The Express.
London, England, 1847-09-16 00:00:00

THE EXPLOSION OF THE CRICKET.

(Continued from the Express of last evening.)
Joseph Wheldon, of lisueell-street, Blackwall, foremast-
band on baud the Cricket : I have been employed thus
since the 14th of May. I was in the engine-room on the day
before the explosion. I don't recollect anything being the
matter with the machinery on that or the following day. I
noticed the safety-valves the day before the explosion.
I saw the engineer take off the easing and lift up the valve.
I never saw a string tied to the lever of the valve. I have
seen Clark in the engine-room. I know no more about
sake -wolves than they know about me. Clark never said
anything to me about the safety-valve or about the ma-
chinery. A week before liaisraan came I heard Clark say
the boat was in better order than ever she was. I was on
board at the moment of the explosion. Heilman, the engi-
neer, came up from the engine room about a minute before
it took place. The boat had then lain there about four or
five minutes altogether, about seven or eight minutes be-
fore the explosion—l heard the steam hissing through the
funnel after we got to the pier, just before Haisman came
up. The hissing was not loud ; quite easy. I Aid not see
the steam. Very little smoke was ascending at the time.
Reisman remained near me, close to the hatchway, until the
explosion. I was on the larboard sponson, c.ose to the
paddle-b,x. The stoker was also standing near and a per-
son =nest Cripps. The engineer was not saying anything
about the steam or machinery ; but he asked me bow long
we had to atop, and I said I thought about three minutes.
About half-put eight on the morning of the explosion I
thought something was on tire, and looked at the safety-
van.

Aped Cripps I live en board the Bee. I 1,03 employed
on the Cricket boat on several occasions as foremast hand.
I war there about two days when C.ark wan engineer. I
never saw yarn tied to the safety valve • I never saw the
valve at ail. (A laugh.) I was on board on the morning of
the explosion, standing on the larboard sponson, and talking
with the engineer and stoker. We had been there about
two minutes. I was blown upon the pier, but received no
injury frsm the explosion. I heard no steam blowing off.
By the jury : I have heard something about Clark's tying
down the valves.
_ _

Edward : I live on the company's premises on the
Auelphi pier. I was captain of the Cricket ever since she
woe out. about July, 1816, and eontinued captain until the '
time of the explosion. It was no part of my duty to look to
the engineer ; he is rated above me in point of pay. I have
nothing to do but give the word of command, " Ease her!
stop htr dec. I have frequently admired the working of
the engines to Clark. I had often seen a piece of spun yarn
from the safety valve. I taw it when Kent was there as
engineer, and also when Clark was there. I don't know
whether it was a three, four, or five yarn spunyarn. The end
of it was thrown down the engine-room, the upper part being
attached to the lever. I have never seen that rope in use; I
never saw the end fixed or tied anywhere. The use of it was
explained to me in the Bee,when I was told it wu to shake the
valves. I do not recollect seeing the yarn on the levers about
the time of the explosion. I never knew the engines to be
seriously out of repair. The boat went remarkably well on
the morning of the explosion. I left the Cricket about three
minutes after she arrived at the Fox-under-the-Hill pier on
that morning. I did not then notice whether the steam
was blowing off or not. I was away from the boat about
four or five minutes, and as I was returning the explosion
took jplace. I have occasionally observed the steam blowing
off when we have been at the piers. I saw the steam blow-
iog off from the Cricket at Dyer's-hall-wharf, about
20 minutes before the explosion. A report wee made to me
by Edwards, the stoker, about the valves being tied down
' several mootha ago, but I can't speak to the exact time. I
did not look to see whether the statement was true. I did
not believe it. I did not fancy such a thing was possible.
I made an entry in the book of the statement, and told the
superintendent, Mr. Poletti, of it an hour afterwards. I
also said to Clark, " Ned has come up to me and told me
you had the valves tied down." Ile said, "Do you believe
it ?" and I said, " I should think not." I saw Mr. Meacham
on board one day, about a week or more after that report
war made, and as he came up the steps of the
enpineroom, I heard him eay, "Do away with the
string: altogether." I don't know whether Clark was in the
engiot-room at that time. I have been down in the engine-
room ...sera; times since the complaint was made to me. I
have seen strings hanging, as I supposed, from the levers of
the valves, but they were not fastened in the engine-room.
tazidirhas the . James
site JeEi Edwards complained glainnotedsatilic me he
wentssid
upon the paddle-box directly, and took the boat away. I
never saw Clark drunk. I cannot say whether, on the occa-
sion when Edwards made the complaint, Clark had been
drinking. Edwards has told me sometimes that Clark
was drunk; but I never made any report, became
Clark always answered my directions. Some of the
Passengers heard Edwards's statement about the valves. I
am sur: none of the passengers left the boat, in consequence
of that statement. I reported it as a mere statement—not
as a complaint against Edwards. I have seen both Kent
and Clark attach the strings to the levers. I never saw any
nits in the beams of the engine-room. I will swear I have
not seen the strings fastened to the levers made " taut" in
the engine-rooen. I did not observe that the steam was
blowing of when I was walking down the pier just before
the explosion.
By the jury I had at times made complaints of the speed
of the boat falling off. I don't know when that was; it
Miaht have been in April.
Be Mr. Nl' Intyre J I never went down into the engine-
roois, atter Edwards had made his complaint, purposely to
look at the valves. I did not consider it my duty to do so.

