The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-09-20 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH.
THE EXPLOSION ON BOARD THE

GREAT EASTER.

THE ADJOURNED INQUEST.

thought

On Wednesday at 2 o'clock, the adjourned inquiry
into the cause of this melancholy disaster was resumed
before Mr. Henry Lock, the coroner for Dorset, at the
Townhall, Weymouth. The investigation appeared to
excite no great amount of interest, and the court was
almost empty throughout the entire proceedings.
Mr. John Scott Russell, in compliance with a wish ex-
pressed by the Coroner, came down from town to attend
the inquest.
Mr. John Dickson, foreman to Mr. Russell, and under
whose superintendence the machinery of the paddle en
-
Ones was fitted, was also present, and Mr. M'Lennon,
the chief engineer of the Great Eastern. Theatten-
dance of Captain Harrison, who, of course, has important
duties to perform on board the ship, was dispensed with
by the Coroner.
Mr. Newman (of Freshfielth and Newman) attended
to watch the case with Mr. Scott Russell. At the com-
mencement of the proceedings Mr. Leverson, the solici-
tor to the company, said he wished to correct an error
which had appeared in some of the papers to the effect
that he (Mr. Leverson) had stated at the previous in-
quiry that Mr. Scott Russell had had ample notice to at-
tend the opening of the inquest but had not done no. In
fact, what lie had stated was exactly the reverse—viz.,
that Mr. Scott Russell had had no notice of the inquiry;
that he was at the time in London, on the company's
business, and could not possibly have been in attendance.
After a few words from Mr. Scott Russell, who
ex-
plained the cause of his unavoidable absence,
The Coroner said that, on the opening of the inquest,
he had at once considered that it was a case which
ought to be adjourned, in order that the jury might
have the assistance of some of the surveyors from the
Board of Trade. He had accordingly communicated
with the Board of Trade, and received a letter in reply
the previous day which stated that it was impossible
that Captain Robertson, the Surveyor-General, could
attend the inquiry before Saturday next. He therefore
thought that, under those circumstances, it would be
most advisable that the jury should have the benefit of
the experience of those officers, and, with their permis-
sion, he would adjourn further proceedings till Saturday
morning at 9 o'clock. He (the Coroner) trusted that
both the company and Mr. Scott Russell would be ready
on that occasion with any evidence which could throw
the smallest light upon the causes which had led to so
disastrous an accident.
One of the jury said that they hoped that every effort
would be made to discover the man who had turned off
the cock or valve which led from the standpipe into the
stokehole.
Mr. Scott Russell said it would be proved by wit-
nesses that the cock of the valve was open on Tuesday.
and when the vessel left the river on Wednesday.
Mr. Leverson intimated that the company were in no
degree responsible for what bad taken place, and the evi-
dence adduced had established this on the company's be-
half. He had no desire to call further evidence unless
wished for by the court.
The Coroner said it was most likely the jury would
like to examine Mr M'Lennan, the chief engineer.
The inquiry was then adjourned till Saturday morn-
ing.
The interest evinced by the public in this part of the
country in all relating to the ship seems as great as ever.
During all Tuesday, though it blew a severe gale from
the south-west, accompanied by heavy rain and some-
times thunder, the steamboats bringing visitors to the
vessel were densely thronged. Nearly 6,000 persons
paid their half-crowns to go on board, and promenaded
the deck all day, defying the squalls of wind and rain
with an endurance worthy of a better cause. The scene
of explosion, as far as it could be viewed from the deck
is the great centre of attraction, and as the monstrous
fragments of ironwork have now been got x p from the
stokehole and placed on deck, enough evidence is given
of the fury of the explosion to satisfy the most taw
curiosity. Mr. Nottidge, of the London Stereoscopic
Conipany who has been onboard from the first time of
starting, in order to get good pictures of the vessel, has
photographed this mass of ruins most successfully.
From these pictures the public will be enabled to gain
a fair idea of the force of the explosion and the sweep-
ing destruction it occasioned. In the morning follow-
ing the occurrence a subscription was raised among the
visitors on board for the benefit of the sufferers and their
families, and 024 collected in the course of a few
minutes. Since that day several benevolent persons
have forwarded small sums to the ship to be applied to
the sane charitable purpose, and this, with the sale of
photographs, which were given for the purpose by Mr.
Nottidge, have swelled the sum to nearly £l4O.
The repair of the damages inflicted by the explosion
has already commenced, Mr. Scott Russell having con-
tracted to restore the whole for £5,000. If it should
turn out that either of the forward boilers has been in-
jured, I:5,01X) will scarcely suffice for the entire restora-
tion. From the fact of there having been no escape of
steam from either of the boilers at the time of the ex-
plosion, when there was a preunre on each of 221 b., it
is believed they have escaped without material injury.
The mere joinery of the cabin fittings and the redecora-
tion of the grand saloon can, and doubtless will, soon be
completed. With the ironwork, however, it is a diffe-
rent affair. All this mast be executed in Loudon from
• the working drawings of the vessel and sent down piece-
meal by rail to Weymouth, where it can be bolted to-
gether on board the ship. Mi. Scott Russell's contract
is to finish the whole ship in her former state as she left
the river within three weeks.

