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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5TH APRIL, 1884.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 124.
The following Finding of a Marine Court, appointed to enquire into the loss of the British Steam- ship Yot-sai, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 5th April, 1884.
W. H. MARSH,
Colonial Secretary,
1. We find that the British Steam-ship Yot-sai, 127 tons, 80 horse power, Official No. 73.450 of Hongkong, belonging to the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited, after receiving extensive repairs at the hands of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, left the Docks at Kau-lung on the 24th February, 1884, at 12.45 P.M., on a voyage to Macao, where it is intended that the vessel should run between Macao and Canton as a Passenger Boas,
2. That while on the voyage, and at or about 3.10 P.M., the starboard boiler exploded causing the total destruction of the ship, which went down in 31⁄2 fathoms water.
3. That the boilers were efficiently repaired, having stood a water test of 60 lbs., and were of sufficient strength for the service on which the ship was to be employed.
4. That the explosion occurred through excessive pressure in the starboard boiler.
5. That this pressure was caused by the safety-valves of that boiler being fixed immovably in their seats, and the stop-valve being partially closed.
6. No blame whatever is attached to the Master, JOHN PARKINSON HOYLAND, number of Certificate of Competency 474, Hongkong.
7. Of those on board at the time of this terrible accident, Mr. Da COSTA, the Secretary of the Steam-boat Company, Messrs. ScoTT and PINKER, Engineers, Mr. G. FRIZELL, Draughtsman, attached to the Dock Company, Mr. and Mrs. STEWART FRASER-SMITH, Mr. J. D. Woon, Engineer of the Yot-sai, the Chinese Firemen, and some others, number not known, lost their lives.
The following observations are appended to the finding :-
Every well-constructed boiler should be fitted with :-
1. A stop or communication valve.-When this valve is shut, the communication between the boiler and engines is closed, when the valve is open, the steam generated in the boiler passes freely into the engines.
2. Two safety-valves.
a. The locked-up or Government safety-valve.-This is not under the control of the Eugincers of the ship, and cannot be re-adjusted without the sanction of the Master, who should keep the key in a secure place. The valve is automatic in action, lifting when the weighted pressure is exceeded.
b. The working safety-valve.-This is under the control of the Engineers of the ship as respects lifting the valve before the weighted pressure is reached; but in all other respects it is similar to the locked-up valve, lifting automatically when the weighted pressure is exceeded.
3. A steam gauge.-This should be placed in a conspicuous position, and have its pipe
connected with the steam space of the boiler.
Referring to paragraph 2, the bursting pressure of boilers is, generally speaking, from 4 to 6 times the working steam pressure, varying according to the age and condition of the boilers. Therefore, if the safety-valves are the correct size, well fitted, and the weights or springs properly adjusted, it is considered impossible that any boiler can explode from excessive pressure, even supposing the stop-
valve to be closed.
On the 16th February, after the repairs of the Yot-sai's boilers were completed and tested with water pressure, in the presence of Mr. Joux S. BREWER, the Government Marine Surveyor, with a satisfactory result; steam was raised for the purpose of testing the steam joints, and the vessel was taken for a short run. The Government Marine Surveyor was not present, he not having been notified of the Dock Company's intention to raise steam, consequently the safety-valves were not adjusted on this occasion, as they should have been before the vessel proceeded under steam.
After this trial the Dock Company considered that the ship was no longer under their charge. On the 19th February, steain was raised and another trial made. The Government Marine Surveyor was present; and he states that he adjusted all the safety-valves except the locked-up safety. valve on the starboard boiler, which was found to have something wrong with the fittings,
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