The New York Herald Newspaper, November 10, 1844, Page 1

Vol. X., He, 3911. THE NEW YORK HERALD. AGGREGATE CIRCULATION THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND. THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD. To the Public. THE NEW YORK HERALD—Daily Newspaper—pab- lished every day of the year except New Year’s Day and Fourth of July. Price 2 cents per copy—or $7 26 per annum—postages paid—cash in advance. THE WEEKLY HERALD—pablished every Saturday morning—price 634 cents per copy, or $3 18 per annum—post- ages paid, cash vance. VE Tob ADVERTISERS of the ), and inereasing ald i over TH ih or the world, ond. ie therefore: the Seatchdine for net men in the city or country. econ in advance, PRINTING of all kinds exec at the moderate price, nd ia the most elegaut style mit ‘ JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Proraieron or THe Heratp Estas.isnmenr, Northwest comer of Fulton and Nassau streets. WINTER ARRANGEME VAPY THREF SHILLINGS FROM PATERS OW TO Cuan) after th: tet ot October cate Will leaves - pose fit ‘The Royal. Maj ips ACADL HIBUENTA will ate Benton fo tasabens ports, as follows >— ‘Win. ttarrison, Kaq., +9, 5 fiircata’ A CPeerintee da, Com gn reader ovat mene 16th, baths by ent. FOR NEW ORLEANS—Steam Shi ALABAMA.—Thiss.eamer is expected back from New Orleans 1) few CE te eA regi a ore the 10th and t5ch ‘of November. % Y + land passengers, iy enough offer to make it an For passage of light freight, apply to 030 lw*ec BRITISH AND NORM: CAN BO: aTH AMERICA YAL MAIL Wie contac wih tn Lond of Se Aa HIBERNIA,, + Captain Alexander Ryrie. CALEDON, Ci Euward G, Lott. CADL SGareain Wilh fiat ison. Sabian Joh Hew Boston, via. Hailfax, as fc ante Ves eet Caledonia, a pti, ‘“ 4) = Hibernia, tech. : ‘a ‘These escola Carry’ aperienced surgeons, and are supplied oats. OF Pe, EY LIGHAM, Ju ausre No. trest. — STATEN ISLAND OF WHITEHALL. Then Hows on aud after Bept. 0. OAV ar PeN*iscaNy. Aaj P. 8 All gooke soon be bertinaierty acted, Cad are ae she tisk of the owners thereof. d au WALL AND WINTER ARRANGEMENT. NEWARK _ND NEW YORK. THES NEW AND. Wie SPEAMER, RAINBOW ORPrAINGOHN GASES 3 : ‘and after September 10th will ran daily, as follows (Sun cluded) :—Leave New: , foo of Centre street, $ o'clock A. M. Laey ‘ork, foot of Barclay street, 3 o’cloek P. M. BE LG ea ee HOUK CHANGED LU BLA U'ULUUK, P. M.—Ou and after Monday, Sept, 16th, 1844, as ‘Night Line to ALBANY AND TROY wilrchnngethe hour of departure. from 7 to 6 o'clock, PM, and will land at Poughksepsie suring the great Fair and Cattle are 75 cents outy to Poughkeepsie. 'WALLA)W, Capt. A. MeLean, Monday 6th, We Y, 18th. | The steamer ALBANY, Captain R. B. fat? ‘Tuesday, 17th, Thursday, 19th, at 6 o’elock, from Cort- ¢ street M, at 7 o'clock, fr it Toya eRe {.cvelock, from Barclay street pier, the ith Ly "or me Be it Wair and Cattle Show, Tuesda; s Weancsday, in: cea Thuntiays loth ei teams any tases 7 ceuts to and from Voughkeepsie and New York. a2 NEW YORK, ALSANY AND TROY STEAMBOAT FOR ALBANY AND TROY.—Momi Line from the foot of Barclay seat dist interim jaces. ter SMPIRE, Captain 8. K. Roe, Monday, Wednes- day aad Friday Moraing at 7 o'clock. ‘Tie Stoxmer TROY, Captain A. Gorham, Tuesday, Thurs- dayena ng Hoy bn at.7 o/phoek. ry ‘ourtlandt street, direct. The Steamer SWALLOW, Captain A. ‘MeLsan, Monday, tt i ‘Thursday and Satayiny Evening, at 6 o'clock. >" ss ‘The Boats of tus Line, owuig to their light dranght of wa: fer, are eble at all umes to pase the bars, anc each Albany and Troy in ample time to take the moruing train of care for thr cast or west. For passage or freight, apply op board, or at the offices on the wharera, PLEASANT AND CHEAP new BuGire naNe 18LAND,) AND NE 0) 6 CURSIOND. MOD, ‘ATEN ' K EHRY, DERE! will can ap “fhe Seamboat follows, Daily, fror ‘20th to Ver Jat, Tbh Lave ‘New Cork at D and i eloe: n Ot 3%, Oands Y. M. 7 - yes Port Hagaimond, af 20 minutes to 8, and 19 minutes to Lhe) Ay . M. ves Now nghton a3 8 and 1 A. M.; at 16,5 and 7 Hunday—Leaves New York, at 9 and 11 A. M.: 6 Lewes tort 2 at minutes to 8nd AM, myii 6m Tig P.M. ‘Vork. May 18, 184 re ae eine TARRY ape at Angust 3st) 1M, the new and scheme! ASHINGTON IRVING, Ci a willeave the fgot of Chamber street for the shove races, i $1686, and Hing Ong att o'clock A. Mi landing at thw foot it apply on board. or to STEPHEN B. ‘street. s32m*re PUR BALM, VAKVINEM AND A. AW Bedetee "The FENOBRCOT Cepeain IN. Kimball, leaves the end of T’ whart, Boseon, ri a a Piseeas to convey passeneers tn the neighhorive Unwws. PEOPLE'S LINE UF 81E.AMBUATS FOR ALBANY. ema i eee tars wy bueaabon, NICKERBOCI Cepia A. Fi Se. baie ioanarene cel F FOR _CRUTONVILLE, 7 steamboat A. ae ‘Frum Gee (oot of iy « Five o'closk, F. M-—Landing at Intermediate Places, (iy ICA, Captain HG Crat Sete ¥ rv, y and y Afternoons, ae ‘ite, seeambont COLUMBIA, © William H. Peek, Pe ne Bap i yy thong ff tt 5 Leseugers taking ercher of the above lines arrive in'ATbany 10 ample time to take the Morni inne of Care for the east or west. ‘Ihe bonts are new pe ‘are far- Sokistiioan tt ones n't Hen, Pm SoA persons ‘are forbva trusting any of the boats of this line, wichout an order trom the Captain. freight, apply on board, orto P.C. Sehalts, the Uihea on tet ee Vi ttre lar Packet of the 10th of fast sailivg packet ship Chadwick, will sail aa for cabin, second enbin to embark should make rd, of Maiden Lane, or to JOSEPH MewURRAY, No. 100 ine street, eorner of South. Prince \tbert, Capt 8 Sebor, will sneceed the We and sail on the frat of December. Persons desirous of seuding for their trrends can have them brought out by either of the above vewels, by application ax above. al FOR N) ORLEANS—Fint ship SPLENDID, Captain —, will Pa 13th Novesnber, vr passag> free 7 steers ers, w! honly on Brn at ee Ns i yeok, NEW ORLEANS. age passengers, persons wi inmediate application on buxi The new react Phi ¥ positively sail K Line —Regular_prcket, vo sail stant ye elemant Cust salt pice ship si Tat Bieri, Caut. Hilliard, will positively sail aa above, day, Kor re he or pasnage, havin hands mnished ac- commodatiouss tenth « Wl ey ee COLLINS & CO. 