The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-10 00:00:00

TIM FATAL RAILWAY ENGINE EXPLOSION

NEAR MANCHESTER.

The Coroner's inquiry into the deaths of the four
men killed by the explosion of a locomotive engine, on
Tuesday, at the works of the London and North-Western
Railway Company, at the Longsight Station, neer Manches-
ter, opened yesterday, before W. S. Rutter, Esq., coroner,
at the Waggon and Horne Inn, Longsight. The names of
the deceased are Thomas Gresty, fitter, of Gorton ; James
Snowdon, boilermaker, of Manchester ; Wm. Black, boiler-
maker's assistant, Gorton Brook; and James Moore, boiler-
maker's assistant, of Ardwiek.
Mr. Heel* of the firm of Slater and Beetle, solicitor., of
Manchester, was present on behalf of the London and
North-Western Railway Company, accompanied by Mr.
Harrison, in.door superintendent; Mr. Ramsbottoos, the
locomotive superinteudent ; and Mr. Ellis, the resident en-
gineer. Two of the directors, Mr. Wm. Rawson and Mr.
Edward Tootal, were also present.
The Coroner observed that in this examination the jury
would have to endeavour to ascertain whether the accident
was the result of the unlawful act of any individual, or
gross negligence, or whether it was entirely the result of
accident. It would he necessary to have some competent
person to make an inspection of the boiler, and for that
purpose the inquiry would be adjourned after the hearing
of the erinesse which was now ready.
The jury then proceeded to view the bodies, and also the
scene of the accident, where the fragments of the engine
had been left undisturbed lisle the accident.
Francis Wheatley, of Hyde-rood, Manchester, foreman
of general repairs at the Longsight station of the London
and North Western Railway, said, I have been empLyed
there seven years. I have been foreman for the last seven
months. About 50 or 60 men are generally employed thew
in the locomotive department, exclusive of smiths. The
, four men who are killed were employed in the locomotive
'deportment. Thomas Oresty was the turner; he was about
36 years of age. Moore was 24 or 25 years old ; Snowdon
about .22. The accident happened about five minutes to
nine on Tuesday morning. I left the shop at lull pat
eight to go to breakfast in Hyde-road, seven or eight
minutes' walk. The engine was then standing over the
departure, pit, in the shed, ready to go on to the
main line. It was to go as • pilot engine to the
Standedge tunnel on the Huddersfield railway. I
did not see whether the steam was up. The engine
was No. 1, built 12 or 13 years ago by Messrs. Sharpe,
Roberts, and Co. It had been brought to be repaired about
three months ago. I superintended the repairs. It le
usual with me when I place an engine into a man's baud, in
write a report of what a man has to do, and I gave instrneel
Lions in writing in this instance. John Richmond had in
do these repairs. The eccentric gabe were to be filed out,
the rocking shafts new ferruled, new bushes for carrying
the valve spindles, the reversing lever rod, quadrate, its.,
refitted up; new lifting suede for the back gear eccentric
rods, tha lithe ground out, connecting rods repaired, pistons
repaired, new axle boxes, donee joint to be made, firebox
safety-valve ground, three new stays in the firebox, new
tires upon driving wheels, and fresh pair of leading wheels!
These repairs were done &speeding to may orders, and to
Saturday last. I
examined the work as it was going on. I considered the
engine quite fit for work. I den% remember how long it is
sins it was in work. It was not powerful enough to
draw a train of the present magnitude, but it has been
put to assist other engines. The spring balance was
70 lbs. to the square inch, but the engine was seldom run
at More than '5O, because it was not necessary to screw it
down lower: It might have been mewed down to 70, in
whith case the valve would be closed. •It is the duty of
the fireman of the steam-shed, John Richmond, to press
it down. He had to adjust it to 50 on Saturday. When
we tried it on Monday, I believe it was above 50. We
consider it our duty to go ourselves with an engine on its
first trip lifter repairs. We noticed nothing wrong.
Oa Monday morning it was blowing off the steam.
I am constantly looking over the repairs during their exe-
cution. I have seen the engine sines the explosion, and I
believe that over pressure caused the accident. It is my
improonan that some one had been fingering the valve. On
Monday morning the paint was somewhat damaged, and
two of the painter's lads, George &holes, was sent to make
it good, and he distinctly says he saw the engineman, Ed-
ward Herron, screw the valve down. Hefron was much
Injured by the explinion, and I have heard this morning
that he is dead. The engine was under the power we now
usually employ. I considered the boiler quite sound and good.
We can ascertain by sounding whether any of the stays are
broken. Two or three stays in the fire box were put in in
this caw, and all were found tight en Monday morning. I
did net consider that the stays looked unsound, though old.
Tiro iota oxidises more than the copper. The length of
doe whisk the stays will endure depends on the quality
of the water. Herron had been employed two years as en-
gine driver, and bad been fireman before.
John Walker Richmond, engine-maker, employed at the
words at Longsight, said—l have been employed in repair-
lag this engine. A great:portion of the work had been done
before I commenced. I received my instructions a month
ago from Mr. Wheatley. I had men to assist me. The re-
pairs were completed on Monday morning. I have been
employed above three years at work on locomotive engines
at these works. I considered the repairs efficiently done.
The engine was taken into the steam shed on Monday. I
mw the steam up on Mooday afternoon. It was blowing off
at both valves. There wee a leakage at the dome joint,
which I was called to remedy. I set the dome joint valve
to 501 be. on Monday evening, which I consider a safe
pressure. I did not notice the valve afterwards. I
had to connect the parts together which had been
worked in the shop. The fitting and turning had
been done before. Heron took the engine out to try
it on Monday. Hefron was with the engine when I last
saw it, about ten minutes before the explosion. I was in
the news room when it occurred. It was possible for some
one to screw down the valve to stop the noise, hut I never
knew such a thing being done. I believe it to be the duty
of Mr. Rigg. the foreman of the steam shed, to see the
steam got up, but lam not sure. There were several per-
sons about the engine when I went to the news room. I
left the safety-valve over the tire-box loose, for the men
who got up the steam to shut it down. I put in the three
new stays ; all the others were tight. The stays in the
water space were very little corroded. The thread screwed
in the fire-box war defective. I generally find that the
iron oxidises most. I have no opinion how the accident
happened. If the valves had not been screwed down

