The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-03 00:00:00

FEARFUL

30ILER
BLACKPURN.

Fly

LIVES LOST

(FROII OUR OWN I

BLACKBURN, WEDNESDAY

A most fearful boiler explosion took place this morning
on premises in Starkie-street, occupied as a weaving shed,
by Mr. William Hesketh. In March, 1846, (says a second'
edition of the local paper), a similar accident, attended
with fatal results, occurred on the same premises, (formerly
known as the Eagle Foundry), in that portion of the build-
ing which was then occupied by Mr. Samuel Rodgett. The
scene of this morning's casualty was at the Penny-street end
of the premises, opposite to the stables of Mr. liugh Briggs,
the Fleece Inn. The explosion took place during the
breakfast half-hour (between eight and half-past), or the
loss of life must have been very great, there being from 90
to 100 hands employed at the mill. As it is, however, five
lives have been sacrificed, and some six or eight others dread-
fully injured.
The site of the accident is now one mass of ruins, amongst
which it would be impossible to trace out the buildings
which stood upon it this morning. The engine house was
on the west side of Starkie-street, about 30 yards from the
corner of Penny.street. The front building was only a
story high, but behind this there was another erection two
story's in height, both being occupied as weaving sheds.
These buildings were completely. blown down, as well as
one engine house and the adjoining premises in Starkie-

street.
The boiler was a waggon-shaped one, about fourteen
feet six inches in width. It had eight cross stays, four at
the surface of the water, and four at the crown of the boiler.
Besides these, there were three or four diagonal stays and
a longitudinal tone. The force of the pressure has con-
verted the wagon-shape of the boiler into an irregular circular
one. We purposely abstain from any exparte statement as
to the character of the boiler, inasmuch as it will form the
subject of official inquiry.
The boiler was lifted out of its bed and driven with great
force across the street, through the wall of the opposite yard,
behind Mr. Briggs's house, through the Stable and partly
into the kitchen, several of the inmates narrowly escaping
destruction. It is almost incredible that such a mass of
iron, as that which composes the boiler—which was adapted
for a sixteen-horse power engine—could have been driven
through such solid masonry as the walls on the opposite side
of the street, so as to be firmly embedded where it is now to

be seen_
At present it is difficult to obtain accurate information,
but we believe the following are the names of the parties
killed by the explosion : —T. Brotherton, twister, John-
street, who has left a wife enciente and five children ; Thos.
Sharples, bolt maker, Factory-hill, aged about 20 ; William
Benn, painter, who lodged in the house adjoining the engine
house ; a child who was in bed at the next house, that of
William Robinson and James Clegg, weaver. The under-
named are some of those who were injured :—William
Ingham, painter, who was passing at the time of the ex-
plosion, had his leg broken and greatly bruised; Betty
Duckworth, weaver, who was at work in the upper room,
was found in the cellar, much hurt ; and Helen Shorrock,
weaver, who was at work in the same room, was much
bruised. The names of the other sufferers we have not
been able to ascertain.
One end of the boiler was blown in the direction of Mr.
Talbot's tallow chandlery, which is situated in the rear of
the premises occupied by Mr. Hesketh. A man who was at
work on Mr. Talbot's premises had a very narrow escape. A
horse belonging to Mr. West, butcher, was killed by a stone
thrown from the building. A bystander, who was in Penny-
street at the moment of the accident, states that the boiler
flew across the street " just as if it had been a shot dis-
charged from a gun." Immediately after the explosion,
Messrs. Wilding, Shaife, Leach, Grime, Sheppard, and Drs.
Mairland and Irving were on the ground, and rendered every
assistance in their power to the parties injured. The police,
under Mr. Marshall, were also speedily in attendance, and
assisted in keeping order. Parties were employed to clear
off the rubbish with a view to the extrication of the bodies
supposed to be buried underneath. It is presumed that all
have been got out, as there were only a small number of
hands on the premises when the explosion took place.
The force of the explosion was felt within a considerable
circle around Starkie Street. The house of Mr. H. Biggs,
which is situated at the corner of the street, has been greatly
injured. It is probable that the large room behind (under-
neath which the boiler was driven) will have to be taken
down. A singular circumstance was noticed on these pre-
mises connected withthe accident. Abeam, with clothon 'was
driven from the factory through a single pane of glass into
one of the rooms. We understand that the boiler which has
exploded was about being replaced by a new one, for which
the dimensions had been taken about a fortnight or three
weeks ago. It is said the boiler has been in use about
fifteen years.
Many thousands of persons visited the premises during the
morning. The mass of undistinguishable ruins which
occupy the space around the engine-house have excited the
astonishment of all who have witnessed them. Bricks,
b.me of wood, iron °hafting, loomo, Sao., aro all sninglaa
together in a confused heap, conveying a vivid idea of the
awful power of the element which caused this horrible des-
truction. As in other similar cases, the opinion of some
scientific person will, no doubt, be obtained upon the probable
cause of the accident. Until this is given we advisedly
reserve the information which has reached us upon the
subject.