The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-11 00:00:00

IValle End.

Kelloe.. ..... 6
Gawp 2O 9,
Ships at marks

THE LATE MR GILICS-

PULLER, M.P.--A stained
window to the memory of the late .111 r Giles-Puller, M.P.
for llertfordshire, is to be placed in the parish church of
Standon, llertfordshire. As the subscription was larger
than was required for the purpose, the surplus is to be de-
voted to the enlargement of the High-cross Church tichoola.

The Late Gunpowder Explosion at Erith.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.-(THIS DAY.)

The adjourned inquest was resumed this morning by Mr
Carttar, the Coroner, at the Avenue School-rooms, Erith.

The first witness examined was Mr Vredetlek Albert
Tipple, who said—l am a surgeon residing at Erith. On
my arrival at the scene of the explosion the first I saw was
Rayner—he was dead. The next I saw was Hubbard—he
was alive. He was lying near the wreck of Silver's house.
I don't think he had been moved, as he was lying in an in-
sensible state on his back. He did not appear to have re-
ceived any external injury, but on raising him up I found
he had received an extensive fracture of the skull from
which the brains were protruding. He lived two hours
after my arrival. lam still attending the boy Simms, but
it is very doubtful whether he will recover.
Walter Silver said•—l was in the outhouse of my residence
at the moment of the explosion. I had been out about a
quarter to six that morning, but I had not been near the
magazine. I saw there were two barges near Mr Hall's
neg.-aloe, The first indication of the explosion I heard
was a tremendous crack, and it appeared as if the whole roof
was lifted up. It seemed to me to come from-the direction
of Mr Hall's niagoz.ne. I cannot positively say where the
explosion first occurred. lat first thought it might have
been the explosion of half a pound of powder I kept in my
own house. I was thinking for a moment when another
explosion occurred ; some more bricks came about me. Then
followed another, and then all became darkness. I don't
know whether I fell down. The first body I saw was
that of Elie Osborne, now dead, she resided with me. 1
am the manager of the Liverpool Company, and I superin-
tended the business of the company. My magazines had not
been opened that morning. No one is admitted to the magazine
except on business. Mr Hall's magazine was constructed
exactly as our own. I believe there were seven men ordered
to come to work that morning, but I had not seen any of
them.

By a Juror—The second explosion was the heaviest of
the three. The first one was not very heavy, the second
was terrific, the third was not so loud; but I distinctly
heard the three explosk ns. The gunpowder was kept in
barrels. Raynor and myself were like brothers.

By the Coroner—l dou't know the maker of the barrels
which contains the powder. They aro made at the mills at
Faversham. The letter put into my hand I believe to to
in the handwriting of Raynor.

