The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-08 00:00:00

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER EXPLOSION AT

SUNDERLAND.

FOUR MEN SEVERELY INJURED.

Yesterday morning, about half-past 0 o'clock, a
fearful explosion of • locomotive engine occurred at Sun-
derland. It appeared that one of the locomotive engines
belonging to the Earl of Durham, used for drawing coals
from Pensher to the Lambton drops, belonging his lord-
ship, at Sunderland, had gone from one of the coUieries
taking a number of joiners to Sunderland to do some work
at the coal drops. The engine had run into a siding near
to Deptford church to fill water from a tank, and had put
the water on, when a tremendous explosion occurred
which lifted the massive engine, about 35 tons weight, off
the rails, turned it completely round, and threw it over
on its side. At the time four men were on it. Michael
Errington, the driver, was on the side of the engine
oiling the works ; John Atkinson, the fireman, was
attending to the water; and two men, named John
Brandon, another engineman, and Matthew Bunch, a
guard, were on the tender, intending to proceed with the
locomotive to Philadelphia, where they live. The clouds of
steam and showers of red-hot cinders and coals at first pre-
vented the men who were at work near from seeing the ex-
tent of the accident, but as these cleared away they saw
the overturned engine, and rushed towards the spot. The
first man found was the engineman, who had been blown
away some 15 yards, across several lines of rails, and
alighted on his head. The other three men were blown in
various directions, but all had been dreadfully scalded by
the steam and water ejected from the engine. The engine-
driver was the least injured of the three ; he was placed
on another locomotive and taken to Philadelphia, where he
resides. The three others were se soon as possible put
into a cab, and taken to Sunderland Infirmary, where
their injuries are such that fears are entertained for the
recovery of two of them. On examining the locomotive,
it was ascertained that one side of the inside plates of the
firsbox had been blown off by the pressure of steam in-
side, and the plate was most curiously torn and twisted.
Fortunately, the force of the explosion had been down-
ward, instead of outwards, or all the men would have
'been killed. The engine was only about two years old,
and was manufactured by Messrs. Hudswell and Clark, of
Leeds. It is believed that the engineman had allowed the
plates to become over-heated for want of water, and im-
mediately on the admission of fresh water, the explosion
took place. The pressure was not more than usual, viz.,
about 110 pounds.—Loeb Mercury.

AN OUTRAGEOUS RA/LWAY FASSZNORR. -At I
Driffeld, on Monday, Thomas Smith, of Hull, tailor, was
charged with being riotous in a railway carriage. On
the Ist inst. there was an excursion from Hull to the gala
at Melton, and the defendant was a passenger. His con-
duct, quarrelling and fighting with the other passengers,
was so disgraceful that, on the train arriving at Hutton
Cranswick, a complaint was made to the station-master,
who proceeded to the carriage in which the prisoner was,
and where • frightful scene presented itself. The pri-
soner was bleeding from the face, and • female and
male passenger who sat opposite were covered with blood.
It was found that the prisoner had conducted himself
more like • madman than a sane person. He was re-
moved from the carriage ; but the train had scarcely
got into motion before it was found necessary to signal
for it to be stopped in consequence of the guard hear-
ing • great disturbance in the carriage into which
the prisoner had been removed. He bad again to be taken
from the train by force. He kicked the station-master
furionsly,knocked his hat off, tore his waistcoat open, pulled
his watch out, and threatened to "smash" him,and knocked
him into a ditch up to the knees in water. With assistance
he was secured and placed in the station. Here he
threatened to " do " for the porter, and was feeling in his
pocket for a knife to carry his threat into execution when
be was given into the custody of a polioeman, who con-
veyed him to the look-up at Driffield. On the following
morning, when his breakfastwas taken to him by a woman,
he threw the hot coffee at her, scalding her arm, and con-
ducted himself in an outrageous manlier. The prisoner
said he had no defence to make. He was fined 40a., and
ordered to pay expenses, 15s. ; and in default was sent to
the House of Correction for 14 days.
FATAL FIGHT WITH WET'S BY CAR DRIVERS. -
OR Monday an inquest was held at Westminster Hospital,
on the body of William Bertram, Mt years of age, a Hansom
cabdriver. On Thursday evening the deceased got into an
alternation with another cabdriver, named Birch, and
they struck at each other with their whips, in Great
Georgectreet. Bertram fell off his " dickey ' while stand-
ing up to strike his antagonist. His horse backed at
the same time and the wheel passed twice over deceased.
He was taken to the hospital, where be died from internal
hemorrhage arising from rupture of the liver. The jury
returned a verdict of " Accidental death."
• •

Tila LATI GMT AOCIDINT AT Lune.—An in-
quest was held yesterday, by the Leeds coroner, on the
body of Mn. Spanks, who met her death in so melancholy
• aenner on lluaday last, having been assidentally shot
by Thomas Lockwood, a clerk in the Leeds post-ofllos. The
jury returned a verdict of " Manslaughter" against Lock-
wood, and be was eommtited for trial at the present
&arises, bail being taken for his appearsoce.—Leeds Ma,