kowto thaw 40, there weld cat have hoen as implesiou.
I believe Henry Buxton has to look after the nifht fires.
There sienna appointed to get up the steam; it ts not the
duty of the engint-man to get op the steam of the engine
which he takes out. I considered it au old engine, but I
can't my whether it was able to do its work or not. I
believe the three new stays are in now. We should here
detected by the sound if any of the stays were cracked. If
a stay wad weak there would be a bulge inwards from the
pressure of the water and stems. I don't consider it a bad
place where there has been a bulge, when a new stay is
pat ie.

meg,' Scholes—l had to scrape blisters off the fire-box
and boiler at half-past six o'clock yesterday morning. The
steam was then up. The fire was in and the steam blown
off. I remained till ten minutes to 9, then I went into the
paint shop. Some of the boiler makers were about the
engine with Hefron, eating their breakfast. He (Hefron)
screwed the valve ou the fire-box down. lie got on the top
of the boiler when I was there. lie got on the foot-plate
several times when I went away. The steam was stopped
when I went away. He went from the foot-plate to the
top of the valve when he had strewed down the valve. I
did not notice the figure he screwed it to. It was about 2i
minutes to 9 that he screwed it down. I never saw him
alter it afterwards. Mr. John Itigg is the foreman over
the steam. I can't say where Hefrou was when I left the
engine. The explosion took place about seven or eight
minutes after I left. I had to finish the painting before I
went to breakfast. The engine had been quiet for some
time before I left. She was making a great noise before
Helton screwed the spring-balance down. I heard no one
complain of it.
. . _

