100 Years Ago Today, Jan. 9th
by Brandon Woolum
Huntington News Network Writer
Gallipolis, Ohio — Engineer "Shiner" or H. Allis, of Henderson, W.Va., who was on watch when the towboat
Defender blew up at Huntington, W.Va., Jan 2 was before the U. S. Marine inspectors, Maddy and Morgan
today. He was subjected to a searching examination.
Engineer Allis, said he was positive that there was plenty of water in the boilers that exploded and that he is as innocent of wrong doing as an unborn babe. He claims that he "tried" the water frequently and found plenty at all times. He says the doctor or pumps was working perfectly and that in his opinion defective rivets caused the two boilers to collapse and kill the eight men.
The evidence before the coroner and before the inspectors is against Engineer Allis. The testimony and the pieces of the exploded boilers show plainly that there was not sufficient water in the boilers and also that Engineer Allis had been carrying as high as 215 pounds of steam when the Defender's boilers were allowed only 181 pounds.
Allis claims there was only 180 pounds of steam when the explosion occurred. There is some bad riveting shown up in pieces of the exploded boilers but that would not have caused the sheet to stretch. Lack of water in the boilers is the cause given by Boiler Inspector Morgan as the main cause of the boiler explosion on the Defender.
Engineer Allis is a man about 60 years of age. He will lose his license as a steamboat engineer. Whether he will be criminally prosecuted is unknown. The inspectors can go no farther than to revoke a license.
It was Allis first trip on the Defender and he never got to finish that. Trouble was first discovered but the fireman, but only one of the three on watch lived to tell the tale.
— Washington, D.C. – In a report to the House Committee on Rivers and Harbors, a subcommittee today made known the principle items which will be included in the bill for the general benefits of the Ohio River. While the proceedings of the committee were behind closed doors, the following list of appropriations was furnished by one of the members of the subcommittee:
To complete Locks and Dams Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5, below Pittsburg, $1,441,000; to enlarge Locks and Dams Nos. 1 to 6 inclusive, so as to provide a nine foot stage nearly 30 miles below Pittsburgh, 340,000; to construct Lock No. 8 below Wellsville, $185,889; to construct Lock No. 11, below Wellsburg, $135,000; for open-channel work and emergency improvements and new surveys, $300,000.
The last item of $300,000 will include the cost of completing a survey the entire length of the river, with a view to ascertaining the relative cost of a six foot and nine foot stage of water the year round. Under previous laws a survey for a six foot stage has been made as far as the mouth of the Big Miami, but under new appropriation the six foot examination will be made as far as Cairo, while the nine foot survey will include the entire distance form Pittsburg to Cairo.
What portion of the $300,000 will be needed to make this double survey is a matter of speculation. Some members of the Rivers and Harbors Committee believe that more than $100,000 will be expended; while Chairman Burton is of the opinion that the work can be done for $500,000, if not less.
A special commission consisting of three army engineers, to be appointed by the Secretary of War, will make the survey, and be required to report to Congress within two years. The fact that the committee calculates the commission will take up that such time serves to indicate that the examinations will be very through. The commission will be expected to report whether the traffic of the Ohio and its commerce would justify the expenditure of the money necessary to complete the nine foot project. Estimates of the cost of the improvements vary from $40,000,000 to 100,000,000.
— Manager Lindsay, of the local office of the Triple State Gas Company when asked today what prospect there was for a better supply of gas soon, stated that as soon as the new main which is now being laid, is completed, there will be plenty of gas for all times.
The main is now completed as far as Lambert's corner in Kenova and only the distance from that point to the Big Sandy River remains to be laid. A large force is at work.
"It is the intention of the company," said Mr. Lindsay, "unless there is an unforeseen delay, to turn the gas into the new main next Saturday night."
— Mrs. Nettie Thornburg, of Barboursville, has sold to Captain D. A. Allen, the railroad contractor, the three hundred and fifty acre farm, known as the "Dick" Thompson place, and situation just out of Barboursville. The consideration was five thousand dollars.