WET MULTH, Saturday, September 17.

On Saturday morning the adjourned inquest on the
bodies of John Boyd, Michael Mahon, Michael Mc
Robert Adnini, and Richard ',Awards, the unfortunate
stokers and firemen who lost their lives by the explosion
on board this ship, was resumed at the Totenhall, 'Wey-
mouth, before Mr. Lock, the deputy-coroner for hornet-
shim. . .

As on the previoue occasions, not the slightest amount
of interest appeared to be evinced by the inhabitants of
the town, scarcely a person being in the hall, save those
immediately connected with the inquiry.
Mr. Leverson, as before, appeared on behalf of the
company; Mr. Lawson was instructed to represent the
interest of several large shareholders Mr. Newman at-
tended for Mr. Scott Russell; Capt. Robertson and Mr.
Galloway were present to assist the coroner on behalf of
the Board of Trade.
Mr. Campbell, one of the managing directors and
chairman of the Great Ship Company, with Mr. Jackson,
M.P., also a managing director, Captain Harrison, Mr.
Yates, the secretary of the old company, Mr. L. S. Mag-
nus, and several of the chief officers of the ship were in
attendance.
The jury, as usual, answered to their names. The nun.
elealance of these gentlemen seemed to excite consider-
able surprise among those present, accustomed to observe
the rigid attention bestowed by London juries on such
occasions. With two or three exceptions, they occupied
themselves throughout the greater part of the day in
reading country newspapers, and, not to mention other
instances. the inattention displayed on various occasions
WAS neither in keeping witli the serious nature of the
case nor the most important functions they were called
upon to perform.
The opening of the inquest was fixed for 9 o'clock, but
from various ceases it WAS quite half-past nine before
business could be proceeded with.
Evidence was adduced at great length, which however
possessed but little interest for the public. The result
of the scientific investigation being looked for mote with
the view of protecting the interests of the several
parties represented at the inquest than for any other
purpose.
Several witnesses having been examined,
Captain Robertson remarked that there was a legal
question of contract. What they had met to inquire
into was, who was in charge of the engines when the
accident occurred?

Mr. John Scott Russell was the next witness. He
said that, except in so far as the late Mr. Brunel was the
originator of the idea, he wee the builder and designer
of the great ship, and the contractor for the paddle
engines. With the trial trip between Deptford and
Portland be (Mr. Russell) had had nothing to do what-
ever, directly or indirectly, as • matter of business. He
took the deepest personal interest in the trip, but beyond
that there was nothing whatever in the way of business.
During the trial trip the peddle engines were never
under his charge in any way or kind whatever. From
the day when the fourth trial of the engines was made
in the river in the presence of Mr. Brunel, and in con-
formity with the terms of thetiontrect, he oonsidered they
were entirely delivered up to the company. That fourth
trial was made on the Wednesday before the ship sailed.
They were then handed over from witnees's engineers to
those of the copy, and the men about them ceased
to be in witness's pay std went into the employment of
the couipany. No written agreement or document
when they we given up. If any (atilt was to
rwed re
found, it should have boon at the fourth trial, for on