Taylor said—l am a labourer, and look after the
clearers. 1 was breakfasting yesterday in the shed, at the
pillar neat the engine, about 12 yards from it, when the
explosion occurred. It was about nine o'clock. I saw
Hefron, the ougineman, oiling the engine and examining
the motion on the same side as 1 was on. The steam was
blowin; off considerably at the funnel. At the fire-box
valve it was only puffing slightly at the come. The ex-
plosion occurred after Herron had eroe.ed to the other side.
The fireman came to rake out the ash-pan. I saw four
boiler-men get off the engine when Hefron was oiling it. 1
did not see the bay who was painting. I did not see Hefren
screw the valve down. Black, one of the men killed, was
one of the men who came off the engine. The engine
was brought on the pit about half-past eight. Robert Tab-
Icy got off the boiler. George Schofield hail charge of the
engine at seven o'clock.
Henry Buxton said—l look after the steam getting up
in the night. lam engineman. I had orders to have the
engine which exploded ready by eight o'clock in the morn-
ing. I got the engine at nine o clock at night. I went to it
at three in the morning and examined it. I found a little
water in the boiler, and filled it up to the top. I examined
both the safety valves. The one at the big dome was at
60, and the one over the firebox, on the footplate, from 55
to 60. 1 did not alter them, because I thought that was
about right. I told John Blinston, the man who puts the
area in, to put the fire in at 5 o'clock. Then I went to
look after another pilot engine. I never looked at the en-
gine after a quarter to four o'clock, when I left it. I was
not on the premises when the explosion took place. Mr.
Rigg gave me my instructions. Before I went away I sent
for Hefron.

John ltigg—l an an outdoor foreman at these works.
Before the engines go on the line they come under my
care; and this engine did so on Monday, about nine or ten
o'clock in the morning, when it was brought into the steam
shed. We then had to prepare her for steam. I gave Hefron
instructions to get her lute steam, and she was iu steam
from 2to 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The steam was blow-
, ing off, and the valve was down at 50 to 60. I found the
dome joint bad, and did not think proper to send her out.
The fire was pulled out, and the joint was repaired that
night. I left the men making It good when I went away
at night. I saw the engine about half-past six o'clock next
morning, and did not notice it particularly till half-past seven.
There was a fire in then, but no steam. The valves on the
dome was then screwed down to from 50 to 60 lbs., and the
other valve was rather lighter. Helton was then in charge
of the engine. He was Instructed to get her ready to go to
the tunnel. I saw it again about twenty-five minutes past
eight, when it was blowing off at the tire-box valve very
fast, but not uncommonly so. I did not notice the other
valve at the time. liefron was in the act of coupling the
feed-pipes. I told him to get away as soon as he could
with the engine, and get back in time to take
As quarter-peat one train out. There was no one there but
Nadia and a painter's boy, and all was right when I left
Os my breakfast, about 20 minutes past 8. I did not re-
turn till the accident had happened ; I should have been
dose to the engine if it bad happened five minutes later. I
aside close to the railway and heard the explosion. When
I got back the men were getting the bodies out. The men
I saw pulled out were under the ruins. Both Hefron and
algae, engine men had been warned not to have too high
pressure on. I think the engine was calculated for the
pressure it was in'ended for. A portion of the roof fell. I
seat say whether the men were killed by the roof falling.
I considered Helton a prudent driver. I thought the en-
gine was safe at a pressure of 60. 1 have been at the works
about four months. I think the cause of the accident was
excessive pees are, because when I returned from breakfast'
the dome valve was screwed down to the bottom of *esker,
when the steam could not blow off at anyeweesure. It was
US
if there was no valve at all. The lare-hme valve was
blown off.
The inquest was then adjourned till 3 o'clock this (Thurs-
day) afternoon, in order that Mr. Fairbains, C.E., and Mr.
Richard Roberta, of the firm of Sharpe and Roberts, the
'oaken of the engine. who had made an inspection of the
engine since the accident, might attend to give evidence.
Several of the jury expressed an opinion that it would be
desirable, after that, to adjourn again, in order that a
government inspector might make an examination of the
✓emains of the engine, and give evidence as to the cause of
the explosion.
Edward Hefron, another of the sufferers by the explosion,
who was the driver of the engine, died yesterday morning,
at the Manchester Infirmary, from the effects of the inju-
ries he received. He had sustained a compound fracture
of the right leg ; and was severely scalded on the right
thigh, the face, and the head. The inquest on the body
will probably be held to day, before Mr. Herford, the
armee fur the borough of Manchester.

ANOTHER STARTLING ROBBERY AT
MANCHESTER.

