Submitted and transcribed by Dee Gabler Deesroots@aol.com <A HREF="http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chesapeake/">Dee's Chesapeake Genealogy</A> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chesapeake/ Transcribed by Dee Gabler on June 3, 2002 Source: Microfilm held at Enoch Pratt Free Library, Cathedral Street, Baltimore, Maryland. ____________________ American, Baltimore (Baltimore American & Commercial Daily Advertiser) Monday Morning, April 18, 1842 Published every morning at No. 2 South Gay street, by Dobbin, Murphy & Bose. ADDITIONAL DEATHS BY THE EXPLOSION. We are truly pained to add to the number of those who have died of injuries sustained by the explosion on board the Medora on Thursday last, the names of DUNCAN FURGUSON, the Engineer in charge of the boat; JOHN YEAGER, late Engineer at Lanvale Factory; and JACKSON REEDER, son of Mr. Charles Reeder. We were misled in placing the name of THOMAS ELDRIDGE among the names names of the dead. He is yet living, but in a critical condition. The number of deaths by the explosion, thus far ascertained, is twenty-five. It is yet quite doubtful whether some four or five of those who have received injuries will recover. CORONER'S INQUEST. At the instance of this Honor the Mayor, Wm T. Rice, Esq., Coroner, held and inquest on Saturday morning, on the body of JOHN RINGGOLD BOON; one of the sufferers by the late melancholy accident on board the ill fated Medora, with a view of eliciting the facts connected with the explosion of the boiler of said steamer on Thursday evening last. The following named gentlemen composed the jury: Joseph Turner, Jr., William J. Wight, Charles B. White, Joseph L. Donovan, Samuel House, Asa Needham, Matthew Shaw, Thomas M. Locke, James Fergusson, James Hooper, Jr., John Wells and Charles V. Walters. The coroner having administered the usual oath, the body of the deceased was inspected by the Jury, when the following examination of persons took place: John Watchman, the builder of the engine on board the Medora, testified as to the correctness of its construction. On the evening previous to the afternoon on which the accident occurred, a trial of the boiler was made, at which time, a pressure of 27 inches of steam was put on, which was found just sufficient to raise the safety valve, as had been previously calculated upon. On the Saturday previous a trial of the boiler was also made, when a pressure of 31 inches was put on it, and was then perceived that her capacity when running had not being overrated in the least. On Wednesday evening, Mr. Moale informed him that the boat must be tried on Thursday evening, and he wished to go down the river in her together, with a number of friends whom he had invited to accompany him. Fire was accordingly made beneath the boiler at about 2 o'clock on Thursday afternoon. Thinking every thing was in perfect order and placing as he did unlimited confidence in the two Engineers into whose hands she had been committed, Duncan Ferguson and Albert Ramsay, he left her and went on some other business. About half an hour before the explosion, in company with Capt. Kenny and Mr. Wildey, he again went on board. Mr. Moale had not yet arrived, and he ordered the engineer to close the damper and keep the steam down until he should arrive. He went in a few minutes afterwards to the gauge which indicated 10 inches of steam - tried to lift the safety valve, but could not. This excited his fears, and after examining the rope attached to the lever of the safety valve, to see if it was on the pulley, he walked away. Still he was haunted with a fear that all was not right, and about the time that Mr. Moale came on board, he went to the boiler, in which he found plenty of water. He tried the third cock of the boiler which ejected water - he then tried the cock above; did not like its appearance; cried out to Ferguson, and asked him how much steam he had on; the answer was 22 inches; did not look at the gauge himself. Mr. Moale engaged Mr. Ramsay; to take charge of the boat, who was assisted by Duncan Ferguson, engineer of his Foundry. He then went up on the deck near the wheelhouse, and afterwards was about to return to see more about the steam, when he was met by Mr. Chicken and Mr. Spavin who told him that a great number were engaged in that quarter, and it was no use for him to go there. Convinced of the skill of the Engineers, he went back and asked Mr. Wildey to give him a piece of blank paper, as he wished to time the run between the wharf and North Point. Mr. Wildey took him aft from among the crowd about the wheelhouse to give him a piece, when Mr. Gideon Brown, perceiving his want, took from his pocket a letter, and gave him the blank part of it. A moment afterwards he heard a loud report, saw the smoke stacks and the front part of the decks flying into the air; was suddenly enveloped in a cloud of steam, and blown as if by a gust of wind. In reply to several questions asked by some of the Jurors, Mr. Watchman replied that he would not have been afraid of 50 inches of steam, with such a boiler as that on board the Medora, and he entertained fears that a foolish ambition was prevalent among some of the men on board who were not aware of the great danger of experimenting. He was of the opinion that something wrong was resorted to. The expansion or rarification of steam is so sudden that it is possible that 27 or 30 inches was generated in less than five minutes; no man can calculate with anything approaching to precision, the rapidity with which steam becomes rarified. Some one on board must have tampered with the safety-valve placing additional weight on its lever, or in some other way obstructed its free use. Mr. Watchman stated that the boiler was designed similar to the one now on board the Jewess - in no wise peculiar in its construction, save that it had an additional leg, which increased its strength. The boiler was perfectly new, and less than 60 inches of steam could do it no injury. There was no lack of water, and there was no sudden fresh supply save that thrown in by the injecting pipe as the wheels revolved. Mr. Smith, who was slightly injured, informed one of his workmen on Saturday morning that he was standing looking at the gauge, when he saw it suddenly run up to the deck. He instantly betook himself to flight, but was arrested in his course by the explosion, which took place immediately after. Gideon Brown, builder of the boiler, affirmed that he was on board the Medora from Thursday morning until 12 o clock, when he went to his dinner. When he left no fire had been made under the boiler, in which there was a sufficiency of water. On his return he inquired of Captain Kenny the time of day. His answer was that it was ten minutes past three. He examined the