Evening star., 1929-12-03
EXPERTS DISAGREE
AS TO CAUSE OF
M'CRORY DISASTER
Testimony of 2 Is Countered
by 3 Others Regarding
Water-Tank Theory.
JURY SEEKS TO PLACE
ANY POSSIBLE BLAME
Plumbing Inspector Advances
Theory Blast Was Caused by
Carbonic Acid Bottles.

With two experts for the District tes-
tifying that the hot-water storage tank
in the McCrory Five and Ten Cent
Store could not possibly have exploded,
and one for the District and two for
the Government countering with testi-
mony to the effect that hardly any
thing else but the storage tank could
have exploded, the coroner's inquest
into the disaster adjourned at o'clock
today until 10 am. tomorrow.
The disaster, which claimed the lives
of six persons and resulted in in
juries to score more. occurred No
vember 81 in a vault under the side
walk in front of the McCrory store on
Seventh street. The purpose of the
coroners inquest is to determine and
fx any possible criminal responsibility.
Three District employees and two en-
testimony this morning which appeared
irreconcilable.
BIames CarbOnic Acid.
A. r. McGonegal, District plumbing
inspector, testified that he made an in
vestigation at the scene of the accident,
as the result of which he came to the
conclusion that the hot-water storage
tank could not have been the cause of
the explosion. He expressed the belief
that the accident bursting of bottle
of carbonic acid stored near the fur
mace reacted on the storage tank in
such a manner that the bottom of the
tank was forced loose.
Steam then generated in the top of
the tank, he said. and lifted the cylinder
into the air, where it struck steel beam
with considerable force. Mr.. McGone-
gal pointed out that there were at least
four avenues through which excess
steam would have escaped before ac-
cumulating sufficient force to burst the
storage tank.
His assistant, Samuel Tap, adhered
to the theory that the rupture of the
bottom of the hot-water storage tank
was caused by some preliminary ex-
plosion.
James Paxton. manager of the Nc
Crory store, testified that the bottles
of carbon acid stored in the vault be-
lo1ged to another concern, which had
u CONCESSION IN Ills StOre.
Believes Boiler Burst.
When Price NJ Greenlaw, District
boiler inspector. took the stand he said
that in his opinion the water in the
hot-water storage tank was heated
enough to cause the bottom of the tank
TO blow out because of expansion of the
water alone. After this occurred, he
said, the superheated water turned into
steam, pouring more than 1900 cubic
feet of live steam into q space large
enough to accommodate safely but $500
cubic feet This was the force that
ripped of the roof of the vault, he said,
and there was no preliminary explo-
sion.
Nolan D. Mitchell Of the Bureau of
Standards agreed with Mr.. Greenlaw
that there was no preliminary explosion.
He said the tank gave way III the rim
of welding connecting the bottom plate
to the tank. He indicated he thought
the welding job was not proper one.
Mr.. Mitchell secuted the idea that
one Of the bottles of carbonic acid blew
up first, setting of the tank explosion.
G. w. Owen Of the Bureau of Mines
also was unable to discover any evi-
dence of a preliminary explosion.
after examining the scene of the
disaster" McGonegal said at the out
set of his testimony 81 was unable to
excess pressure in the tank to cause it
to burst. Hot water had been used con-
tinuously for store purposes up to the
time of the explosion that day, and,
therefore, there could hardly have been
any steam pressure in the boiler In ex-
cess Of the water pressure from the
city main.
Blames Carbon Acid.
"My opinion is that the bursting Of
q bottle of carbon acid, used for soda
fountain purposes, caused preliminary
explosion. The force of this explosion
produced a conclusion on the sides of
the hot-water storage tank which bulged
inward against the water it contained -
he said. The water, being virtually in
compressible, had to find some exit. The
bottom of the tank being the weakest
point gave way" he said, allowing the
water to escape"
LAS the water ran out of the tank, q
sort of vacuum developed at the top
When the hot water in the tank
reached what is known as the flash
point it changed to vapor and this had
a tendency to drive the tank upward
The tank apparently was driven upward
against steel beam supporting the
sidewalk"
McGonegal said that in his search
for evidence of preliminary explosion
least one bottle of carbon acid were
stored in the furnace room near the
heating unit He said that according TO
his informat ton there is often pres
sure of approximately 1000 pounds IN
these bottles. Most of them, he said
bear red tags with the notice that
they are to be stored in cool place
Parts of Bottles Missing.
McC>onepal said he found three pieces
of the carbonator. but could not locate
the other parts of the machine. Hs said
he could not find any parts of carbon
acid bottles, but that these bottles prob
ably would have been shattered intC
fragments If subjeced to an explosion.
He also pointed out the posslbllt.
that an explosion or breaking OF IN
carbonating machine or carbon aci'
bottle might have broken gas mail
running through the vault. This, n
explained, would have permitted gas +
form in the room, which would hav
exploded on coming into contact Will
the fire In the furnace.
In answer to a question from an at
torney representing the McCrory inter
ests, McGonegal said he believed h
would have pronounced the hot waite
tank I'm satisfactory condition II he ha
examined 1t 10 minutes before the ex
plosion occurred.
Testimony raising doubt as t
whether the hOt-water tank itself ex
ploded was introduced at the inQues
oft