At an early hour yesterday morning, the exten-
sive plate and jewellery shop of Mr. (Meant, Exchange-
street, Manchester, was entered by thieves, and plundered
of property variously rumoured to be of the value of 2,0001.
to 2,6001. The premises are at the corner of Exchange-
street and St. Mary's-gate, with the principal door opening
into the former at the corner, and a smaller door opening
into the latter street from the room or shop in which
watches and jewellery are taken in for repair. There are
three shop windows looking into Exchange-street, and
under the furthest is an upright grid, opening on hinges,
through which the shutten are put into the cellar during
the day. It was secured by • rusty old padlock. The
thief hispicked this lock, descended into the
cellar, and from thence obtained access, by the
staircase, into both the shops, through the unfas-
tened doors. It is supposed this man let in con-
federates through the shop door, in St. Mary's-gate (which
had been opened by taking off a lock inside, and drawing •
bolt only), and that when the booty had been secured, thee°
parties had been let out there—for the bolt was shot back,
though the lock was not restored—the leader escaping into
the street again by the way he had entered. The glass
cases on the counters of the sale shop, as well as the drawers
and windows, have been cleared of all the smaller and
more valuable jewellery, including 81 gold watches, makers'
name " 011ivents ;" 30 gold brooches, set with amethyst,
topaz, carbuncle, &c.; 250 gold guard riags, 2 signet rings
set with blood and white cornelian, and black enamel ; 30
gold Albert chains, 50 gold seals, SO gold watch keys, 10
gold thimbles, 6 sets of diamond shirt studs, 200 gold pencil
cases, some with gold pens, 24 dozen
.silver teaspoons, 00
gold guard chains, and ether property.
The shop was locked up at half-past eight o'clock on
Tuesday night, and the robbery must have been effected
between that hour and 4:o'clock yesterday morning, when
it was discovered. It seems that no one sleeps in the shop,
but that the porter (a man named Kay), his wife, and two
female servants, sleep in the upper end bock part of the
premises (third and fourth stories), at a considerable dis-
tance from the shop. In the cellar beneath the shop, a
large dog, of the terrier breed, is always kept; and his
watchfulness and loud barking, on the slightest noise on
the onside of the premises, are matters of notoriety to the
police on that beat. Besides the regular night police on the
beat, the shopkeepers of Exchange-street and St. Ann's-
square maintain amongst them a private watchman, who
patroles that limited round all night. Under these cir-
cumstances, it seems scarcely credible that Mr. 011ivaat's
premises cauld have been entered from without, and robbed
in the manner described.
We have not heard that the police have any clue, but it
is a remarkable fact that Mr. Beswick, chief superintendent
of the detective force, had called on Tuesday evening and
left a caution with Mr.ollivant that the town was unusually
full of thieves, who were arousing at the public-houses
which are their regular haunts, and that it was desirable
such a shop should be well looked after during the night.
A man states to the police that he was passing Mr. 011i-
vant's shop yesterday morning, between four and five
o'clock, when a tall man (about six fret high), wearing a
long coat, came out of the door into St. Mary's-gate, and,
closing it after him, went through Exchange-street,
and Bank-street into Craw-street. lie appeared to
have something heavy in one of hie pockets,
which weighed him to one side. This man was
no doubt one of the robbers; hut unfortunately the
person who gives this information, after following him into
Cross-street, and seeing him approach a watchman coming
is the opposite direction, contented himself with the
reflection that the man might be a private watchman, and
turned away without mentioning his first suspicion to the
police watchman approaching him. It will be recollected
that Mr. 011ivant was robbed a few weeks ago of 1451. iu
notes, by a thief rushing into the shop and seizing them
from his desk, as he was counting the day's cash receipts in
the evening. The numerous audacious robberies recently
committed in this town, with those at Stockport and Mac-
; cleslield, have caused a deep sensation in the public mind.

DEPARTURE OF THE AMERICAN MAlLS.—Yeater-
day forenoon, shortly after 11 o'clock, the United States
mail team ship Atlantic, (7.irtaia Wcat, sailed from the
Mersey for Nsw York with the usual bi-weekly mails, 44
passengers, and a large and raluablo cargo of merchandise
on board.