'y evening, th inst. pyers may rely upon hi their irreetl edad tnt the ss of hs ie wilt petal ashe ined. ‘Agents in New Orleans, Messrs. Hullin and Woodraff, who HIT, roiptly forward all goods to their address, nore PACKET FOR HAVRE—BECOND tINE.—Th ih’ BALTIMORE, haward Funke master, will ral rhe: ber. lst of December. aanage a BOYD & HINC coruer Wall and stivet, or to 3 f were” no goods received on board after Fri n from Grea Hreland, pool. fe can at fugaced at the lowest rates, to and from Liverpool lar jacket ships sailing ander the ew ty draw fe ble at N branches, OLD LINE LIVERPOOL PACKETS. Line/cP Packets for Liverpook will Eye ou Senda hes ie i he Nace ae Th Canmaipae, gs Bae fay tons, t 2 lov. wb ‘The ENGLAND, © 87" = ib Re : ' 6 ae Poe OXFORD, Horton: fal Me fee. Fs lov. i yb The MONTEZ hen, intr is ‘ee 4 ‘lous, ov. 16 1 Th cuRore, “3 Lowber, caret mw Sibtane, 7 Deo 1 an, 6 The NEW YORK, (naw) poor Oak 4 aro pet 6 beh The CoLumBUS,” °°"? "Sgepe: t & % cont 1 ib }. A. Cole, May 1 ie ‘The YORKSHIRE: (new, i D. G. Bailey, May i a 1 sarah a er nt are, well as pete mde aa wil'acue tent is, wi observed as outward is wow %, One Sec ee Neither the captain or owners € Ships will be respon- E bis of ing aoe signed thastoer Ber icieht coast itof and oid MR seer apap. F “| THE NEW LINE OF LIVERPOOL PACKETS, on the 2iat, Li ry fr the éth of each month >= ew York From : New Ship LIVERPOOL, 1180 tona, Bes, - A ‘J. Eldridge. Apel 3 June 6 ug. 21 Oct. 6 N. Ship QUEEN OF THE WEST, (128 21 Mane *?n 21 Hsttons F. Woodhouse, et kee! Now Ship ROCHESTER, 850 tons, (5°27 2! Sohn Britton Gait BSS se Norinco 6 6 Nov. 31 6 These , fast sailing, first close Shups, all baniy it Sa il Tap poo TR oe mont ? with whatever'ean contase tothe ease oad conafant Pinna ri $100. "Fries of Passage, sible fae any’ pesenls or Facto Goa Oe ee ae ee x nil of lading are signed therefor. nt” by freight or Fright or Paves STPULE, & MINTURNS, ‘87 South street, orto FIELDEN, BROTHERS, & Ce re iMee ‘iverpoot We W LINE OF LIVERHOOL PACKETS. To wail i New York rom New Yor ‘op the:tteh eid :Liveryool On the Lith iS me iff hip ROSCIUS, Captain John Collins, 6th July. Brit BO DONS, Capa 1B. Cone sath a. Ship SHERIDAN, Captain F, A, Depeyster, Bib GARRICK, Captain Bj ate 26th Oct. Ship SHERIDAN, Captain A. De} ‘ Baie AMICK, Capeain BL Ht Tena 1 iu Joh ji ip SIDDONS, Captain kB. Cobbs ius Oc These ships are’ all of the Grst class, upwards of 1000 tons, brilt in the city of New York, with such improvements as with unusual comfort for passengers. very care line in the arrangement of their accom. fous. The price of hence is $100, for which ean: Rapotiltted "wiastoRe wine wll abe oat ere nates whe wil : satisfaction: every exertion to give ge leither the Captains or ows of the ships will be respons:- ble fo letters, parcel: 1 » ous fo iy dae fre pmekage seat by ham, alae For freight or fe apply to i, K COLLINS te UO, 58 South street, New York, or BROWN, SHIP! 30, Li a sips a SHI LEY & CO. Liverpodl Packets will be charged 1234 cons exter, 60 cants per ounce, and newspapers I centeach. ink OLD ESTABLISHED EMIGRANT FASSACE OFFICE JOHN HERDMAN, 61 South street, New York. ‘The subscriber coutinw ak ts te prssougers. from “Great Britain and’ Tefal (rin Liverpool). mm Ft ee, or : inited States, on board the packet ships sailiug trom Liver. pool every five days—and in or to afford every facility, he ‘superior American ships in New York and Eas tes seks bets rab ely lnk the pad dic asd ot i diligent attention will be shown therm “heretofore, tad shoulé any of those sent fur not embark, the mone} ‘customar, send ty RE and Bil ange for sums J mand atthe following banks, (without duseuaat or any othe hare), Fins ENGLAND—Messrs. J. Bult, Son & Co., Bankers, London J, Barned & Co., Liverpool; the National Provincial Bank of England and Branches, throughoat England and Wales; York- shire Diecries Best and Branches; Birmingham Banking Co.; i MIRELAND—National Bank of Ireland and Branches ND—Netional Bank o , and Provincial Buk of leeland and Branches, in “all the. prineipel : oH Bank of Scotland and Branches Glasgow and Greenock. country and wishing to. send money to a May insure its being done. orily, on. thei! itting the amount they wisl senty ‘ith the name and address othe ergo for whowp ie ten draft for the amount Tor thesame retumed by mail, nen 0) Seamer: An 8 receipt y mail. sige er artculars, app E CY ME Wet RE Dna), “ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1844. |OLD ESTABLISHED PASSAGE OFFICE. 100 Pine street, comer of South. the ai, to the following arrangements fo, ite ie = seiorael ane ous Cnn SE Conan Str ee fate eh teed mo on the 71 Ni greater factttes ar the Subse estab ae ene Mine of neha New ¥ rk bal, copped and throughout the Kin yTLAND—Eas oa eiermttte x rm iti rx wing Banks, f ie 0, jallinay” lonaghan, erry, Colerain, * Eaniskilea, nsown ie a ak of Tealend Revable iene Belfast, * thlone, Tralee,’ ‘oughal, Baw ymena, jc! , 100 Pine South street, Qt Moun. P. W. BYRNES & CO. 38 Wenn Rout: ‘Camere t eaten wecond Une wt al | am Yor8 onthe at, tad Thoere oe tse a lows, viz: From New York. Teave Ni month, as for Fy . New Ship ONEIDA, Ist March, 6th April, fumes Funck,} Ist November, } isk Batiaber @hiv BALTIMORE, —" iat Apni 7 May, pti Edward Funek,¢ ist ber, Qieth Seaman Ship UTICA, Ist May, eth June Captaing lst Beptrmber, Qerober, aptain ‘J. B. Bell, ist Febrear, 16th Maroh. i tote the price of eaby Peer tt rented he come 100. "Passengeps will be aupplied with every reqer seribers, fr trgm aay other than the expenses acteally incurred Gathers. For fright te le25 ae ae AN Ch ay ‘Water sts SCONE NON ENGLAND: 1RELAND, Ree stalk De herent ane a rae Banking oe isi hia ee tigate sv Sen teem each se OPC ORIe eae Toe 0 sail aa above, her regular day. Prige of Pranage £100, etre FOR SEW UKLEANS—Union Line—tirs i Regular Packet with despacch—The ‘ast Sine ery taper accom inodaton for enin poco ea bavi jor aecomm: y Passensers, persons wishing to embark, sheuld 1 OF 10. JOSEPH MeMURRAY, and a pias ely applicasioe ta ote 100 Pine street, corner of South. 