By a Juror—The magazine is abcut 20 yards from the
rivere and about 100 feet between the two magazines,:. I
believe our magazine was the last to explode.
The Coroner said his great desire, in the first instance,
was to discover the place at which the explosion at first
commenced, and then having ascertained that they could
take the evidence as to the modo of loading, unloading,
and storing the powder. Having ascertained that from
Mr Silver he would then retire, and at another part of the
inquiry he would be recalled.
Samuel Wm. Fletcher, aged 13, said—l reside with Mr
Silver, I got up about half-past five. I was at the back
of the house, looking towards Erith, with the cows, when
the explosion took place. I had not been to the river or
the magazine. I first heard a man say " Oh." I saw the
flash go from the barge to the magazine. I could see the
sails, but not the barges. I then fell down. I did not
hear the sound. I cannot say whether I got up or was
picked up. When I came to myself Mr Raynor's
magazine was in flames. The smoke had all gone away.
By a Juror-1 saw two barges lying off the magazine
the evening before the explosion took place. Ono was at
the end of the jetty, the other along side. I can't say
frog„ which of the barges the flash seemed to come from.
I think it was Hubbard who called out " Oh." He was
not engegel at either of the magazines. I saw him before
the explosion. He was not smoking.
By a Juror—l did not see smoke coming from the cabin
of either of the barges the night before the explosion. We
have boiled a kettle once for a barge men, but that's a long
time ago. I never saw any men smoke in the barges.
Thomas Richardson—l reside at Erith, and lam a
fisherman. I was standing about 150 yards off the south
shore in the stream when the explosion occurred. The first
thing that called my attention to the barges was my eon
calling out to me that men were at work at the barges, and,
therefore, it was getting late. I looked towards the jetty,
and there I saw some men on the barge, but I can't say
how many, I then saw a great smoke and then a tremen-
dous explosion. I fancied it came from the barges. I felt
little effect from the first shock, but the following one was
terrific. I was struck by a stone and injured. The barge
was greatly irjured. When I recovered, I heard what I
now believe to be cries for assistance from some persons in
the water. I afterwards hell ei to rescue one of the poor
fellows from the water. When I first looked towards the
barges tho smoke seemed to arise suddenly. The second
shock seemed to lift the boat right out of the water.
By a Juryman—Only a few seconds elapsed between
the shocks. I did not see a large steamer going down the
river at the time. I know that the steamers go very close
to the river bank when passing the spot, but I did net see
any sailing down that morning. A steamer, I believe,
passed atter the explosion, I did not see the vessel myself
at all.
Thomas Wehards, aged 12, said—l was with my father on
board his boat on the morning of the explosion. I saw two
men at work on the jetty. They seemed to be wheeling
casks along in a truck. I told my fa her it was getting late
as men were at work. I next saw a great smoke at the
stern of the barge. I heard a great noise and was forced
into the cabin. I cannot recolleet anything else. The first
thing remember was my father g tine into a boat to row
down to the place near the explos'ol , The etea^ er I saw
after the e: !lesion was a middlin :_ed boat. She was

going along the north shore,
By a Juror—' 'he smoke I saw was clack, and it seemed
to come from the barge lying along e e the jetty, and not

at the end.
By Mr Poland-7. vms only frightened when I saw my
father bleeding. I not'ed the exact posit'on of the I --et,
at the jetty—one was at the end, the other higher up along-
side. The smoke seemed to come from the end of the jetty,
and directly I saw it I hear ale noise. lam certain it
seemed to come :rom the s:ea. ;-,f the barge. Tho steamer
I saw was going down with t'-e Ca away from London.
I saw two men on the 'etty, huts cannot say whether
there were any men at work on the barges. I saw my
father was hurt before I saw the steamer.

Robert 13r1.•_ce-1, am a ballast mau, and I was in a barge
on the river fat: ntreast of Mr Ilall's magazine. We were
then well over the south. Two men, named Clark and
Grimes, were on board at the time. C r!7- es was steering.
A large flash came all round the barge, then a shower
of bricks followed, which knocked me down, I saw
a little boy aboard one of the barges before tl'o explosion.
I felt the second shook with the greatest inten::ty. I then
heard Grimes cry, " Save me, save me." I sa:- him hold
up his hand in the water amidst the smoke. I teld him up
and he was saved. I saw a large screw collier going down
the river, but :he took no notice of the explosion, and kept
on her course. The barge was tilled with brick, and 42
holes were knocked in the mainsail. I don't know the
name of the steamer. .I tailing down the river all vessels
would have to pass very near the nagazine. I never raw
a caution pt.t up near to Erith magazine like there is at
Purfleet.
Thomas Rotnt Clarke, ballastman, said—l was on the
same barge as Brzce. I was dewn in the hold. vre were
right abreast of the lower powder magazine, aboilt NO
yards off. I first saw a flash all round the lighter, ar 1 then
came a shower of briAs. T saw the steamer two or three
minutes after. I did nol her: the third shock. I s not
injured at all. I saw some p^rzons moving about on V..°
barges of the jetty, but I can't say how many there were,
The inquiry was proceeding when we went to press.