The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-09-13 00:00:00

EXPLOSION

ON BOARD

THE GREAT EASTERN.

FIVE LIVES LOST.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

After reporting the successful departere of this
splendid ship from the Thames, it beocuies our most
painful duty to lay before the public the particulars of
a frightful accident which befell her about six o'clock on
Friday evening off Dungeness.

The explosion which has now cast so sad • gloom
over the trip round to Portland took place in the fun
ward funnel, which paws through the grand saloon and
lower deck cabins to the boilers. It was probably
, one of the most terrific which a vessel has ever sun
vived, and which none in the world could have
withstood save a structure of such marvellous
' strength and solidity as the Great Eastern.
It was determined in order to economies the
beat given off by the funnels, and to keep the
saloons through which they pissed cool, to fit
thew all with what is termed 'a feed-pipe casing,"
risibg from the boilers to about eight feet above the
limier deck. This feed-pipe casing is simply a double
or outer funnel fur the length we have stated, the
inner one, as usual, carrying off the smoke and Berne, ,
and the space between it and the outer casing being
filled with water. The water is pumped in at the top
of the casing while cold, and gradually pegging down
into the space round the furnaces, becomes greatly
heated, when it is discharged into the boilers by
means of an ordinary stop-sock. Any one the least
conversant with boiler mechanism will see at •
glance, that the safety of the whole affair depends
upon the stop-cock which lets off the water into the
boilen being watched with unremitting vigilance. The
neglect of this for half an hour would allow steam to
generate in the casing, which would then, in plain
terms, become a gigantic boiler, without • valve or
any means of letting off its steam, save by blowing up.
This plan was adopted for the two paddle funnels. Who
is responsible for its being fixed to the paddle funnels,
or for the manifest defects which, after the explosion,
it is stated were found to exist in the stop-cock for let.
ting the water into the boilers, is not now known. A
strict inquiry will doubtless be instituted by the Board of
Trade, and pending that examination it would be both
unwise and unjust to express any opinion on facts which
at the best, are at present but imperfectly known. All
that hu yet been ascertained is that there has been
neglect toinewhere, and that the stop-cock for letting
the water off into the boilers was either incapable of
performing its duty properly, or was not attended to at
all. The casings of the two forward funnels of the
Great Eastern held each about seven or eight tons of
water, and the forward one, at least, it is now evident,
might have exploded at any moment <luring the voy-
age, when the grand saloon was filled with the visitors
en board to lieten to the admirable music of the ship's
band. One or two gentlemen were congratulating Mr.
Campbell on the almost marvellous success of the ship,
when in the space of • second there was • terrific ex-
' Plosion. The forward part of the deck appeared to
spring like • mine, blowing the funnel up into the air.
There was • confused heavy roar, amid which came the :
awful crash of timber and iron mingled together with
frightful uproar, and then all was hidden in a rush of I
steam. Blinded suit almost etunned by the overwhelm-
ing concussi tttt , those on the bridge stood motionless in
the white vapour till they were reminded of the neces•
aity of setking shelter by the shower of wreck, glut, gilt
work, saloon ornaments, and pieces of wood, which began
to fall like rain in all directions. The prolonged clatter
of these as they fell prevented any one aft the bridge
from moving, and though all knew that a fearful accident
had occurred, none were aware of its extent or what was
likely next to happen. After a short interval, during
which the white steam still obscured all aft the funnel,
Captain Comstock, who was on the bridge, tried to see
what had occurred, but he could only ascertain by peer-
ing over the edge of the paddle-box that the vessel's sides
were uninjured, and the engines still going. Gradually
then, a.. the steam cleared off, the foremost funnel could
be seen lying like a log across the deck, which was co-
vered with bits of glass, gilding, fragments of curtains,
and silk hangings, window frames, scrape of wood blown
into splinters, and a mass of fragment', which had evi• '
dently come from the cabin fittings of the lower deck,
beneath the grand saloon. In the middle was a great ,
heap of rubbish, where the funnel had just stood, from
which the condensed steam was rushing up in • white,
and therefore not hut vapour, but enough to hide
completely all that had happened below. Thera
were fortunately no holiday tourists there, or the
matter would have been much worse. Some of the
ablest engineers and machinists were on deck, who
could pretty well guess what had happened and what
worse might follow. A funnel, filled similarly to that
which had blown up, was evidently getting intensely
hot, and of those present none knew to what extent its
" jacket," or outer casting, had been damaged or how
soon it might explode. Mr. Scott Busmen, followed by
one or two engineers, at once went below to the
furnaces of these boilers, and ordered the steam to be
blown off, the speed of the engines to be reduced, and
every precaution taken to guard against mishap. Mr.
Campbell remained calm and collected on deck, getting
the crew forward and preventing any unnecessary
alarm. Sonic of the men instantly went below to search
for those employed in the stoke-holes, whom it was now
evident must be fearfully injured, if indeed alive. At
this moment • cry was raised of a man overboard.
Some of the crew and many of the passengers went aft
when something like the figure of a human being was
visible among the waves. Life buoys, gratings, and bits
of timber were thrown over all at once, and two gentle-
men were endeavouring to lower a boat when it was
stated that the alarm was a fa/se one. Unhappily how-
ever, it was but too true, as was afterwards ascertained, 1
the III• 11 was a fireman, and when the explosion took
place he rushed to avoid the steatu to the aperture out I
of which the ashes was emptied, and from this jumped
and caught at a beam under the " sponson," in front of
the paddles. To this, it is said, he hung for • few ,
moments, when, probably weakened by the explosion
or scalded by the steam, he relaxed his hold,
and falling under the paddles was, of course, in-
stoutly killed by then', and so floated east astern,
All this occurred in the awe of three or four minutes.
Fearful as was the explosion, it was seen that, owing to
the immense strength of the ship, its violence bad been
entirely confined to the compartment in which it had
occurred. Beyond this no injury was due of any kind,
excepting • stray piece breaking a skylight here or
there. The accident might and most likely would have
occurred to any vessel fitted with double casing funnels
on the same principle. It is almost needless to say that
the only one which now remains thus fitted will be in-
stantly altered, the casing removed, and everything re-
stored to the ordiusry arrangements of the Cunard
Collins line of packets. The pity of the matter is,
that just at • moment when the vessel had shown the
greatness., of its success an unfortunate casualty should
have occurred, which for • time may shake the confi-
dence of sonic in a work which, front its magnitude of
conception and completeness of details, was regarded as
a national triumph, and one of which the country was
most justly proud.
The above particulars of this distressing occurrence
are, PO far as the coroner's inquisition has yet proceeded,
fully borne out.