7 KEW QHLE ANs— Union jue Kira | segues ‘TT it Ui y SiON. 7 "S ene, master, is wow Woadia cat wut have immediate dispa:eh, For cabin, second cabin an preeraye Paneenars. having su accummuda ion, early ap jeation should be *unde on HMArrAye wha, oF to JOSEPH MeMUKRAY, 180 Pine street. corner of Soath street ELA, Cepiae Brahe, wil oe acpebed ie wos }: ship offers a most desirable conveyance for oabin So AE, NEW YORK, SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 10, 1844. nn a of the following suppositions, there is no conceiva- INVESTIGATION oF TUR CAUSES OF THE EXPLOSION or THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE “RICHMOND,” NEAR READING, PA. ON THE 2d SEPT., ti. MADE aT THE REQUEBT oF MESSRS. NORRIS, BROTHERS, Locomotive Engine, Builders, Philadelphia, BY DION. LARDNER, Doctor of Civil Law—Fellow of the Royal Society of London -Consulting Civit Engineer, $e $e ! REPORT. Having been applied to by Messrs. Norris, Bro- thers, locomo ive engine builders, of Philade|phia, to investigate the circumstances attending the re- cent destruction of the engine ‘ Richmond,” which caused the loss ot four lives, and property amounting in value to nearly ten thousand dollars, and to ascertain, it possible, the causes of the ca- tastrophe, I repaired to Philadelphia on the 20th, and Reading on the 2st Sept, visiting the spot on which the event occurred, aud collecting the ne. ceasary information conaected with it. Tne mi- nutes of the information obtained, are given in full in the appendix to this report. The ‘engine “* Richmond” was built for the Reading Railway Company by contract, and placed by Messrs. Norris on the road on the 14th August. A specification of this machine ingiven in Appendix A. Its form, structure and material were of the usual kind, and similar in all essential particulars, to other engines working on the same line. Ii was, however, supplied with two safety valves, each two inches in diameter, one being as usual placed on the dome of the fire-box, immediately in front of the engine-mun, and the other on the cylindrical part of the boiler, in front of the fire- box, and not within reach of the engine-man, while standing in his customary position. It was agreed between Messrs. Norris and the company, that the engine should be run for sixty days on the cpifhel under the care of an engine. man appointed by Messrs. Norris, after which it was to be put in the hands of the company’s engi- neer; but in order the better to prepare the latter for its efficient management, it was arranged that the company’s engine-man, Joseph Ward, inte whose charge the engine was finally to pass, should attend at Messrs. Norris’ works, and assist im putting the engine together, and that he should accompany the engine-man of Messrs, Norris, in driving the engine during the above mentioned period of sixty day When the engine was pu' on the road, on the 14th August, Joseph Ward ac- ng pte Mewers. Norris’ agent, but, after the se cond trip, the performance was found to be go sat- isfactory, that it was not considered necessary te contiaue the employment of the engineer ot Mesars Norris, and the engine was placed, without further trial, in the charge of Joseph Ward, who continued +o drive it from that time, until the epoch of the catastrophe by which it was destroyed. Up to Saturday, the 3lst-August, inclusive, the enxine had run between Pottsville and the depot at Richmond. A return of ite performance has neen supplied by the agents of the company, ano will be found in appendix B. On Monday, the 2d Sept., the engine startec trom the company’s cos) depot at Richmond, ai eleven o’clock in the forenoon, taking @ train o1 38 wagons, the engine being driven by Josept Ward, attended by Franklin Tye and Peter Ma hon, as fireman, accompauied by James M’Cabe, 1s conductor, and Matthew Smith and Patrick Nugent, as brakeawen. At Norristown, about 16 miles trom Philadelphia, two additional brakes- men, Thomas Cowder and John Webser Powell, were taken up. The train arrived at Reading at # quarter past seven o’clock the same eveni 1 was detained there until ten minutes past eight "clock, when it started for Pottsville, but before leaving the town, was again stopped and delayed about quarter of an hour, and finally left the cross- ing of the main street, Reading, at twenty-hve minutes past eight precisely. Astorm of thunder, lightoing and rain had cem- menced about sunset, and continued with uausua: violence till a late hour at night. The lightning was frequent and vivid, and of the kind called zig zag lightning The peais of thunder were loud and oard, the sound being observed to follow the flash almoat iinmediately. The danger was considered so great, that individuals who had been accustom- ed to the climate, teared to venture out, and it war said that such a thunder burst had not been wit- nessed at Reading tor tweive months past. It was ia the midst of this storm that the train started trom Reading. On Ret Heo at apoint of the road situated on a low embankment, two miles from Reading, a terrific explosion was heard trom the head of the train; the cars were suddenly stopped; and the brakesmen on proceeding to the place of the engine, found the working part of the machine scattered in fragments about the road and on the slopes of the embankment; the tender was thrown over upon the wheels and broken carriage of the engine, and the boiler and its appeadages had iptally disappeared. The bodies of the tiremen, Franklyn Tye and Peter Mahon, were found un- der the wagons killed by fractures of the head and body, and atter turther search, the body of the en- gineer was tound tn an adjacent field, about twent: yards on to the right of