance, -. g. s --'
Mr.. ForbeE conclusions in the mat.
ter after careful study OF the data
summarized above, is as follows: = Z
tCoaciusiou. ~ ~ tf7. :. ~ ~
e. From the above data the following
conclusions are drawn -. go
That there was an explosion In
tank No. 2. The fire caused by the
explosion was Of very short duration.
The condition of the tank indicates
that an explosion took place inside
the tank and the explosion was caused
by the ignition Of the gas In the tank
containing distillate. 49, E.
From the plans in the possession
Of the superintendent of public works
e Is indicated that electricity is re-
quirea TO operate the apparatus in
the foam tower" i
The presence OF foam on the sur
face OF the liquid in the tank and the
short duration OF the fire indicates
that the foam system" was in work
ing order. H.
The hxtnrt shown on sheet No. q
is the electrical part OF the systeIil
connected to the tank. The threads
fa) indicate that cap OF some des-
criptiOn should accompany this tx.
ture This cap could not be found
and the other tanks were not dis
turbed to see what kind Of a cap Isl
used. 81. L : ~ M
The cap is no doubt composed Of
a brass rim threaded in order to
screw down over the fitting. The top
Of the screw cap is composed of nj
metal that would easily fnse.
The two metal plates BIB are In
sulated from each other, consequent.
~ the electric circuit Isl broken.
II a FIRE should occur in the tank
the top OF the cap would melt and
sslfep AtIowh on the two plates sBEsl
the two and thus compIet.
ing the circuit; the circuit being COM
plete, the apparatus In the foam tow.
er is set in operation and the foam
discharged into the tank.
Wat Thrown IS Feet. j, Ia.
Mr.. HarTub was found on the
ground, approximately 46 feet from
the hatch. TO throw q man this dis
lance would require considerable
force ana to receive this fore he
would have to be directly over the
hatch. al
The fact that his clothing was
burned almost from him within very
few minutes. indicates that he was
in very close proximity to the expIos |
sion, hence, presumably, directly over
the hatch. The location OF his body
when found indicates that he was on
the side of the hatch opposite the
electric fixture &s,yEss,..s 81, s..,,s. 4. h
The clothing of Erich being burn.
ed from the waist UP would indicate
tnat he was leaning over the hatch
at the time Of the explosion. s
The clothes of Schieber not being
burned would Indicate that he was
not near enough to the hatch at the
time of the explosion for, the fire that /
followed to reach him, and he may
have jumped.
Mr.. Harrub was probably down on |
his knees working on the fixture and
the cap being removed from the top
1t is likely that Erich was leaning
ever the hatch directing Harrub while |
Schieber was probably standing few |
feet away. ..s&. ~
IN some way or another an eleetri- |
cal contact between the two plates
BIB" was completed, and the compile
ton of the circuit Immediately set in
operation the Foam System" When
the contact between the two plates
BIB" was broken a spark was the re.
suit, consequently the gas was igIit-
ed, causing the explosion and fire.
81 Two pieces of wire were found on
Tank No. 3, which evidently we're used
AOl SOhhSStIuS up W q DdClCASJ ohN IL
the test was made at the top Of the
tank for locating the ground, there
can be3no other conclusion but that
this was the cause of the explosion.
However, the three men who were
employed on this work are dead and
Ii will be extremely difficult to arrive
at the real cause of the disaster.
Did Not Know Contents.
AN examination Of the Hawaiian
Electric Company's foreman brought
out the fact that he was unaware that