The inquest was opened yesterday (Monday), at the
Toe/id:WI, Weymouth, before Henry Lock, Kr,
Deputy Coroner.
At eleven o'clock the following gentlemen were
sworn on the jury :—Mesars. Joseph Drew, foreman,
Hugh David tingle, Avery Buck, A. Tucker, John Lau.
die, Septituus Mace, James Sherren, John Talbot, Tho-
mas Bennett Groves, Daniel Pigeon, George Boller
Weleford, Edwin Hallett, James Buck, Richard
Robinson, and James Rummell. The names of the eye
unfortunate men into the cause of whose death this
investigation was wade, were John Boyd, Michael Ma.
Ilroy, Michael Mc. Mahon, Richard Edwards and
Robert Adams. The bodies, which were lying at the
King's Head, having been viewed by the jury—
Mr. Edward William Briaone was the first witness
examined. He rid-1 am junior engineer of the
paddle wheel department. About a minute previous to
the accident Mr. Me. Lennon, chief engineer of the
ship, came down to test the saturation of the water in
the boiler; having done so, I pointed out to him that
the water in the boiler was at its proper height, he said
it was all right: He then again gave me his previous
caution, not to interfere with the working of anything
about the boiler. I was not to take upon myself the
responsibility of opening any cocks or valves without

the instructions of the superior; I wee only to obey the
orders of the senior engineer in charge of the paddle
engine department. The senior engineer in that depart-
ment eras If r. Arnett.