tne place of the tender, wit! head cut across the forehead and the leg crushed,be- ing quite dead. The body of Mr. M’Cabe, the con- ductor, was found, also dead, on the embankment, at apoint three hundred and thirty feet ahead of the tender; and the boiler, with the fire-box, smoke- box, chimney, and the two cylinders and pistons, was discovered lying in a field to the left of the road,at a distance of feet from the place where the wheels and carriage of the engine lay. At a point in the field, about thirty feet nearer to the engine. a deep cavity was left, produced by the end ot the boiler striking there, amd rebounding from it to the place where it was found. The mas,which was thus projected to the distance of 250 feet from the spot where the explosion took place, weighed about ten tons. n The cylindrical part of the boiler and the smoke box were uninjured, The funnel was lying near the boiler, and partly beneath it. The round end of the. fire-box next the stand of the engine-mau was flattened, so as to be crushed in and brought near the flue plate; the roof or crown piece of the fire-box was torn from the walls, the rent being generally above the angle, but in some places upon the angle at which it joins the walis or upright sides uf the fire box. The crown piece was found jam- med in the fire-box between the part beaten in and the flue plate. The grate bars and ash pan were driven down upon the road with such force, that the latter took « very distinct print of the trasverse wooden sleeper upon which it fell. The proper form of the crown piece 1s slightly concave at the iower surtace, and it is secured by a series of strong cast iron stays, bolted tu the upper surface, so asto aid in resisting the downward pressure of the steam. its torm, when found after the catastrophe, was at inree of its four’sides coucave at the top, but at the fourth side concave at the bottom, the edge be- ing curled downwards in a considerable degree. la the steam-casing surrounding the fire box were found three holes, about three inches diameter, the edges ot which were turned inwards, i.e. towards the steam. . Tha working parts of the boiler, except the steam cylinders and pistons, which sul remained attach ed to ut, were broken into an eatraordivary num- ber of email fragments. The rode and other parts which had any considerable length, were twisted in the most irregular and capricious manuer, and were scattered in every direction around the place where the event occurred. _ , . The rails on which the engine was moving were forced from their support outwards. The adjacent line of rails, beside that on which the train moved, are represented to have been both cutthrough, asil by the incision of a cold chisel. These rails, how- ever, were none of them preserved by the agents vf the company, and | could not obtain them tor my own examination, t appears that the engine started from the main street at twenty-five minates past eight,” and the waich of James M'Cuabe, ihe conuucior, was stop- ved by the concussion at twenty minutes veture ue. The interval, therefore, between tne depar ure of the engine from Reading and the explosion at the boiler, was fitteen minutes, Such being the geveral vutiue of the histery of ‘his Catustrophe, it remains to consider what are the several modes in which 118 possible to account for 1t} and it appears to me, that except, some one * Gee evidence of Patrick Nugent, brakeeman. Priee Two Cents, ble explanation of it. FIRST SUPPOSITION, . That the fire generated. steam taster than it was discharged thromgh the eylinders or valves,and that an accumulutiog of clastic vapor was thereby col lected in the boiler, having a pressure whieh aug- mented in the gatio of its accummlation, until at length this wemere became greater than the resist- ing power ofthe crown piece, which bursting downwards, Gauved the catastrophe. SECOND SUPPOSITION. That water was nut supplied to the boiler astast as it was consnmed by the evaporation, and that thereby the crown piece and upper flues became. uncovered ; that, aa a necessary consequence, these paris became overheated, and powsibly even were rendered incandescent; that in this dition, water being thrown upon them, flashed suddenly into steam of enormous pressure and caused the catastrophe. .TMIRD SUPPOSITION. _ That the éngine was stricken by lightning which broke it, tore the crown piece from the sides of the fire-box, and caused the catastrophe. __,_., FOURTH SUPPOSITION. That lightning passing. outhe boiler raised some partofirtoa temperature; thatthe water taking up the heat was rapidly evaporated, as it would have been by contact with highly heated or in- candeacent metal ; that ean of Sreat volnaig and very emrema@ pressure being thus suddenly pro- duced, the Taner yielded to the force, a 8 catastrophe took place, ‘ ‘These suppositions, including in my opinion every possible cause of the observed effects, [ directed my inquiries to the discovery of such facts, as were likely to supply the menne of either establishing them, or setting them aside, [ shall examine them succeseively, and state distinctly the circumstances and reasoning which have led me to their rejection or adoption, as the case may be. First Question. _ Was the boiler exploded by the undue accumula- tion of steam within it by reason of the fire pro- moting the evaporation faster than the cylinders could carry off steam? It appears by the evidence of Thomas Yeager, engineer of the train immediately following the Richmond, that just before starting from Reading both safety valves were blowing off. It appears, also, by the evidence of Thom owden, brakes- man, that the steam was blowing off at both valves just before the accident. It is evident, then, that both safety valves were free. According to the load carried by the engine, the steam which passed through the cylinder would have con- sumed water at the rate of about one cubic foot per minute. To admit the pesmbility of a large