By Mr. Chambers : I spoke to Clarke about Edwards's
statement, perhaps an hour after the complaint was made to
me. I can't say that he was drunk, but I knew that he
autally took a great deal of beer. I certainly n saw him
intoxicated. He always answered my call very well.
The Coroner, addressing the witness, observed, that he
wished other persons in the employment of the company
had given their evidence in as straightforward • wry u
he had done. The conduct of the witness while under ex-
amination had been most satisfactory, aad contrasted strongly
with the manner in which other persona had given their
evidence.

The inquest was then adjourned to Saturday morning, at
10 o'clock, for the purpose of takiug the evidence of several
other witnesses who were on board the Cricket, or in the
immediate neighbourhood, at the time of the explosion. It
was understood that the evidence of Mr. Lloyd, the gentle-
man deputed to examine the engines on the part of the
government, and of the other scientific gentlemen by whom
the engines have been inspected, would be proceeded with
on Monday.

THE TOWER HAMLETS COMMISSION OP SEWER 9.—
NeetetdaT a numerous meeting of the Tower Hamlets
Commissioners of Sewers was held at the office of the
commission, Great Alie-street, Whitechapel, to receive
' the reports of the committee and to consider the
necessity of making an application to the Lord Chan-
cellor for a renewal of the commission, which expires in
the month of December next. Mr. Alderman Musgrove,
chairman of the commissioners, presided.—Mr. Unwin, the
secretary, brought up the report of the committee to which
had been referred memorials from various parishes, owners,
and occupiers of houses, &c., applying for the construction of
sewers ; ‘a., from Poplar, Mile-End Old Town, White- , '
chapel, Bethnal-green, &c., some of which were directed to
be carried into execution. On the report being read, for a
sewer of 230 feet in length to be formed in the neighbour-
hood
of Cambridge-heath-road, which was inhabited by poor
persona, the committee suggested the postponement of it,
as arrangements were in progress fora contribution from
the owners of the property.—Mr. Anderson said that being
a poor locality no objection ought to be put in the
way of the construction of a sewer, and that he thought
no contribution ought to be required.—The Chairman
said that sewers wire more needed in many other
puts. It was a principle always adopted by the com-
mission to require the owners to advance a portion of the
money required. In this case aU the committee asked was
one-sixth towards the expense. It was painful to take such
a course, and he hoped that the time would come when the
commission might have an extension of power to compel
owners to construct sewers on their property, under direction
of the commission, allowing them 10, 15, or 20 years to pay
the amount charged upan them. It was then unani-
mously resolved to instruct the committee to apply to the
Lord Chancellor for a new cemmiabion for the Tower Mamlets.

