Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-09-10
TEST
MAY BE CAUSE
OF EXPLOSION
Report of Supt. Forbes on Fa-
talitieS at Standard OH
Tanks Adopted

Governor H1nKnam, ClarIeS H. FOrDeS
superintendent of public works, and
officials Of the Standard Oil Company
the report submitted to Governor
Pinkham by Mr.. Forbes several days
ago on the Oil tank explosion at Iwi
lei, was declared correct and no criti
cisms were offered. Three men LOST
their lives as a result of injuries sus-
tanned from the explosion.
1t was requested by the superin.
tendent of puolIc works that the oil
company mark all tanks as to their
contents. 1t was also requested that
the present wooden stairway leading
to the tanks be torn down and an iron
or concrete one substituted in its
place The company agreed to both
requests.
Superintendent Forbes report rela.
tive to the accident stated that the
explosion occurred shortly after 10: 80
o'clock on the morning of August 26
in one tank out of a group of seven.
by 45 feet, and its capacity was 49,
1871 gallons.
The report states. that C. Erich.
who lost his life, was a competent en-
gineer engaged in installing Foam
System" work similar to what he
had done on the coast. Antoine Schie-
Der, a regular employe of the com.
pany, and Ralph Harrub. an employee
of the Hawaiian Electric Company,
also lost their lives, death resulting
from injuries received in the explo-
SION 3" =
The report reviews statements from
A. 8. Prescott, manager of the com
pany; Mr.. Mcclellan, Joseph Kelley
and T. u. DeFrees. Mr.. Prescott was
not at the plant at the; time OF the
accident. The three latter were work.
ing near the scene Of the explosion,
but could offer no explanation OF II. 2
The tank did not show much EVIL
dence of fire and the pipes were not
distorted, although somewhat blarken-
ed. The top of the 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
CT the distillate were floating several
large patches or light colored sub
Mr.. Forbes conclusions In the mat.
ter after a careful study of the data
siimnlari2ed above. Is as follows: .
Conclusion. ~ ..
Prom the above data the following
conclusions are drawn; y
That y 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 sdistillate. o.s......a e
From the plans in the possession
OF the superintendent of public works
1t is indicated that electricity is re-
CURED TO operate the apparatus in
the foam tower -.
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 5-ss."
'tThe fixture shown on sheet No. 2
Is the electrician part of the system
connected 10 the tank. The threads
fa} Indicate that cap OF some des-
cription should accompany this fix
ture. This cap could not be found
and the other tanks were not dis
turbed to see what kind Of cap is
used. r.
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 a
metal that would easily fuse.
The two metal plates BIB are In
sulated from each other, consequent
ly the electric circuit is broken.
IF a fire should occur in the tank
the top of the cap would melt and
drop down on the two plates BIB
connecting the two and thus complet-
ing the circuit; the circuit being COM
plete, the apparatus in the foam tow
er is set in operation and the foam
into the tank. ~ Il
Was Thrown Is Feet.
mr.. Harrub was found on the
ground, approximately 46 feet from
the hatch. To throw a man this dis
lance would require considerable
force and to receive this force he
would have to be directly over the
hatch.
1.-The fact that his clothing was
burned almost from him within a very
lew minutes, indicates that he was
n very close proximity to the explo-
ion, hence, presumably, directly over
he hatch. The location of his body
ghen found indicates that he was on
he side of the hatch opposite the
electric fixture.
'The clothing of Erich being burn