Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-22
Boiler, Regarded Safe, Held
Cause of Tragic Explosion
on Seventh Street.
THREE OTHER PERSONS
BELIEVED TO BE DYING
Coroner's Inquest 0pened-Inspec-
tors, Police, Firemen Make
! Investigations.
Continued From First PageD

thorough investigation. Collins pointed
out hat it was important to learn what
precautions had been taken to avoid
Sucps disaster as occurred and to de-
termjne possible culpability.
Dr. hewitt expressed the opinion that
n poStponment was advisable and Sug-
gesteh that Mr.. Lynch obtain the use
of TIE boardroom of the District Build
ing for the hearing. Donald A. Dawson,
Assistant District Engineer Commits
sioneS, also present, said that the board
room would be made available. DR..
Nevitt then instructed the members OF
the tlry to report at the boardroom at
1890 O'Clock on the morning Of De-
cember 2.
Arthur T. FINELY, a headquarters de-
tective, was the principal witness OF the
brief session. He testified he found 1t
dificult to learn whether the task of
firing the boiler had been allotted to
any che person. He added that the best
information ne could obtain was to the
effect that numerous employees OF the
McCrory store had performed this duty
1rom1time to time.
Dr.: I. Rutkoski of the Emergency
Hospital and DR.. A. M. Macdonald OF
the Casualty Hospital told of the emer-
gency treatment accorded to persons
injured in the blast. The only other
witness. Benjamin c. Kuehling, head
of confusion which followed the explo- |
sion.
The District Commissioners visited |
the scene of the explosion yesterday |
and are believed to be making a fur |
Their examination today.
Other Investigations were made by !
the District building inspector, the boil
er inspector, representatives OF the Po- |
lice Department and firemen. They will |
prepare and submit reports to the prop |
er authorities.
First Official Statement.
The first oficial statement as to the |
cause of the explosion came today from
Maj. Donald A. Dawson, Assistant En- |
gineer Commissioner. under whose SUI
peryision come the building and boiler |
inspectors. Mai. Dawson made a mi |
mute examination of the boiler and the |
physical aspects of the disaster yester- |
day before preparing his report.
He found that the boiler was 200
gallon affair which was used to supply |
water to Mushrooms and for similar
purposes, but not for heating. The /!
heat was furnished by a coal stove, |
containing coil connected with the ex-
ploded boiler. The boiler was equipped
with a safety valve supposed to release
all steam in excess of 65 pounds pres
sure.
He believes the water became heated
to approximately $50 degrees Fahren-
heit the boiling point being 212 de-
grees. Even a temperature of $50
degrees, he said. would not have changed
all the water into steam. and the sur
plus should have been released through
the safety valve.
When the steam failed to find an
exit through this channel, it gradually
accumulated such force that it blew out
the bottom of the tank. Maj. Davidson
found a dent in the top of the boiler
corresponding to the shape of a sup
porting beam above, which led him to
express the belief that the top struck
this beam on its upward flight
1t was not the flying boiler top, how
ever, which caused the disaster.
Steam Causes Disaster.
When the top of the boiler few off,
Mai. Davidson explained, the super
heated water inside splashed to the
floor and changed into steam as 1t was
released. The terrific explosion was
caused by this transformation OF water
into steam.
According to Maj. Dawson, the safety
valve itself was in perfect condition and
could not of itself have been response
BILE for the blast. He believes there was
valve which prevented the steam from
escaping through its normal channel.
The District code divides boilers into
two classes, low pressure and hlgh
pressure. The low-pressure boilers, TO
which class the one in the McCrory
store belonged, are those whose maxi
mum pressure is not more than 10
pounds in excess OF the street wafer
pressure.
Boilers of this type have always been
considered entirely safe, and there mas
never been any law in this city that
they be subjected to inspection.
Except for its size, the boiler when
exploded Yesterday is identical with
those used in private homes throughout
the city. Mai. Dawson expressed the
belief that If distractions are allowed TO
form in the pipes or safety valves OF
these smaller boilers, similar explosions
may be expected.
The high pressure boilers are, under
the law, subject to regular inspection;
Mai. Dawson said that under the
present law it is illegal to place boilers
of any kind under the pavements. He
explained, however, that TINS law WouIo
not affect the boiler in the McCrory
store as it was placed before the law
became effective in 1925. The law was
not made retroactive.
Skulls Fractured.
The three woman victims of the ex-
plosion died of fractured skulls. Mary
Cockrell's death was believed due to in
ternal injuries. jacobson died from loss
of blood when his legs were crushed.
The injured were picked up from the
blood-spattered streets and rushed TO
hospitals in ambulanccs, taxicabs anu
private cars.
Miss Dawson was the first to die.
Miss Cullinan succumbed next, followed
by Mary Cockrell, Mrs. Cockrell ana
jacobson.
The first firemen to reach the scene
were Lieut.. /. W. Luskey and Deputy
Chief Philip w Nicholson OF No. IA
Engine Company, located on Eighth
street in the rear of the and 10 cent
store. They heard the blast and went
TO the scene before an alarm had been
turned in.
They we're met by Warren F. Brenizer
contractor, who offered his assistance.
Seeing what he believed was a Wom-
ans form in the bottom OF the pit
Brenizer secured one Of his own trucks
and a gang of workmen and started re-
moving the jumbled pieces of concrete
It was necessary TO engage the services
of two cranes before this difficult TASK
could be completed.
Firemen found that the front wall