The Express.
London, England, 1847-08-27 00:00:00

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No. 310.] LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUG. 27, 1817. [3d.

officer has charge of each gate of the city, and in the
evening when the drums of the papal militia beat the
night call, a squadron of hussars follows them, lest
they should beat the alarm. It is affirmed that
20,000 Austrians have been collected on the left bank
of the Po, ready to cross that river by the bridge
of the Madelena. It wee understood that an arrange-
ment had been made between the Austrian Com-
mander-in-Chief Radetzki and the Duke of 'ilodena,
for the march of a body of Austrians into that duchy.
We have, however, already mentioned that the Grand
])uke of Tuscany is reported to have protested against
such a proceeding.

according to these letters, that the attitude of the
population has inspired the Austrian generals with a
salutary fear.
Letters from Piedmont, justify the hope that Charles
Albert, yielding to the solicitations and remonstrances
of the leaders of liberal opinion, will enter frankly on
measures of constitutional reform, and openly pro•
flounce in favour of the Pope.
The Grand Duke of Tuscany has communicated to
the committee appointed to revise and reform the
penal code of his state, that he has finally resolved on
the total and unqualified abolition of capital punish-
ment. lie has also resolved to substitute solitary
confinement for hard labour at the hulks and in
penitentiaries.

FRicirouL ACCIDENT.

EXPLOSION OF A STEAM-BOAT,

AND LOSS OF LIFE.

This morning, about half-past nine o'clock, the
boilers of the Cricket steamer, one of three which carries
passengers between London-bridge and the Fox-under-the
Hill pier, Strand, exploded, and we regret to state that a fear-
ful loss of lire has taken place, and that upwards of 60 per-
sons have been 'aided and wounded. This vessel, like the I
Ant and Bea, was fitted up with Joyce's engines, and the
awful calamity was, no doubt, caused by en undue pressure
of steam.. Both ends of these steamers, belonging to the
"Half-penny Company," as it is termed on the river, are
alike, and there is a rudder and tiller at each end. The
Cricket, which was considered the fastest of the three
vessels, was about leaving the pier, there being some
100 persona at the time on deck, when the boilers exploded,'
with a loud noise, and in an instant fragments of iron and wood
were hurled into the air, falling a considerable dis-
tance from the spot, and one piece of iron was picked up on
Waterloo-bridge. Directly tne explosion took place, water•
men put off from the various plying-places, anti rescued a
number of the sift ighted passengers who were precipitated
into the water ; but some were drowned, others were scalded
to death, and others were mantled in a horrible manner.
No time was lat in conveying the sufferers who w. re still
alive to the Charing-cross and King's College hospitals.
Several of the patients were but slightly injured, but others
had received mortal wound* and bruises. Sixteen persons
were admitted into the hospitals before 10 o'clock, and many
who were wounded were conveyed to their residences. Three
were brought on shore dead ; and, as many were believed to
have been drowned, several watermen were at once en-
gaged dragging for the bodies. The multitude that flocked
to the pier and the immediate neighbourhood became so
great, that it was found necessary to call upon a strong body
of the F division of police and the Thames police, to r tend
and prevent confusion. The Cricket, a complete wreck,
sunk directly the explosion took place. It was nearly low
water when the unfortunate occurrence happened, and her
hull was still invisible when our reporter left. One pin of the
boiler was hurled 100 feet toward, the Watermen's Adelphi
pier, at the bottom of George-street, and another portion of
it in a contrary direction towards Waterloo-bridge. A cor-
respondent:residing in the Waterloo-road, near the river,
says—" I was seated at my desk, writing a letter, this morn-
ing, when I was startled by a loud explosion, which shook
every window in the house, and broke several panes of glass.
I immediately rose from my seat, and observing a number of
persons running towards the bridge, I went to the top of the
house, and saw a dense column of steam ascending from a
vessel on the opposite shore, When it had cleared away, I
saw forty or fifty persons struggling in the water, and many
of them perished before any one could reach them. 011
crossing the bridge into the Strand, I observed men,
women, and children, running from the different
courts and streets towards Ivy-bridge-lane, at the bot-
tom of which the pier is situate, and before I
could reach the water-side several persons were met,
catried on the shoulders of others. They were either
scalded or bruised, and groaning heavily. It was a most dis-
tressing scene. The force of the explosion appears to have
been upwards, but it is impossible to state with any degree
of certainty.
ONE o'CLOCL.—The greatest excitement prevails. The
number now reported to be killed and drowned is 13, and
those scalded and wounded, 50. But so great is the con-
fusion end the difficulty of procuring any accurate informa-
tion, that it is impossible to state with any certainty the ex-
tent of the calamity. The street opposite the Charing-cross
Hospital is crowded with anxious inquirers.
FURTHER PARTICI:LAU/I.—By the kindness of the clerk
of the Charing-cross hospital, we are i sable to give the
names of the sufferers admitted into the i istitution : Henri
Blunt, since dead • Thomas Maist, the call-boy, with severe
injuries on the head end body., who was first reported to be
dead ; his as is hopeless, sad he is not execcted to survive
many hours. Hugo Berke, fractured legs • Thomas
James Hobbs, Mr. Cahn, Henry Rowland, James Tinsman,
William Kay, William Ayre, or Apnea, Willi.m Red-
grave, Benjamin Reeke, r .d William Ruth. The eierk
states that most of the 'offerers are injured about Ole
legs, and, with one o • two exceptions, the cases
are net serious. Mr. Avery, Mr. Hancock, surgeons, Dr.
Gelding, physician, and Mr. Young, house-surgeon, are in
attendance on the sufferers. It is reported that as many
as thirty persons were in the cabin of the boat when the ex-
plosion took place, who have perished. Their bodies cannot
be recovered till the tide recede-. The engines, manufactured
by Joice, of Greenwich, for the Cricket, Bee, and Ant hoif-
penny boats, are what is e .lied the double-acting, and work
both at high and low pre sure. They were made to rive
steam and fuel ; and it is reported, when the explosion took
place, the safety valve was closed, and the escape of steam
prevented.
Two bodies lie at St. Martin's workhouse. One is that of
a watchmaker of the name of Blunt, whose residence is not
known, and the other is that of a co .Iheaver, who bas not
yet been identified. In the Westminster Hospital one man,
who is at present unknown, but is believed to have been one
of the crew of the ill-fated vessel, is dead.
One person among those picked up dead was well-known
to the people on the pier as being a daily passenger. He
had 11. 10,. in gold in his pocket, and 10s. in silver. He
wore a gold chain and silver watch. Some of his linen was
marked "J. M. B." There was a letter in his pocket,
which may possibly lead to his identity. It is dated Wed-
nesday, and commences thus:
" Dear John -I am going to Walton'a this afternoon—" and ended
" I shall expect to see you to-nywrsw (Thursday) without fad.
(owned)
It is not expected that any fresh facts will transpire until
the hull of the vessel can be got at, and that is looked for-
ward to with feverish anxiety. It it reported that nine per-
sons now lie dead.