TILE SANITARY STATE OF ST. GEORGE'S, SOUTII-
WARL.—Last evening at the meeting of the board of guard-
ians of the above parish, Mr. Collnion, the chairman, brought
under the notice of the members the charges which had been
made against the parish authorities and the medical officer,
of the dangerous state of the parish in the propagation of
fevers and other epidemics arising from the want of proper
sanitary measures. The charges were contained in a letter
signed," J. Brown, Deverell-street," pubashed in the Times
of Monday last. Considering the subject was one of very
great importance, aa soon as he had read the communi-
cation, he applied to Mr. Fitch to know what steps had been
taken by the medical officers relative to the filthy state of
some part of the parish and the extent to which fever had
been prop igated by the existence of these places. The board
would recollect that in consequence of the applications which
had been made to them the medical officers were directed to
furnish a report, and they had rent in one two
months ago, but it had been mislaid. The question
which he now proposed was, whether they should proceed
to the matter at once, or wait until the report was before
them.—A Gusrdiaa thought it would be much better to wait
until the report was laid before them, as it might contain
suggestions fur the remedy of the evils complained of.--Mr.
Palmer said he had read the letter, and felt deeply indebted
to the Times for having inserted it, thus drawing public
attention to these pest places in the parish. It was only the
public attention being directed to these nuisances that would
cause them to be abated.-11r. Martin remarked that it was
rather strange that the writer of the letter did not also direct
public mention to similar locales in his own pariah, that
of Newington, which for stench and filth could not be
exceeded. With respect to the nuisances complained of,
he rejoiced that Mr. Brown had written to the Times,—
It was proposed that some members of the board should
visit Three funs-court, White-street, upon which six of the
members proceedel to the place. Certainly a more filthy
dlace can hardly be found. Some of the houses are without
oors or windows; the bottom Haws, or earth, for it was im-
possible to ascertain which it was, were covered with filth of
all descriptions; while in two of these places were a bundle
of straw and a solitary counterpane, on which the inmates
slept; while in an upstairs room was another quantity of
straw on which a human being slept, but not a single
vestige of furniture. The inmates, upon seeing the deputa-
tion, all came out of their rooms, and in reply to inquiries
said every one of them had been attacked by the fever; that
some of them had refused to pay any rent, unless a drain
was made into the sewer, when the collector threatened
not only to seize on their wretched furniture, but also to
take out the windows. This was all the satisfaction which
they could obtain; they could not MOT* away having no
}lace to go to live in. L. pan the return of the members to
the board, it agreed that the clerk should write to the com-
missioners of sewers as to whether they were not bound
under the circumstances to open, at their Owl, expense, a
drain into the sewer, and thus remove the mize of the pre-
sent intolerable stench which pervaded the locality. Further
discussion as to the hest course to be adopted to get rid ref
these pest places in the parish was postponed until the re-
port of the medical officers should be presented to the board.
WESTMINSTER IlOsPlTAL—Yesterday a Quarterly
General Court of the governors of the above hospital was
held in the hoard-room of the institution, in the Broad
Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey; T. Amyot, Esq., in the
chair. The report stated that during the past quarter 2,474
out-patients had been relieved, and 459 in-patients had been
received. The total number admitted and relieved since its
foundation in 1719 has been near 340,000. Fourof the wards,
for want of funds, remain untenanted. The common seal of
the corporation was affixed to a deed of gilt from the
trustees of a lithontriptic fund, which has been some rears
in abeyance, but now transferred to the governors of this
hospital, for the reception of which class of patients (one of
the most important and delicate operations in surgery) one
or two of the preseat untenanted wards will be opened.
During the past three months the following munificent le.
games nave been received :—tinder the will of Miss Anna
Coryer, 2,0001. 3 percents. ; and Miss Elizabeth McPherson,
of Cadogan-place, Sloane-street, Chelsea, 3001. 3 per cents.—
The usual routine business leaving been transacted, thanks
were voted to the chairman.