By the Coroner: My orders were not to meddle with
anything except under the orders of the senior engineer.
The conversation here dropped and the engineer left the
fire-room.
Examination continued : I had just time after this
conversation to walk a distance of about fifteen feet,
and had resumed my position by the donkey engine,
when the explosion took place in the funnel-case in the
room, and the room was immediately filled with the
hot air of the steam. I came up by the fore stoke-hole
ladder, and just as I got on to the lowe: deck I beard
voices crying out for assistance, and they turned out to
be three of the stoker,; one of them was Sparks,
the others I don't knots. I got them up into the
lower saloon with some assistance, after that I became in-
capable from the burns I had received, and then went
below to be attended by the doctor; it was only when I
was on the lower deck assisting the men up that I dis-
covered what the accident was, There were two ewe
in the funnel, the inner and the outer, which wen ren
asunder, all the 'note eteingelipee being Ar-
ne whole of the cabins 4%6 lower talleheA were
a mass of ruins. The cause of the accident was the
bursting of the water heater that surrounded the funnel.
I had nothing to do with that. The accident took place
late in the afternoon, just before dusk about
six o'clock. I saw Adams and Edwards; I don't know
their numbers. I knew the man who jumped over-
board.

Mr. Leversay, solicitor, who attended on behalf of the
company, here put various questions to the witness, in
reply to which lie said :—I recollect Mr. Mc. Lennon
milling the stokers and engineers together on Tuesday
or Wednesday evening before the accident. On that
occasion Mr. Me. Lennon gave orders that I was to assist
when called upon, but not to interfere in any way with.
out orders. I was coming aft, and he repeated in the
presence of his clerk these injunctions—saying that I
was not to meddle on any account, or to take any
responsibility upon myself, but to obey the orders of the
senior engineer in charge. The reason he told me not
to meddle was, because the engines were in Mr. Scott
Russell's hands. I have heard the men get instructions
from Mr. Rumen. Mr. Dixon, Mr. Russell's foreman,
assumed the control in the paddle-wheel department.
The explosion was confined to the water-eases. The
object by these is to heat the watei so that cold water
may not be thrown into the boiler; it also keeps the
heat of the funnels to a certain extent from the people
about it. There is • feeding pipe leading from the
water-jacket through the boiler. At the time of the
explosion they were not feeding from the " water.
jacket." If the "jacket" had been supplied regularly
with water, and fed the boiler, the explosion would not
have taken place. There is • standing pipe, and had
that pipe been in proper working condition it would
have given warning of the danger. At the moment of
the explosion I threw myself clown on my face, and got
as low down in the stoke hole as I possibly could—that
is as near to the floor as losable; I put my hands over
my mouth and face, and thus escaped the severe come-
quences which would have resulted from swaliowialth.
steam. The engines were in the entire charged Mr.
sell's men, and I saw Mr. Russell on board within half-an.
hour of the accident. I was engaged by the company,
not by Mr. Russell. I believe the company have not
yet accepted the engines. Mr. Russell has left the
vessel. Mr. Me. Lennon was in the company's employ.
I know John Boyd, one of the deceased.
Mr. Thomas Slater, a surgeon on board the Great
Eastern, in conjunction with Dr. Watson, the meglical
superintendent on baud the same ship. them Immo
evidence as to the cause of the death of John Boyd.
fireman; Michael Me. Ilroy, fireman; Michael ble.
Mahon, fireman; Richard Edwards, fireman • and
Robert Adams, fireman. The first witness de;erilsed
minutely the imbue of his observations, and stated
that death resulted from the explosion. ocoasioeing a
, great shock to the whole system and • general collapse
from the effect of the severe scalding; and added that no
reaction ever took place. The evidence of the two
medical gentlemen agreed in every particular.
Mr. Robert Pearson Brereton, chief of Mr. Braniell's
engineer-staff, described particularly the funnel with
its water-jacket, and attributed the accident to two
, causes—first that the cock of the stand-pipe had been
turned down, whereby steam was generated for which
there was no vent; and secondly one" donkey" engine
being disabled, the other one had to do the work of two.
The two vents were shut up; whereas there ought to
have been two escapes; and it happened that there were
none—and that accounted for the accident.
At the Wee, of this witness's evidence the jury ad-
journed to nulled the scene of the accident on board
the ship, which exhibited a state of fearful devastation;
and many were the congratulations that the catastroph
bad not happened at • time when some hundreds of per.
sons were alining in the very same saloon, in which OM
the destruction of human life would have been meet ap-
palling.
The inquiry wee then adjourned till two o'clock on
Wednesday in order that the Board of Trade and Mr.
Scott Russell may be communicated with, and farther
evidence adduced.