boiler in every way, and found no steam on any consequence. He heard Ferguson, the engineer, order some man standing close by to make another light fire under the boiler - he looked afterwards, and could perceive go indication of a great quantity of steam. Saw Mr. Moale come on board, and then saw Mr. Watchman try the water. Ten minutes previous to backing out, there was apparently very little steam on, and from the appearance of the boiler, so far as weakness was concerned, he would not have been afraid to sleep on it. He gave Mr. Watchman the blank part of a letter to take notes. Mr. Brown coincided with Mr. Watchman in the opinion that some one must have tampered with the safety-valve. The boiler was made precisely like that on board the Jewess, with the exception of the additional leg spoken of by Mr. Watchman. The boiler was perfectly new, and he believed the strongest he ever made: he knew every rivet in it, and explained fully the mode in which it was constructed. Witness left the vicinity of the engine five minutes before the engine five minutes before the explosion because he thought too many persons were engaged in that quarter, in firing, &c. Persons were there with whom he was unacquainted - he did not suspect any accident, but still, he was of opinion that too many were there. Tried the state of the water just before leaving the boiler, and was sure there was no deficiency. When the boiler was first tried on Saturday previous, there was a much greater pressure on. Alexander Spavin, Engineer, a visitor on board the boat, was next called. - Up to Wednesday night witness had been engaged in working for Mr. Watchman. On Saturday and Wednesday he aided in arranging matters on board the Medora, and witnessed the trials of the border on those days, both of which were highly satisfactory. About five minutes before the explosion he went on board the Medora, where he met Mr. Chicken, who informed him that a great number of persons were inspecting the machinery, and told him not to go there - was not near the engine - went aft - was blown overboard. On Saturday Ferguson and he pushed the weight of the safety valve to the extremity of the lever, and ascertained beyond a doubt that it would only require 27 inches to lift it. Capt. James Chaytor was next called. At the time of the accident he was standing on board of his own boat. As he saw the Medora backing out from the wharf, singular misgivings seemed to cross his mind, on account of the stillness which prevailed on board the Medora. She had not blown off much steam, and he was suddenly impressed with a belief that it was strange. The steam escaped from the boiler pipe very slowly. He had expressed himself to Mr. Henderson and others in favor of the apparent strength of the work - he thought it the strongest he had ever seen. He had often reflected on the awful consequences attendant on an explosion on board a Steamboat, and without knowing why, he involuntarily turned to those _____?_____ he exhorted them to follow him. He was suddenly thrown down on the deck, when he recovered from the shock, he saw a man, whom he afterwards learned was a Mr. Edward Speedy, a ship-joiner, lying beside him, most horribly mutilated. David Hardester, an engineer on board, deposed that he saw Mr. Watchman try the water, and shortly afterwards saw very blue steam issuing from the feed pipe, and bit very little from the blow-off pipe. Alarmed at these appearances, he hurried aft, was blown overboard, swam to the wheelhouse, and beneath it screened himself from danger. His opinion is that there was too much steam on - thinks there was plenty of water in the boiler - which was as good a one as he had ever seen - nothing new or peculiar in its construction. He is of opinion that the steam gauge might have been deceptive. He fears that the safety-valve was kept down by some interference. Alexander Watson we called next. - Witness stated that he went on board the Medora at halfpast 12 o'clock; the boat was fired at 2'oclock. Ferguson damped the fire - saw Mr. Watchman try the water. Mr. Moale came on board at 3 o'clock. The boat started - stopped - went back, and was about to move forward again, when the explosion took place, and he was thrown overboard. He could not account for the delusion occasioned by the gauge - it was a small stick the thickness of a quill, and might be broken off with the hand. His private opinion was that some interference with the valve led to the disaster. It could have been kept down by placing a small stick across it. Captain Kenny next called. On Wednesday afternoon he was on board the boat; the steam was then up. In answer to an inquiry made by him, Ferguson informed him that she made steam very fast. The switch was found to be out of order; this, however, was soon corrected. She was started again, when she broke her chain; again on being worked she canted over on one the piles. They then stopped through fear of injuring her against the wharf. He was on the wharf on Thursday - saw that the fire was burning briskly - was going away when he met Mr. Watchman. Went with him to purchase some segars, and at 3 o'clock went on board in company with him and Gideon Brown. The fire had been made one hour and a quarter, and the gauge did not indicate three inches of steam. Saw Mr. Watchman try the gauge after they were on board. Samuel Buckingham inspector of steamboats, Witness did not inspect the Medora's boiler, because he was not requested so to do. He never makes an examination until he is sent for. The law does not require him to do so. Captain Trippe next called. - Saw Medora back off from the wharf - saw but very little steam was in the boiler. In his opinion the accident arose either from ignorance of the power of the steam, or of the strength of the boiler. The cause way was undoubtedly an overpressure of steam. Henry Snyder and John Hoofnagle having been called, merely testified as to the fact of Boon having been on board the Medora. The jury then agreed upon the following. VERDICT - The Jury of Inquest in the case of the death of John R. Boon, having summoned many witnesses who were on board the steam boat Medora at the time of the explosion of her boiler, and having ascertained that the deceased was on board of said steam boat after she was hauled out of dock; and having examined also those who assisted in taking him out of the water, have agreed that he came to his death by injuries sustained by the explosion; and from the evidence before them, are of opinion that the accident as occasioned by raising the steam too high, and greatly above the gauge intended to be used in the ordinary use of said machinery on board of said steamboat. Whether this was owing to carelessness or to tampering with the safety valve, the Jury cannot undertake to say.