The Express.
London, England, 1862-04-17 00:00:00

DREADFUL EXPLOSION IN BOLBOTN.

Shortly before five yesterday] afternoon consider-
able excitement was co:mimed in Holborn in consequence
of an explosion, which, it is famed, will prove fatal to three
or four labouring men. For some days past the employie
of the City Ges Works have been engsged in the above-
named thoroughfare in taking tip the old pipes and laying
down new once, and at the time of the unfortunate occur-
rence the men were at work near Little Turnstile. From
what we were able to glean it seems that one of the men
wee in the act of opening the earth with his pickaxe, whilst
others near him were employed in " filling in" and "
ming down." The former, having accomplished his task,
called to his " mate" to see if all was right, and,
accordingly a piece of tow wee procured, and lighted,
in order to asoertain whether such was the ease, and which,
on being applied below the surface, resulted in the accident.
The explosion was terrific, resembling the report of artillery
guns. Two lengths of pipe, each measuring about 12 feet,
and more than 2i inches in thickness, were shattered and
blown in all directions, one large piece being forced rote.
pletaly over the house tops into Lincoln's-inn-fields. The
windows in the shop front of Mr. W. Muller, artist-colour-
man, No. 62, High Holborn, as well as those in the upper
part of the house, were vary much broken, and the premises
belonging to Messrs. Warr, printers' stationers, next door,
were also mash damaged. One of the labourers was forted
up and fell into the middle of the carriage-way, and re.
ceived internal injuries of • serious nature ; another
of the unftertunat• men had both his legs absolutely tore
from him; a third had him face and jaw frightfully mutilated,
the chin being left hanging by a portion of skin ; whilst the
fourth was most terribly injured both internally and ex-
ternally. The sufferers were at once conveyed to King's
College Hospital, where every attention,was afforded them;
but on application last evening we were informed that but
little hopes were entertained of either of them living till the
morning.

LATEST PAB.TIOULABS.—(THES DAY.)
Upon inquiry at King's College Hospital this morning, it
was stated that the three men lying there so dreadfully in.
ircedreilz the above explosion, viz., Morley, Bexley, and
were still alive, though it was not thought probable
Norway and Hawley could survive the shock. Mores) has
had both hie legs amputated while under the influence of
ehlesolcem ; but both he and Hawley, who had part of his
jaw shattered and his right arm fractured, are in • very
us state. A fourth man, named Dooley, whose
izrr were comparatively slight, left the hospital this
morning.
It would appear from inquiry that the cause of the &mi.
dent is attributed to a leakage in the pipe, owing to its
worn and rotten state, and the gas escaping therefrom
came into contact with the fire used for melting the lead,
and ignited. The shops and houses in the imme.
diate vicinity of the explosion suffered severely—
especially that belonging to Mr. Warr, the stationer,
at the corner of Featherstone-buildings, immediately
opposite to which the explosion occurred. The windows
in the house from the third floor to the cellar were that
tared in pieces, and the shop front and its contents coat-
pletely destroyed, large pieces of stone pavement being vio-
lently pushed through it. The windows in the shops of
Hr. Coates, hatter, and Mr. Muller, artiste' colour
were also destroyed, and damage done to several
of the neighbouria6o a
booms. At an early hoar
this morning • workmen were sent down
by the London Gas mpany terepair the damage done,
and at once set to work in putting in the glass and window
frames.
It is a fortunate circumstance that, although the accident
took place at an hour when the thoroughfare is always
crowded with passengers, no injuries were received
by any of them, although some extraordinary escapes
oecarred. The piece.' of iron piping and stone
pavement flew about in all directions ; but one person only
was struck by them —a lady, named Fisher, while walking
on the opposite side of the way ; but she did suffer any
serious in carry, The damage to Mr. Warr's shop and dock
is each that be has been oompelled to remove his business,
mid carry it on at • house in Featherstone-buildings until
the damage is repaired.