The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-13 00:00:00

THE EXPLOSION AT ZEITH.

Yesterday evening Mr. W. Payne, coroner for
the City and Southwark, held an inquiry at Guy's Hoopit.l
respecting the death of Elisabeth Osborn, aged S year. and
6 mouths, who died from the effeets of the explosion.
Mr. George Osborn said that he was a painter, in broi•
nem, and resided at Bromley, in Kent. His daughter
Elizabeth went on a visit to the hones of Mr. Sarer, the
manager of the Lowwood GunpowdesCompany's magazine,
next that of Mesas. Hall, at Belvedere. She was teem a
fortnight when the expkeion took plops.
Mr. Sidney Turner, house surgeon, said that the deceased
woe brought to the hospital on the lit October, in El severe
state of collapse. She bad received dreadful lacerations on
the hoe, chest, and arms, apparently from broken glass.
She died in ten days, and it was then found that the lase of
her skull bad beenfroatnred.
_ _ _

The Ooroser nib that at the proceediop held oti the pre-
Cans day at Erith an important letter wee produced. The
document was proved to be a letter written by Rayner,
the manager of Mr. Hall's magazine, and it was addressed
to the foreman, Mr. Moak, at Faversham. It contained
most serious complaints of the condition of the powder bar.
eels sent to Erith.

Mr. John F. Hall here stepped forward, and said that be
was the eon of the London partner, and was assistant to
the firm, be could therefore give some explanation. The
firm had received co complaints for three year past.
Three years ago they had received from • maker a number
of eery defective barrel', and in oonsequence of the min.
plaints than made the Messrs. Hall had erected a large
cooperage, at which all the barrels were now made, under
their ownsupervialon. The letter cf Mr. Rayner bore no
date, but it was evidently written in reference to what bad
happened three yeere ego.
The Foreman—Have you not other magazines at Frith
where an examination of the general condition of the barrels
could be male ?

at Erith. They are not in use ; but we have
magazines at Liverpool arid elsewhere which would admit
of examiaation. Burgle manufactured by the seine men

A Jaros-0. Hall distinctly told us last week that no
iron was used in the magazines, and now we find that a go.
veroment officer saw iron nails and rods on all sides.

Witness-1 caanot speak from personal knowledge of the
old magazine, which the government bought three years
ago ; but in the new magazine all the nails. he., were cop-
per. Ile wither who spoke as to the state of the old
magazine admitted that he had only been in it once for a
moment.

The Cormier—l think it would be best to write to the
Board of Trade, and ask them to sopoint some competent
scientific men to mac an examinajon of the state
of the barrels in the other magazines.
The Foreman—The question of the bad manufacture of
the powder barrels has suddenly arises, although it was en-
tirely unsuspected by us last week. It would, ore, be
very necessary to ascertain by some disinterested *vides:es
what the actual state of the cue may be. it would be ab.
surd for us to return a verdict that the ezplosion back place
from an accident, if another jury were at the same time in
po-session of evidence proving that there was culpable we-
lt**.
• Coroner said that be should at once communists
with the Board of Trade upon the subject.
The court then adjourned.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

TNVIIIIDAY. 001011ZA 13, S L.

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29
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Aberdeen .91 N. W.
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Graweemak ;30. W.N.W.
Galway - 30.36 W.N.W.
Valautla A13.1 el IL
Cups User 60.36, N.N.
310.21 N.
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Holyhead 30.19 53 N.W.
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Peusamse .. 110.3..53. N.
*reel 43.101,6111 XX.
Vtelaut SD 30 60 N.
Rochefort.- 30501 KZ.
Plymouth 30.26, X.N.W.
Weymouth 110.31;11 N.W.
Portatuotah-,10.19 62 N.N.W.tendon 110.16161, N.W.
Dover 30.13 601 W.
Taratoath 3060 N.N W.
Scarborough 34.07 1010, N.N.W.
Oblehle lO 0p,54 N.N.W.
Netteolabd 39.76 es N.W.

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ACCIDENT AT THE BLACIEFRIAP.A STATION OF TUE
LOADON, CHATHAM, AID DOTER RAILWAT.—Last night,
about balf•past 6 o'clock, the pameogers passim; over the
temporary bridge were startled by Iscariot a loud crash. and,
in an instant afterwardsa goantity of scaffolding was thrown
from the end of the newly eeeeted bridge into the bed of the
river. At first it was feared, as a train bad just got epos
the bridge, that the structure had goes way, but forte-
nately snob was sot the caw It appears that capacious as
the station at Blackfriars is, it he. been toned too 'mall for
the increasing traffic, and, to avoid delay, the trains, after
leaving their passengers at the station, pees on to about the
middle of the new bridge, This was being dose with a train
last night, but by some means the points bad not been pro-
perly set, and the wheels of one of the carriages went off
the metals. It was expected that br backing the
a
would right itself, hot it toppled over on its side, Are=
iron ornamental work on the upper side of the Surrey end
of the bridge, smashing the glaas and forcing the 'madd-
ing into the bed of the Thames. Fortunately it was sot
high water at the time. A number of men were at owe set
to work, and with the aid of crabs. jacks, and erases. the
carriage was got upon the metals. The only incooveniesce
experienced was that the train of carriage' was delayed for

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