CEIRIifB HOSPITAL.—On Tuesday next, being St.
Matthew's Day, the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs,
with the governors of the several royal hospitals, will at-
tend divine service at Christ's Church, Newgatestreet,
where a sermon will be preached by the Her. George Towns•
end Warner, M.A., assistant-master at Harrow-school; after
which they will repair to the Great Hail, in Christ's Hospi-
tal, where orations on the royal hospitals will be delivered,
according to annual custom, by the four senior scholars, who
are about' to proceed to the Universities of Oxford and Cam-
bridge. Compositions will also be recited by others of the
senior scholars.

CHRIST'S HosPrraL.—Sir,—My attention having
been called to a letter in your paper of Monday last, signed
" Burgandaz," and containing some very serious charges, if
they were but true, against the management of Christ's
Hospital, I beg leave to make a few observations in reply
I thereto. not for the purpose of allaying the fears and distress
of the parents of the pupils, of whom I am persuaded there
is scarcely one that is not aware of the unfounded na-
ture of those charges, but with the view of removing
any unfavourable impressions which they are calculated
to produce upon the public at large. The charges comprise:
1. Insufficiency of food. 2. Insufficiency and unsuitableness
of clothing. 3. Insufficiency of recreation ; and 4. Insuffi-
ciency of discipline. As the consequence of the first of these
charges, " Burgandu " alleges the prevalence in the insti-
tution of " scrofula, spasmodic asthma, itch, sore or scald
head, ophthalmia and other diseases of the eyes, in hundreds
of cues ; " et the second, " innumerable distressing diseases,
many terminating in death ; " of the third, " bodily and
mental incapacity;" and of the fourth, "that the small
boys are left entirely at the mercy of their elders."
Now, if this statement were borne out by facts, "Thargandaz"
would be fully entitled to consider his charges proved; but I
shall show, from some of the statistics which he calls for, not
only that they are not true, but that they are entirely with-
out foundation. I have carefully collected from the weekly
returns of the resident medical officer all the cane of the
several diseases particularised by " Burgandu," which have
occurred in the hospital in London, from the Ist January,
1846, to the present time, and the followiag is the result :
There have been of scrofulous disease five cases, of which two
were under treatment previous to the period in review, aid
all of them arising from constitutional causes ; of spasmodic
asthma, none; of itch, none; of sore, or scald head,
and ringworm, eight ; of ophthalmia, and other diseases of
the eyes, including accidents, 23: in all 36 cases, occurring
amongst nearly 1,000 children, and in a period of more than
20 months. Again, the number of children constantly in the
London and Herttord schools has averaged during the last
and present years nearly 1,601, and the deaths amongst them
(including those who have died at home with their friends)
have been 14 : viz., 10 iu 1346, and 4 in 1847, being at the
rate of 1 in 150 in the former, and 1 in 240 in the latter
year. Now, let " Burgandu" select the most healthy dis-
trict in London, or in all England, and he will not
find the general state of health of the children residing in
it to be better, nor the average rate of mortality to be lower,
than that of the children of Christ's Hospital. What
then becomes of his charges of insufficiency of food and
clothing, founded upon the prevalence of disease in the in-
stitution ? I could as easily and effectually rebut the re-
maining charges of insufficiency of recreation and discipline ,•
but I have already trespassed too much upon your time and
space, and shall therefore simply meet them with • direct
contradiction. There is no ground whatever for them. The
time allowed for recreation is not only ample, but in the
opinion of many persoas too liberal; and as to the
complaint of want of discipline, the children are at
all time, whether at table, at play, or in their
dormitories, under an efficient system of observation
and superintendence; and there is no school in the
kingdom, public or private, in which the oppression of
the younger boys by the elder is more strictly prohibited, or
in which less of it prevails. Ido not, however, wish you,
Mr. Editor, to take this upon my word; you can inquire,
and judge for yourself. My card, which I enclose, will
admit you to every part of the establishment; and if you
will take an opportunity at your leisure of visiting it, you
will find as healthy, happy, and contented a body of children
at Christ's Hospital, as anywhere is England.—Tite CLZ/UL