The Express.
London, England, 1847-09-06 00:00:00

THE LATE FATAL EXPLOSION ON THE
_ RIVER.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.—At eleven o'clock this day
Mr. Bedford, the coroner for Westminster, resumed his
inquiry into the cause of the death of the five unfortunate
persons who suffered by the explosion on board the Cricket
steamer. The inquiry took place at St. Martin's-workhouse,
by adjournment from Monday last, when the evidence, it
will be remembered, was confined to the identification of the
bodies, and the proof of their having been found in or near
the wreck,—the more important portions of the inquiry—
those relating to the construction and working of the engine
and boilers, and the conduct of the captain and
engine-men, being reserved, and was again postponed. Haying,
in our former report, given the names and descrip-
tions of the deceased persons, it is unnecessary to repeat
them. The jury, of which Mr. James Jones was foreman,
having assembled,
The Coroner said : Gentlemen, I think it better to state at
once that I shall not have occasion to detain you long to-
day, as the inspection on the part of the government his not
yet been made. the moraine after our adjournment, ac-
cording to my expressed intention, I put myself in commu-
nication, by letter, with the Secretary of State, and took the
liberty of calling his attention to the fearful nature of this
explosion, and the importance to the public that a thorough
investigation should be made, in the hope that the
government would think it proper to appoint some
one specially fur that purpose. That letter was
immediately responded to; and, in consequence, I put
myself in communiutien with the Board of Trade ; I have
Ids, been in communication with other departments. On
'Ay last Mr. Thomas Lb," and Mr. Robert Hurd—

Saturday A...A Mr. 'A.— Lloyd rs Hughes
were nominated by the government to make the inspection
of the boilers and machinery of the boat. Of the high repu-
tation of those gentlemen I need say nothing ; the source
from whence their appointment emanates is a .efficient
guarantee to the public of their capacity for the purpose.
These gentlemen, whose practical experience and knowledge
are well known, will immediately proceed to snake the neon-
lazy investigation ; indeed, I believe they will make it this
day. That inspection will be made in the presence
of the engineer and the proprietors of the boat,
also the engineer of Mr. Joyce, and of Mr. Joyce
himself, if he thinks fit to attend. This will tn.
sure a thorough and fair investigation. The evidence I shall
trouble you with to-day will be merely what is necessary to
complete the medical testimony, and to fill up some links
in the chain of evidence regarding the removal of the bodies
to the hospital. This will occupy a short time. Then I shall
propose that we adjourn for aheut a week. le the mean
time, I shall of mune reserve all further evidence until this
inspection has been made; then I shall be able to decide
what course to adopt in reference to the adjourned evidence
and tho other evidence that may be brought forward.
The following evidence was then tilatin .
Mr. George M Young, house-sunteon at the Charing-
mow-hospital, deposed On Monday last, I made a poet.
smarten& examination of the head of Shed. I found a
compound fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain,
which were the cause of death. I have not made a post-
mortem examination of Shute's body, but the symptoms
were those of drowning.
Police-constable George Selby, F 138: At 10 o'clock on
the morning of the accident, I was standing on the Fax-
pier, and saw a watermon bring on shore a body from near
the boat, which was taken to the hospital. I did net see the
body identified.
Mr. J. N. Bainbridge, surgeon to the workhouse: I made a
poet-mortern examination of the body of Littleton on Tuesday
last. Putrefaction had made considerable progress ; the face
and head were livid and swollen: these were evidences of
sudden and violent death. The wound on the right temple
extended quite down to the bone; it was not • mortal
wound. The skull was not fractured, nor wee there any
injury to the brain. From the appearances, I should say he
died from drowning. I did not examine the lunge, for while
I was making the examination, the friends of the deceased
came and were very clamorous. I was fearful of a die.
turbance, for there were two or three Irishmen among them.
'The appearacces of the head satisfied me that they were not
the cause of death. The blow might have caused insensibility,
and so have prevented the deceased from assisting himself in
the water. I examined the body of John Buckley the same
day, and found • comminuted fracture ofday, the right thigh, there
being two loose pieces, ono of which was drawn up two inches
by the action of the muscle. Oa the left side of the rum-
head, under the scalp, I found • large patch of dark ex-
travanted blood, evidently the result of a blow, which must
have been indicted during lite. There was no dare of the