Craven County NcArchives Court.....Brown, Abram 1883
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sue Guptill sguptill@mindspring.com February 24, 2013, 10:16 pm

Source: N C Archives
Written: 1883

Folder: Inquests 1880-1884
Name of deceased: Abram BROWN, colored
DOD: 3 April 1883
Witnesses: George BISHOP, Joseph DUNCAN, Peter LOCKHART, Moses ROBERTS, Tom 
BLOUNT, Burrill SCOTT, J. BROWN, Israel HARRIS, Amos W. EDWARDS, Andrew 
GATLIN, E.G. CUTHBERT, J.B. HOLLINGSWORTH
Witness statements: [Note: death took place when boiler at BISHOP's mill 
exploded]. BISHOP described the gauge checks, settings, etc. He checked them 
at 6:30 when he came in. Stated BROWN was his (unlicensed) engineer. BROWN was 
a tolerably careful man. DUNCAN corroborated BISHOP. LOCKHART didn't know 
anything about it; he was in the shop and didn't see the steam. ROBERTS didn't 
know anything about it; was downtown when it happened. BLOUNT says the old man 
was working on the insparater when he came in. BLOUNT went down to grease up, 
and "she blew up." SCOTT and BROWN say they don't know anything about it. 
HARRIS says he did the brickwork; the engineer was a good careful man. EDWARDS 
said he repaired the boiler and it was in good condition and would bear a 
pressure of 125 pounds; the gauge was set at 75. Says he had never seen an old 
mill explode like that. GATLIN said he worked on the engine yesterday and 
stopped in today to see how it worked. Asked "the old man" how long before he 
would start it up, and he started at once. GATLIN left and got about to the 
theater when he heard the explosion. CUTHBERT described the technical working 
of the boiler. If there was plenty of water, removing the inspirator would not 
make a difference. CUTHBERT considered the whole thing as safe as any in New 
Bern if properly managed. "I have tried the engine--no boiler explodes without 
carelessness." HOLLINGSWORTH said explosion took place before he got to work.
Inquest verdict: Inquest held 3 April 1883. Came to his death by the explosion 
of the boiler at Bishop Mill-which explosion was due to incompetency on the 
part of the engineer- "and the jury further say that it is highly censurable 
on the part of owners of engines, to keep any one in their employ as engineers-
who has not the knowledge required for the position in which they are placed-
and as a jury of inquest we protest against the employment of any one who not 
a licensed engineer-at any of the mills or factories in the this city-and 
referring to this as an accident would respectfully [? can't read word] upon 
the city authorities the necessity of taking some action for the better 
protection of the lives and property of its citizens."


Additional Comments:
Craven County Coroners' Inquests 1870-1905 (broken series)
Citation: CR.028.913.2


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