accumulation of steam in the boiler, it would then be necessary to suppose the evaporation to proceed at a much greater rate than would be sufficient 10 sustain this discharge through the cylinders and the two safety valves Mr. Kirk, the foreman ot the company, proved that while the engine stood for fifty minutes at Reading, the valves were not blow. ing off, which ehows that no accumulation war then taking place. : That the material of the boiler weuld not yie!d to any. prainers pressure was proved by the mos} conclusive evidence I caused pieces of the crown plate to be bentunder the hammer, and doubled up, both hot and cold, and they showed all the signs of sound iron I also caused pieces to be broken, which displayed at the fracture the usual appearance of the fibrous strocture characterizing nod iron. I also, caused the crown piece to be sxamined by James J Rush, Beq, engineer, of Philadelphiu, and Mr. Simpson, master ma- chinist to the railway company, whose opi viens were in accordance with my own and who declared that the explosion of the boiler by the mere accumulation of steam withir it by the ordinary action of the fire could not have happened. 2 % if there were a tendency in the boiler to make steam faster than it was passing through the cylin der, it would be accompanied by an increased rate of apeed in the train It appears, on the contrary, by the evidence of two of the brakesmen, that the speed was not increased at the time of the explo- sion, and that it did not exceed ten miles am hour. My opinion is, that if the engineer had tried to produce this explosion by sruiaog the fire to the utmost, the operation of the cylinder being free, and the two safety valves having play, he could not have done it. : . The question must, then, be decided in the nega- tive, and the first of the four suppositions must be rejected as involving consequences and requiring admissions which are physically impossible. Seconp Quastion. : Was the explosion caused by neglect or failure in feeding the boiler? Tojudge rightly of this question, it will benecee- sary to attend to the routine of the duty of the en- gine-man, and to consider the character of the driver of the engine which exploded, and the evi- dence as to the particular occasion on which this au} d neglect or tailure occurred. he boiler of a locomotive is fed with water by two force-pumps, which are wrought by the en- gine, and which drive the water from tue tank oF tender into the boiler. These pumos can be put in operation or suspended, at the discretion of the en gine-man. As the pumps are liable, from varieus causes, to get out of order, eo that even when working they may not deliver water te the boiler there is a cock provided in the feed pipe, called the ‘* try cock,” by which the engine man can as- certain whether the pumps, when in operation, arr doing their duty. There are also several cock: placed at different heights on the boiler, called guage cocks, by opening which the engine mancan at aif times ascertain-the depth of water in the boiler, and whether it may require teeding. ff Proper attention to the ieeding of the boiler it the first and most important duty of the engine man It isa duty the neglectof which, he knows, must be invariably followed by an explosion, from the eflects of which others engaged on the-train may by pes. sibility escape, but which must cost him his life [t is therefore a duty almost never neglected even by the worst engineers, The engine man ex- amines, from &time-totime, the condition of the boiler by the guage cocks, and opens the feed pumps, 80 as to keep the level of the water ton proper height. There are particular occasions on which it is an invarmble rule to fill the boiler. Ov approaching any chief station, where some delay ip anticipated, the engine-man ceases te supply tuel to the furnace, opens the fire door to check the combustion, and puts on the feed. By these means he arrives with a full boiler and low fire; the evaporation is suspended during the delay, and he starts again witha full boiler, the fire being restored W its activity before starting. But if the evapora- ton while he sta hould boil down the water, he ascertains this by ihe passe cocks, detaches the engine and tender from the train, and runs fora short distance along the road, with the feed pumps on, 80 as to fill the boiler. Also, on approaching an ascending grade where, by reason of the in- creased resistance, a full power of steam becomer aeceseary, itis the custom to fill the boiler weli just before coming to the foot of the grade, so that im ascending the pumps may be shut ofi,and the un- impeded evaporation used during the ascent These are rules well understood by engine-men, and whichit may sately be assumed are never neg- lected by men of good character and tried habits By the evidence of all the witnesses eonnected with the Reading railway, Joseph Ward was one of the very best and most trustworthy engine-men on the line, He was five years in the service of the company, and for the five preceding years wae engaged by the Baltimore and Otiv and other companies, with all of whom be bad the beat cha- racter. Mr. Kirk, the foreman of the company at Reading, and Mr. Simpson, the master machinisi at Richmond, both declare that they did not be lieve it possible that Ward could bave neglected the feed pumps. It is also proved that hie habie were sober in gene nd that he was quite sober on the occasion in q na. But besides this fo evidence, we have spe cial proof. Powell, one of the brakesmen, saw Ward, before arriving at R ng, frequently tr the guage cocks, and “‘saw thatthe boiler was well filled with water, and has no doubt that it was well filled with water on arriving at Reading”’—(sec evidence.) Cowden, the brakesman, “walked Bapethe engine just before starting from Reading, and raw Ward iry the guage cocks, and saw water coming fromthem ” It is clear therefore, thet oo starting from Reading, the boiler wae full. The explosion