that occasion, according to the contract, witness's le-
sponsibility was to end. He did not select the engineers
fur the trial trip, but it was suggested to the company
that the engineers of both engines should be applied to
by the company to recommend the entire daff of both
engines. This the conapnny refused to do, and ealy
allowed them to recommend the fair head engineers of
both engines. He thought that the first seem- wee the
wisest course for both parties, and he thought she seen
he recommended were the best both for the compsay's
interest and for the due care of his own engines. As to
Mr. Dickson being on board, it arose from the fad og
witness being invited to the trial trip and allowed to
bring a certain number of friends. Mr. Didion only
came as witness's friend, and never took any charge of
the engines beyond volunteering every assistance in his
power. Mr. Arnett and his engineers had most
undoubted charge of all the machinery under Mr.
M*Lennan, the company's engineer in chid. Witness
was on board at the time of the explosion, and generally
quite concurred in what had been stated by others as SO
its came. He thought it must be taken for granted that
all believed when the feed to the funnels was shut off
the cock at the top of the tube was open. It was
quite proper to shut off the feed from the casing to the
boilers. Boilers always primed when they left the river,
and priming was a bourse of great danger and incon-
venience to the boilers. This wu checked at last by
throwing in cold water to the boilers, and it became
desirable, therefore, to shut off the hot WSW from the
casing, and let in the cold water from the donky engines,
which was done. Witness never luau of any cock
being in the syphon-tube, though he agreed with Mr.
though he
Dickson that it was always a wise predation. He
pp""mrirecaution winhecasere itthwaae stand pipe, or
would certainly not have put anything that could have
cabins below. If. then.
interfered with the passage of steam from the casing.
sleeping cabins
funnel-casing acted
tustrbyhhapocahugcosthnire, nidbtt-impwisaikuptulde.rnb:rountliktheeeoadueteetprhe steam would have rushed
down into the sleeping cabins. Witness had constructed
two vessels on similer principles before. There
was no provision made for the escape of steam in thole
vessels at all. Even, however, with both pipes open, in
the cue of the Great Eastern, they might Imre had an
explosion from many other MILOS, such sad the feed was
allowed to go low in the cuing, and the water
been suddenly Id in. It was one of the mysteries
of the present accident that it might have Win= from
such a cause. In that cam the syphon stand-pipe yodel
not have saved the funnel. Steam would have been
generated so rapidly by the sudden reflux of the feed
water that the syphon-tube would never have carried it
off even though open. That might have occurred in
this accident, and-he was not alone in this opinion. H.
most distinctly denied any official or mercantile
responsibility at all in the charge of the engines in the
trip round. He should have thought it wrong not to-
have given the company the benefit of Mr. Dickson's
long experience, in case of any accident happening.
By Mr. Leverron.—Witness only contracted to do a
portion of the work of the company's valid, and there.
fore it was their trial trip, and not his. The terms of
the contract were for the best materials and best work-
matuhip. The question as to the completeness of the
contract was left to competent arbitrators to decide,
and from time to time three gentlemen (three engineers)
had been so called upon to decide. If the directors had
doubted the excellence of the engines, they should have
had the arbitrators present when the last trial was
made. He denied that he ever took charge of the
paddle engines. He knew better than the pilot or cap-
tain what could be dune safely and quickly in the
engine-room. When he stated that the sliip was within
an ace of being lost two or three times in the river he
thought people would acquit him of doing the vessel any
harm. when he merely stood by to give the pilot the
benefit of the instant service of the engines when it was
most needed.
There was some applause manifested in court at this
reply, which the Coroner at once suppressed.
A very long examination here followed, endeavouring
to show that the witness's last contract to finish the ves-
sel was not concluded when the ship left Deptford, and
that therefore Mr. Russell was still liable to repair the
damage caused by the explosion. The course which the
examination took was, however, entirely irrelevant to
the inquiry into the Pule of the poor men's deaths, to.
ascertain which alone, of course, the inquest was
opened. It was thus not a question of how the men
were killed, but who was to pay for the damage to the
vessel. After repeated remonstrances from the Coroner,
several of the jury interfered, and declared that the
1 course of the examination was quite foreign to the
1 issue they were net to try. Mr. Lawson pointed out
that it was necessary to prove the cue by showing that
Mr. Russell, being in charge, was in fault, but eventu-
ally lie consented to waive the questions he was desirous
of having answered, and the examination was continued.
Witness was asked to name four engineers for the ped-
dle engines, and Mr. Dickson did so, and those engineer*
proceeded at once into the employment of the company.
Beyond this there was no formal delivery between wit-
ness and the company of the engines at all. Such a for-
mality was not usual, and he (Mr. Russell) knew of none,
and never heard of any.
Mr. James Patrick was examined, and afterwards
questioned by Mr. Lawson.
At this stage of the proceedings the inquiry WAS
adjourned till 10 o'clock this day (Monday), on the un-
derstanding that it will then be brought to a dose.
The proceeding's had not been brought to a slue by
the delivery of the verdict at the time of our going to

repoosibiyty

_,,,,,,,, A