The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-07-30 00:00:00

FATAL BLOWING UF. OF THE GUNBOATS

BOILKL

The return of the Turret aTiiiiinboat Fleet to Portland
on Sunday last, was marked by • sad accident by which
one man met a very horrible death, and another was
severely hurt The Turret ships, except Hydra, were
looming towards Portland ; and the Fleet of gunboats,
Including Blazer and Bustard, torpedo gunboats, end Tay
and Tweed were conailerably behind, the turret ships
eroeamnjç the West Bay about three In the afternoon, while
Bus end her companions were off Chest between four
and half•paet. They were watches! from the Island by
many people, some of whom noticed, when Bustard was
three miles off Chesil, a great cloud of white vapour rise
Into the air from the Bustard. It eras at find supposed
that • large torpedo load been exploded ; but the vapour
cloud hung over the vessel for three-quarters of an hour,
the other gunboats hove to, and Isola passed between the
?Marls, when the Tay vowel steamed away round the
Bustard at her utmost speed. and the Tweed took the
Bustard in tow. It was then felt that something serious
had oecurred, and later it Wail learnt that an explosion
had taken place, which disabled the Btudayi, and that two
xl her men were brought in by the Tay, seriously injured.
Minas Pearce, find Claal stoker, mortally scalded and
burnt, and Mr. Skeen, engineer, scalded and hands
scorched. They had been promptly treated on board the
Tay, and were both taken to the Naval Hospital, where
poor Pearce lingered in great agony till half-past 10 on
Sunday morning, when he died. Mr. Skeen 's tam was
also so had that tbe medical gentlemen feared pytemia or
erysipelas might set in, and concealed from him the death
of poor Pearce.
The inquest was opened on Monday afternoon at the
Breakwater Hotel, lefors Mr. R. N. Howard, eoroner,
and the following jurF—Capt Thomas Elliott (foreman),
Mr. Thomas Sansom, jua , Mr. 11. 0. liabey, Mr. George
Betsworth, Mr. George Houma, Mr. Arthur Male Mr.
Joseph Mitchell, Mr. William Wallis, Mr. Henry titbits,
Mr. ilohert Horswell, Mr. Thome Comben. Mr. Samuel
Hounsell, Mr. Charles Hancock, and Mr. John &riven
The officers kindly put at the service of the coroner •
stoma launch, in which Mr. Howard and the jury visited
the Bustard, where they went down into the stoke hole.
Here it was explained that a slight repair was being
effected just before the occident, • link pin of the eccentric
of the starboard engine having given way, and being
replaced. For this purpose the engineer wan
kneeling on the engine platform, under the hatch-
way, the first-edam stoker being in front of the
fire, and two other men being on the other side of the
engine platform. A rush of steam from the boiler blew
forward the fire at the stoker, and all rushed up the ladder,
which is of iron, with iron rail. The two men who sore ,
farthest from the blown-out fire escaped, and the engineer
would have done so, but that he paned first into the steam
blast, and was scalded, his hands being also burnt by
grasping the heated rail; the unfortunate stoker, who bad
le beer the first brunt of the fire, was mortally hurt,
though he succeeded in gaining the deck. Al to the
cause, it was explained that the engine had the bad habit
of frequently " priumning," which troubled those in the
ewee room very much, and obscured the waterguage.
sM even the action of the cocks; the boiler became
short of water, and this not being observed in time was
the cause of the accident Me clown of the boiler was
bulged and a bole blown out large enough to put the fist
through.
Having returned to the inquest.room, the Coroner,
addressing the Jury, said the enquiry was rather impor-
tant, end, as far.. he could sea, death had occurred.
directly or Indirectly, through s 'loathing connected with
the machinery. That machinery, as they knew, was
under the control of an engineer, and the engineer was so
esriossly ill that be could not he approached in any shape
or font and tbs medical men had ordered every person
to be kept from him, and had concealed from him the
death of the stoker. The Coroner said he should therefore
simply call Mr. Clifton, the officer in command, and the
doctor, but should go into no further evidence, but then
adjourn till Ftiday, mod if he then found the engineer was
unable to be present, he should order a further adjourn.
meat He was very sorry indeed (allitffirut to • complaint
of Mr. Mshef) if any gentleman did not have • sufficient
view of the machinery, and the commanding officer had
very kindly said that if any gentlemen of the jury would
like to visit the spot, he would be very pleased to take him
there again.
Mr. Mabey said they ought to have moo the machinery
while a certain witness was there, and he ought not to
have bee called away.
The Coroaer explained that what had been dons was
through himself, and he maintained he had done hi.
'say.
The following evidesce was then taken:—
Mr. Jobs A. Clifton, lieutenant, 11.11. Navy, In charge
of the gunboat Bustard, said: This happened between 4
mut4i an estardAy. Deceased was • stoker, firetec.2:
and theth;sf englnem was Mr. William Skeen. D
was bor. Net:miter, IWO. We were on cur way from
liyaotjth tn, poti!end Roads between 4 and 410 p,
Three miles off Cheatiton, I we. on deck. 'Malan down the
engine-room the starboard Wine having broken down.
I was told the litakvin of the scomtric of the starboard
engine bed come out, and they were replacing It. A few
minutes ebbed. when I observed a volumes of fire break
into the engine-room from the port furnaca immediately
followed by steam. I asked what was the matter, but
received no answer, and the men below rushed up the
hatchway. Deceased ran up and was found on the dower
deck lying down, seriously Injured, sod not speaking. Mr.
Wiffism Skeen is bead engineer, and he we. kneeling on
the engine-rooms platform. The men would be under his
coortnand, subject to my order., but h" waa seriously
We have no doctor on board, nor medical stores.
Mr. Skeen is too ill to he examined am • witness today,
The Coroner said he proposed only to she Inlflldent
evidence tubs slits to ph. an order to bury the deceased.
He else proposed only to examine the doctor nominal.
and to avoid everything on which Mr. Skeen might like to
exspiea • witness. . .

