The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-11-27 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

_
SERIOUS EXPLOSION AT THE LEVEL OLD

FURNACES.

On Monday morning an explosion of tuyere took place
at the Level Oil Furnaces. Brierley Hill, doing a large
amount of damage to property. and, what is considerably
woi Be, endangering the lives of 5 persons who happened
unfortunately to be standing near when the molten metal
was suddenly let loose. The furnaces belong to Mr. J.
Ho'croft, and are well known in the district, a fact which
accounts for the vast crowd which assembled within a
very short time of the occurrence around the works. At
shouts quarter past nine o'clock the front tuvere on the
right side facing the furnace was heard to explode, and
in a second niaases of the red-hot iron and scoria were
liana over the " pig-bed, " burning, in its progress, Mr.
George Pearson. the manager; Benjamin Coombes and
Robert Evans, Brettell Lane; Joseph Smith, Woodside;
and Edward Barnes, of Conwnonside. Mr. Pearson and
Coombes were talking together within four or live yards
of the dam when the explosion occurred, and, therefore,
they have received the worst injuries. The pair ran
; wildly about in their agony. screaming in the most heart.
reading manner, and thus attracted the attention of
thoes who were uninjured. A. Mr. Hill seined Coombes.
threw him down, pulled off his coat, and quickly env,.
loped him in it. thus putting out the flames. Charles
Dealt, as eourageously as Mr. Hill, ran to Mr. Pearson,
who was in • fearful state. His farm, neck, and hands
were horribly burnt; his clothes were nothing buttinder,
and even his hat had been completely burnt off his head.
In the delirium of the moment the wretched gentleman
wrung his hands together, and large pieces of skin and
smaller pienss of flesh tell *way with the fires of his
grip. Ths other men were 1240,0 or lees burnt, bat not
nearly so bad as Mr. Pearson and Ciximbes. Medical at.
tandem:lo was qiiiekly sought.: abE Messrs. Walker and
Aahmead, surgeoos. were soon at the scene of the explo.
Ilion. After souse slight attention, the injured men were
eouyeyed home iu cabs. Mr. Fisher. from the Earl of
Dudley's furnaves close by, sent over a staff of men to
assist II . Ho!oroft in clearing the picas. and prevent.
jug nor further damage. In about three hours they had
I the furnace in working order again, Mr. Casson, from
I the Earl of Duiliey's works, was also present. Coombe.,
Evans, Smith, and Berries, although seriously burnt, are
expected to recover, but at present It is not, possible to
say the 11111110 of Mr. Pearson.
We are happy tO soy that the sufferers are doing as well
as can be expected.

A REFRACTORY PAUPER.—At the Petty Sessions held
on Thuraday, before I. Spooner, Esq.. Stipeddiary,
Thomas Jackson was charged with wilfully destroying
his clothe* at the Caton, on the 23id instant. William
Keightley said the defendant came into the tramp ward
on the above date, and witnesa visited him next morning,
when he found defendant bad torn up his jacket and
trouders into shreds. Sentenced to one moutlie bard
labour.
REeUdING To ADMIT The POLICE.—John Fellows, the
Hope and Anchor. Quarry Bank, was charged by Sup,-
intendent Mills with refusing to admit the police into liia
house, on the 21st inst. Police-constable Breton said he
visited the defendant's house at twenty minutes past
, twelve, and saw 1 girl come from defendant's house with
a jag of ale. 1V ituess then went to the door, and heard
it shut and locked. He rattled the door and called out,
•• Police." The defendant and some woman came to the
bow window and looked through it. He then heard some
men going up some slope. He went round the back and
ssw three men g., into a brewhouse with a jug of ale and
Come woman shut the brewhonse. Defendant said, in
answer to the charge, that he was at dinner and did not
hear the police knock. Dofendant was then further
charged with seiling beer before the hour of half-past
twelve. Poiice.,,onstable Breton proved that lie saw a
girl come out with a jug of ale. She put it under her
apron. Mr. Spoor said defendant had committed a
very grave offence in not admitting the police, and he
should line hint E 2 for that offence, and costs ; for the
second offence, El and costa—t3 lth, and would tell him
that if he came before him again he would line him the

foil pendlty.
Setried ALE WITWOUT A LICENSE Willetts,
of Quarry Dank, i,. charged by Devitt ltaybould with
selliug to him nn the 11th test one quart of ale. be (Wad
lettn) not being dole licensed. Complainant said he was
a chainiuuker, aloi lived at Salt Wells. Be wee going
past defendant's I, one, and was called into it by some
men who were in tlie house, end they asked him to drink.
Hu did on, and the jug being empty, he ordere lit to be
titled. The men ii. the house told him it Wan hie tern
to pay, end he psi! fourpenee. A nine named Lilian
'L11,01141 came to liiiu and asked him to lend him 31 to
pey for a pint of fourienny. Did not are any nt .re
ale
paid for. Defend:int contradicted the foregoing state.
anent, and asserted that be never sold any ale. Coat.
plainant had been drinking at Ratforit's an 3 spent his
money there, bud whett he left he had no money, and
was in a beastly Alta of intoxication. Superinteudent
Mills proved that IVillette had no license, and that the
police bad frequently semi...mimed perilous for being druok
on leaving Willetts' hone., The Magistrate stated that
he Wall perfectly e.itistied that defendant had been de' ,
frauding the raVellUt for some time pest. and be should 1
line hint the highest penalty he could—eh.
CHALLGE 01 ASS tULT.—Lillithili TIMM., William Wit.
letts, and Leibite ll,ybould were then charged by Beuja•
min Raybould with assaulting him on the I.sth iuetaut. ,
Ceinp,eivant amid that Labium ltaybould naked him to lend
hint twopeuce. A dispute arose, and the three defend.
ants struck hint, kiekel hint, end knee:lced hi u down.
Ito was so injured that lie could not work for some days.
Lech of the defendente denied aueaultiog complainant,
and said they aiemimded to take hint home because he WIW
so drunk. This wee 3ehied by complainant, who veld lie
Was quite sober, Willette was filled ill nu d mutt —.EI
Its U 1 ' • is default It day+. The other two defendants
lUs and cosh+ ; in &faith 14 dept.
IlAWAGS.—PlAtetie Thorne, Wal charged with
wilfully breaking a jee, the property of Williams Horton.
Complainant avid he kept a tit:mimes°, sid defendeet's
huebaud was in her house drinking, when defendant
same in mot began to Greet the jugs. Mr. Spomiummt
Nuthing will make as eatii iot Idiot woman. &minium
are the ruiu f rummy oiyea cud children. Sits waist for
her hothead, who WA.I speeding his wages. The ease is
dismissed.
Deuen AND rtovet'S.—Merk Wessell. an Old offender.
wee charged by Superiutehtient Milts with being drunk
and rietous on the 10t1A inst, Cl lirierley Hill, Nellie°.
colmeteble Cotterid proved the offenue. Defendant
pleaded Reilly. 11r. Mille 'aid defendant had been
uharged with the eaute offouee twenty-live times, but he
hat bsen better during the last twelve menthe. irined
he.