took place at the foot of the rade, ascending at the rate of fitteen teet a mile ith rd would, therefore, as a matter of course, keep bis boiler filled woul his arrival ai thet vornt, as it would be necessary, while ascending th grade, to cut off the feed. Ail these circumstaner+ and proots cau leave no reasonable doubt that the moment of the explosion the boiler was We: filled with water, But it may perhaps be said, that although the ps Were put ON, they mighthave been ovstruc 80 as not reallyto deliver the feed into the oonler. To thie may be replied, that the engine man had mM the usual test, the try-cock, to gush all evente he ‘must, hat geverted. Mr, mpecn, the manter machinist o} ir company, says thet ‘‘on approaching Reading, Ward would have fed the boiler and ascertained the condition of the pumps by the try-cock, nor would he have proceeded fron Reading if he did not find his pumps in working op Mr Kiak, the foreman at Reading, stites{that ** he has every reason tor thinking that these precautions were taken on the present occasion.”” 4H Wish regard to the general efficiency of the feeling Suparaine of the Richmond, the evidence of Mr. Simpson is most clear and conciusive He says that Ward was his upil—had been un- der him. as _ fireman, on, was instructed by him in his business of engineman—that he was ten pen acquainted with him—that as much from these long habits of intimacy as from the dictates of official duty, Ward muet have com- municated to him any detects which, from time to time, he might have found in the Richmond or any difficulties in working her—that during the whole time she was in his hands, he never made any such complaints—that he never mentioned an instance in which the pumps failed to deliver the feed, and that he, S,mpson, does not believe that their action ever was imperfect. Simpson attend- ed as usual on Sunday, the Ist September, at the depot to see the necessary repairs done to the en- gines intended ork on Monday—thac the Kich- mond on that jon required nothing to be eup plied except a pia belonging to the half strok. which Ward himself replaced. That Ward the engine drew Satnrday’s load (118 loaded wa. gons) exsily, and had power to puil fifty wagons more without being strained, y It the water had been suff+red to boil down so as to leave the crown piece und the epper flues uo. covered, those parts must have been red hot, or nearly so. The condition of copper tubes which have been red hot is easily recognised. Those in the boiler show none of the signe of having been overheated. The copper is neither reddened nor sealed nor rendered brittle. Ithasinshortall the ap- pearance of having been kept under water. None of the tubes have collapsed. The crown piece of the fire place shows none of the indications of hav- ing been incandescent. Among other appearance: against this, one seems to be absolutely co. clusive —the soot still remains thick on the under side of the crown piece. Indeed | can poaariely pledge my judgment that neither the fire box nor the flues have been overheated. st Thave caused these parts of the boiler to be ex- amined) by Mr J J. Rash and Mr. Simpson, each ot whom concur generally in my views. In reference to this point it 1s proper to observe here, that a rumor prevalent that the explosion was produced by the imperfect action of the feed pumps. I traced this rumor to one fof the brakes- men who was accordiagly examined. It appeared that he was so unacquainted with the ocomotive, that he was uaable to p place of the feed pumpon such a machine, and that when he saw the engineer, Joseph Ward, on Satur day, 30th September, repairing the pin of the halt stroke, he mistook that for the feed-pump, and thereupon circulated the rumor that the pumps were imperfect, and hence the reported cause of the catastrophe. i I conceive, then, that the above question must be decided in the negative, and that there is a body of evidence sufficiently clear and conclusive to warrant the rejection of the second supposition as untenable. THIRD QUESTION Was the catastrophe of thc 2ad September pro- duced b ythe mere mechanical eflects of lightning ? I think there are circumstances connected with the catastrephe which afford indications of the agency of steam or other elustic fluids ao strong, that this question must be decided in the negative The state of the crown piece ot the fire place, the ioud explosion, the direction in which the boiler was projected, and other circumstances needless to ve particularized, form indicaations which can scarcely be mistaken. FOURTH QUESTION. Was the catastrophe produced by the combined agency of ammoxpheric electricity and steam? “The observation and researches of met 0 gists have informed va im considerable detail of he various effects mechanical, chemical and phy sival, produced on objects by atmospheric electrici- 'y it aw, however, a matter of regret, that the re. sult'of their labors havt been limited to the mere history of these effecis. The mode in which they are brought about by electrical agency has not been conclusively established. Amoug the eflects the most prominent are those produced uyen the tem- perature of bodies; that lightoing fuses metals by raising their temperature, i8 proved by the fact that inetal faaed by hightming has fallen ta liquid dre upon a wooden floor, and upon the decks of veesel- in which they have burnt holes. These effects have aot been coufined to masses ot metal of lunited di mension, nor have they been merely superficial considerable masses have been on various occa- sions melted. When the tightaing has not produ ced fusion, the iron has been rendered incandes cent and soft, and reduced to the state necessary tor welding it; in a word, metals have been raiser suddenly by atmospheric electricity to all condi tions of temperature,op to and including their pointy of fusion. Examples of these effects might be mul tiphed without end. In April, 1807, lightning pass- ed along a large iron chain in Lancashire, in Eng- land, and so softened the links that by their ow: weight they were welded together, and the chair was converted into a rod'of tron. The saive efleci was produced at different times in different places, In March, 1772, a bar of iron, four inches by hall an inch thick, connected with a water pipe on the dome of St. Paul’s Cuthedral, was rendered rec. hot. i ; Y The mechanical effects of lightning consist ix jiercing solid boaies with holes, splitting them ir eces, Lending and twisting them 14 various capri- cious forms,and io projecting thei RTve nts, eome- times of enormous weight, to great distances.