-
Charles I !ward risolterran. surgeon en board the gum
boot T. IMF Wag in Portland Roads, on Saturday atter-
mom. tO coasequence of signals. went on board the
Bustard outside Portland Moeda, and found deceased and
Ilr. W. Skeen both seriously injured from extensive
scald; of which deceased died yesterday morning. Mr.
Blues tri now lying in • critical state, quite unable to be
ex no inert AA • re Boer td-day. The death of deceased has
been kept front him for fear of UI result&
Adjourned to 10 on Friday, and if Mr. Skeen is unable to
attend,the Incised would bs WM adjourned'
Mr. C. Arden answered, restless:ding the Admiralty.
The Valorous came into the Rawls on Tuesday, to tow
Oh.' Bustard to Portsmouth for • refit
The funeral of the stoker, Thorned Peen* took Phwe on
Tuesday afternoon, at tbe Naval Cemetery. • Snag
party of the Royal Marine Artillery marched In the pro-
demon, the band 01 the Boecarren played She Dead March.
sad sailors and mariaes followed the body, which was on
4 144-CUTiolre• On the return the band played writable
lurches—a great improvement on the old rattling AM.

UPWIT.
Cavaco or ENGLAND SUNDAY Sawa. Iresrrrarl.-0o
M. 1.61 thr c6rryinen and towbars of tint neboola in
un.ton with beano.. institute, mut belonging
_to thin ntral
The.

11.110ADIUMNB.
84/ICIOIIO/ LODOOIIIIOKeII.-11srly ou Friday morMag
IND tk.. glaiDt VIUDDO was somewhat excited by the revert
that James Ormi. an old inhabitant, had hung himself.
This banned out to be tree. It menu that the poor fellow
who leaves a wife and seven or sight children, was ah^eit
BI roan of me, and had nearly lost ids sight. In owner
quonce_he was not Otte to do • rg like &pother
mom He had boon outplayed by yr White of Wept
Knighton. for some time post, of whom km had
f requttaly nooks a.. kind mid generous master, who
had 'mid him according to his work, int his earnings ewe
smolt end having several children, unable to work and
houte.mot to par was int badly off. Be had Mon assisted
fy the parish for some time c•at, to the extent of his
h ,no-rent, and it HMI he w warier orders to appear • t
the Board of Guardian' at Do:rite-ter. to make good his
claim for this small weekly sibeincie, and it II alleged
that deceased was under the apprehension that he would
I:4 bullied by some of the poor law officials. whether Ma
preyed on his mind and produced temporary Mama ie
not meetly lannwn but, mad on F ono thing te certain, he to
were the Boardriday :C last he ut op rfive o'cl,dc as usual, and wont to the fuel-house.
his wife getting up shortly afterwardt, end not finding
him to the hone, went to ths shed and there found her
husbnnd rusponded to • beam by • email cord. Her
screams soon brought amistanos. Aloft Valence and
tissorm Hooper were the first on the dreadful scene.
Valenm cut him down, but life was extinct The Coroner
was amramunicated, and an inquest waa held the same
evening at the Black Dog Inn, before Yr. 13. Lock, and •
respectable jury, of which Mr. G. Bowring was foreman,
wh after hearing the evidence of the finding of the body
mill the wife', statement of his strange manner of
late, retu mei • verdict of temporary tumult,. The lorX
kindly gave their fees to the wide..

NAST KNIGHTON.
NOTIONAL Ataucutrunst Lsooonnas' Timm —On
Wednmday a tea sad fete we. held here in connection
with the above society. Past several years past the
members of the above union living in this part of the
district have had their annual outing, the time chosen
being between the hey and gun harvest, so es to combine
the convenience of their muter@ with probable this
weather.' Knighton heing the place decided on • field
WM obtained of Mr. Parker, and arrangements made for
• large party. A heavy thunder storm swept over
villami In the early part of the day, which must have
damped the spirits of the two or three men forming the
committee ; but long before the time of meeting the
weather brightened and continued floe throughout the
day. At two o'cl,ck • preterit:a was formed, headed b
Mr. Langford'. Wool Brass Bend, and marched through
Wulf rith to Zest Chaldon. The members, wore
broad nue rashes and other decorstoint. The
banner hired for the on-Asian was horse alof:arg
brawny arms, the motto, "W. demand the vote se our
sight," could be read at • oonidderable distance off. The
procession, after visiting the rectory and farm-homes in
their route, returned to the field at six o'clock, where
about 300 people sat down to tee, and was well attended
on by willing hands. There was an abundance of good
dike, bread and butter, and tea After tea, dancing.
kise-in•the-rink Aunt Bally, and the usual games were
indulmed in, and • happy meeting was brought to • doge
by a display oftt:riryorks, and lady &Men were given for