The Locomotive - Lighthouse Survival Blog

1893] THE LOCOMOTIVE. -15^
Mit. FvUiory Etlwards has kindly sent us a copy of the latest edition of his 000 Exam-
ination Questions ami Answers, for Engineers and Firemen. It is a handy volume for the-
pocket, and is tilled with interesting and useful information for engineers and others.
Mr. Edwards is himself an engineer of large experience, and thoroughly acquainted with
his subject. His Ixxjk, as he says himself, is designed " to lielp wortiiy men do good,
intelligent, and faithful work, and to better their condition in life." (Henry Carey
Baird & Co., publishers, Philadelphia, Pa.)
In one account of explosion No. 182, on page 148 of this issue, we read of an in-
genious and interesting way of finding out what pressure a boiler can safely carry. It;,
is marvelous that tliis idea has not occurred to somebody before. There it has lain,
staring us out of countenance these many years ; and all the great men have passed by
on the other side. Gentle reader, see for yourself how it is done :
•' Young Penhorwood
says that just before the explosion he noticed there were two gauges of water in the-
boiler, and that it was under a pressure of 85 pounds of steam, although the steam gauge
would admit of 2Jfi 'pownd^y
We have received from the Hon. C. J. Ward, Honorary Commissioner for Jamaica,
a copy of Jamaica at Chicago, a very attractive book descriptive of the colony Mr. Ward
represents. It contains a descriptive account of the island, sketches of its earlier and
later history, and essays on the attractions the island offers to tourists, in the way of
amusement, scenery, and climate. There is also a considerable amount of statistical
information appended. It is neatly printed, and is illustrated by fifty excellent photo-
engravings. The engraving of Martha Brae at Falmouth, on page 31, strikes us as par-
ticularly good, from an artistic standpoint.
It is always dangerous to calk leaky joints, or screw up nuts, about boilers that areunder
pressure, and many accidents result from doing so. The other day we learned of
an accident of this kind that took place a short time ago in the basement of Shoneman
Brothers' store in Philadelphia. Christian Reibner, the engineer, undertook to tighten
up a leaky cap on a sectional boiler while the boiler was under steam pressure. A.
slight twist did not seem to do any good, so he gave the cap a good, vigorous wrench.
Immediately steam and boiling water began to pour out, increasing in quantity every
instant. Reibner could not get out of the way quickly enough, and was severely-
scalded all over the upper part of his body. His assistant, Thomas Service, was down,
in a pit in front of the boiler, and was immediately overcome by the scalding cloud.
Officer Blackburn attempted to rescue him, but was driven back by the intense heat,
even though protected by a blanket. Service was dead when the cloud had subsided,
enough to allow of his removal.
The big Yerkes telescope in the Manufactures Building at Chicago is of great
interest to visitors that are astronomically inclined. It stands in the center aisle, and is
the largest refracting telescope in the world. It is the gift of Mr. Chas. T. Yerkes to
the University of Chicago. The lens will be finished some time next year, and the
telescope will then be ready for erection on its permanent site. The object-glass is-
to be 40 inches in diameter in the clear. The tube is made of sheet steel, riveted.
together in courses. It is 64 feet long and 53 inches in diameter, and weighs six tons-