— Buildings etricken by lightaing, have produced a shock felt in their neighborhood like that of an varthquake ; the heaviest blocks composing thei: walls, being scattered in all directions, and project- ed to diatances so great as two hundred teet. A church was stricken in Cornwall, from the roof oj which, astone weighing nearly 200 pounds was pro- ected to adistance, 60 yards, another fragment being thrown to ce of 400 yards. In another in- stance in Scotland a mass of rock, 28 teet long, 7 feet wide, and 5 feet thick, was raised in the ai and projected over an eminence to @ distance o/ fifty yards. Similar examples might easily be mul- uplhied. "Targe masses of iron are fonnd to have a strong unfluenee in attracting lightning, and this influence Appears to be great in proportion to its weight.— Thus lightoing passing outside the wall of a building has been drawn through it by an iron boiler within Some years ago, a chain pier or bfidge in England was destroyed during a violent storm, and although from its nature it was continued into the earth, 11 was broken to fragments, its heaviest parts were bent, doubled, twisted knotted in most ca- pricious forms, although no si of fusion appear- ed upon it. 4 , - Ihave given these particulars in order to inform those not familiar with meteorological inquiries, what are the actual effects which have been pro- duced by the agency of atmospheric electricity ; the question now 18, whether this agency hes been operative in the catastrophe before us. - It appears by the general evidence of the entire population around the vicinity of the catastrophe, as well as by the special evidence of the individ- uals who have been personally examined, that, ot the time of this occurrence, a terrific storm ot thunder and lightning raged ; two of the men upon the train, who survived, prove that the flashes of bahtaing were incessant, both before and after the explosion, and that the lightning was of the spe- cies called “zig-gag lightning” It is proper here to observe that, of the diflerentspecies of lightning, this 16 the kind by which terrestial objects are gen erally stricken; this species never, (or if ever, very rarely) passes between cloud and cloud, bu always between a cloud and the earth. There seems to be then present all the condi- tions necessury for the production of such @ pb menon; the hghtoing is in conuoual play; itis of the kind necessary to produce the effe 18 tons of jron, in the shape of a boiler and my ery, are present to attract 1; there are abundance ot dis janctions ip this machmery, at least as decided as between theglinks of « heavy chain, by which con- duction may be sufficiently broken to give full ef ject to the heating power of the electricity; finally, this mass is broken to pieces, its parts being goat tered about in all directions, broken, b ano twisted, and projected in coosiderable to distances analogous to theee recorded in similar ca But graotiog the fact suppoeed, that lane ving struck the bower, bow, it may be asked, car he explosion be explained 7—for that an expl iH Hid take place, sera extremely probable, it ao morally certain. The character aud loudness « he report, aud the appesrance ot the remat s « ‘ve fire-box, are sufficiently tndicative of Uh Ve answer that an explosion mh ihe present core with the eylindere io full operation, sud alety valvew tree, could ouly ba caused oy Host instantaneous evoluio great y mghly elastic fluid in the botler—su areal a ve jume that, compared with it, the steam escaping through the Ct valves would be ue btedly be wn Weutlas neeeee Oe whet epareed ¥ w)} any part of th ler in contact with water, or til! more eflee it imparted immediately to the water itself. If, then, the electricuy thus heated the boiler or any part of it, and that the water, as it might have done, took up the heat from the metal fast enough to prevent the latte: from bemg fused, or rendered incandescent, the entire cates- trophe, with all its concomitant circumstances, would be explained. The absence of marks of fu- #100 or Incandescence, the terrific viclence cf the explosion, the projrcuon of a mase ot ten tons to a Gigtance of eighty yards, tie fracture and scaiter- ing about of ail the working parts, the bencing and twisting of them in every conceivable variety of form, would all follow as the nataral and usval ef- feets of such agency The freedom observed vpon the bodies of ibe Killed, from the effects ot the hghtaing would be explained by the superior con- ducting power of the matter of she boiler, which, according to its habit the lightning will seize by preterence. " i I] pass over intentionally a supposition which might be made to the efleci, that the water in the boiler might have been decompored, and the ce- tagtrophe produced by iu» explosive consiituen e explanation We have given lenders it unneces. sary to resort to this extreme supposition, which certainly could not be supported by any reasoning which would entitle it to any degree of confident acceptation, if indeed it be tenable at all. Under all the circumstances of the case, I am therefore of the opinion, that the lust supposition minst be adopted as the ouly one which is adequate to/the full explanation of this catastrophe. I do not forget that it may be urged that the boiler * ie nVag A A Ee eee i y * tion with the earth, and That “dag RPUEECS the soil itself was in a favorable condiuon tor esrape of the electricity; but 1 know that in the sttucture of the boiler and its appendages, there were interruptions of the metallic continuity greater both in number and degree, than between the links of a chain, and other cases, in which it is;proved that masses of iron have been rendered inicandescent by lightning. 1 . Jn fine, if my evidence were required on this paint, ina cage where the rights or liabilities of individuals rendered a positive decision of the ques- tioa indispensable, | should not hesitaie a moment to affirm that that decision must be made on the lapt of the above suppositions. Dion. Larpngn. New Yorn, Sept. 28, 1844. OFFICIAL CIRCULAR TO MILITARY MEN. COMMISSARY GENERAL'S FFICE, New Yoru, Oct. 16, 1844. (OMMANDANTS of Companies and others, having canon and other property of the State in. charge, are directed to the following extract of X Chap. Revised Statutes Militin Law, 70, $4. nd be it further enacted, That after such gan-homses are complered, the seme, together with the field pieces and im- lements placed there I be deemed to be under the care nud curtory of the commondant of the corps for whose accom. tion they unay be erected, and that any neglect or default of such commandant by reason whereof sch gauchouses oF the Kaus, carriages, implements or ammurition to be placed thereim may be damaged, njured o¥ Jo;t) shall be deemed an impropriee Uy degrading to the office which he holds, within the meaning ofthe four “An act lo organize sed the fifth day of April, 1803, and nt up" beng omoted, removed suspeoded therefrom, shall, upon the request im cees.or in office or command surrendes and de- web gun-house and the artillery, implements and belonging to the snid corps into the care and custody of such successor; and for neglect sv to do, shall forfeat and pay for the use of the said corps the sam of one hundred dol- lags. to be sued for and reovered by such successor in his own ion Of debt, in any court having coguizance ieces of cannon | bave found exposed, wuses left open and implements Jost, causes me to nou ing State property in charge that i shall report all auc nasion of duty to the Adgt. Geuerel or provar law pectors und all other fievaneies within their he property may be nnon, or any State portuy the same to tate Arseuals uear F. aty exposed, prope ine, or sending 0 nga, On ees opt, per, Mhelps Kuseell, Lawrence, . L. nktin Co.; taps. J. Stone, Elizaberh. he wen, € i. Slocum, Ono ua Hollow, Ocondagua; where all reasonable charges will be paid. HENRY STORMS, Commussary General. LOVERS OF F THE wscriber tak resislenta of the upper city of fer for sale ou Saiurdiy Me ming. th and t the season, ay his Stall, No. 9 Tor Market, a j the choiewst Beef,’ Mutton, Lamb and Veal at Beef, Sirloin or Ribs, Sets, 1b. 6 Courser parts of the Beef... . Extra sugar-cured Rumps of Corned Beef, a sepe- 6 despatch, to any ity. ked in tierers for the English market in the most im peovrd mauser, so a» not to become ‘og salt or change ‘Also, barrels aid Half barrels for the Soythern and We a Sony cs 9 nds has been limed aud wel! maaured w iit d ouildings of che sold abaraau, or wil . SOHN RUCAB ONDERDONK, w branewick ’ JOHN FOWLER, late of Birmingham, in England, it will be to his ad- fend to it. nd tm* ARTIFICIAL PALATES, |ONSTRUCTED +0 ws to remedy the loss of the natw hol surpaceing ‘beauty. inserted WATCHES WATCHES AND WERT — who wish to purchase Gold or Silver Watches, Jhains, Gold Pen veya, Sc. will find it greatly to their ad- ‘qntage to call on the subscriber, who is selling all descriptions the above at retail ich lower ay. Got Waiches raced 10 keep ol wom el Jewel t : 4 importer of Watches and Jewelry, ol Im*ec Wholesale and retail, 30 Wall st., up staire. NOUVEAUTT'S PARISIENNES, FASHIONABLE PARIS MILLINERY ESTABLISHMENT, 443 Broadway, BETWEEN Canal AND HOWARD STREETS, a MADAM GODFREY & DAUGHTER, VERY. Hesprcifally inform the Indien, that the arrangements inade with the sost celebrated modistes of Paria and Loa- dou, ensures to this establishment this season, the receipt by efery arrival trom Europe, the newest and, Intest frehons ‘They have now open three , comprising splendid Haws of Parisian Satin, Silk, Vel ., ke. 4 Head Dresses, Embroideries, &e., to which they solicit a he ladies 1 call from their patrons and t in general 3 G.& I atall mes ose their atmos exertions to deserve a continuance of the public patronage. r faking in all its various branches. Ladies own materials made to order N, B—Country Milliners sup) with prompt atteution. All favors will meet 6 re FOOT RACE FOR $1400, Kourtsen Hondred Dollars will he paid far » Boot Race, te on the BEACON COURSE, Hoboken, opposite ‘on the 18h of November, wenther permitting, as w follows $1900 for a ten miles. $700 to the first, oad, aiboto the chy $99 to the fourth nnd $39 tothe Rete Also, $200 for’ (oot race, Unree ‘miles 8150. to the first, and $6 to the second in the fe entered their names for ‘The following persous mile raece:— Yo. John Gildersleve, the winner of the Inst mee 2—John Barlow, two pedestrinus inte from etn 3—-Thomas Ureenhalgh,§ — bngland J P. Taylor, No. bt homas MeCabe, S—John Underhill, oJ LL Smith, im. Carles, 10—Thomas Key T—Jamen Bradley, ‘Thi follawing yorsees have entered (or the three mile rece:— Phomas Greenhalgh, Wm. Fowl, JP. Taylor [ward Brown, Stephen Morgan, ewis edwards, one age Ambrose Jacksoe. In consequence of the grent exeitemrnt nt present prevailing b this city and its viciniiy. the #, whieh waa nue founced to come off on the | ith iast., is postponed autil the 18th. OHA K LESTON— F eet of ANKHEL) Cape BleRawen, iatious of this ship for cabin, second enbin ond be snrparced "Those wishi to make early appl iestion © WAS. TD. TAPRCOTI er Manic th ctemet er equtur 1 early appliention on JOSEPH MeMURRA Ye 100 Pine street, corver of Soath. own LEAL — Aboot 8000 The Irian Cmemealyj, goed, omar. ” 61 Seasily etrrat