The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-08 00:00:00

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The Explosion at Aberaman,

The inquest on the body of David Thomas and other
persons, killed by the explosion at the Aberaman Works,
terminated on Friday. The most important evidence was
that given by Mr. William Williams, engineer, Merthyr
Tydvil, and Mr. It. B. Longridge, chief engineer of the
Steam Boiler Insurance Company, Manchester. Mr.
Williams did not believe the explosion was attributable to a
deficiency of water. Ho thought it was duo to the failure
of the transverse seams of the shell over the fireplace to re-
sist the pressure. The shells were unusually large for high
pressure tubular boilers. He thought it would be desirable
to decrease their size, and to fit every boiler with two safety
valves, as well as independent pressure gauges. The cor-
rosive defects could have been found out if the boilers
had been properly cleaned and examined, Mr. It. B. Long-
rige, chief engineer of the Steam Boiler Insurance Com-
pany, who had been asked to report on results of the ex-
plosion by the Coroner, said that on examining the boiler
No. 2 he found that close to the overlap of some of the cir-
cular seems several of the plates were corroded nearly
through; and this was the case at that part of No. 2, about
Bft. from the firing end, where the first rupture appeared to
have commenced. If a rupture had occurred in consequence
of a reduction of the thickness of the plates, the ordinary
working pressure of 40Ib. was quite sufficient to account for
the further results observed. The bursting pressure of a
boiler,r9ft in diameter, made off inch plates,would be about
3001 b. per square inch; but, if reduced to 1-16th of an inch
in thickness, it would be about 40Ib. Some parts of this boiler
were less than 16th of an inch, but others retained their
original thickness. His only surprise was that they should
have worked so long at 401 b. pressure. He should not have
considered them safe at 201 b., and when in good condi
tion 451 b. was as high a pressure as ho should have con-
sidered it safe to work such boilers at. lie was quite satis-
fied that there had been no deficiency of water. The cor-
rosion that had taken place in the boilers was attributable
to the presence of acid in the water, and water drawn from
coal mines frequently produced these effects. The injurious
effects produced by such water might be prevented by the
daily washing of them with common soda. lie had no
hesitation in saying that the explosion was solely attribu-
table to the corrosion of the plates inside. Mr. Hollier, who
appeared on behalf of Mr. Crawshay Bailey, M.P., stated
that the latter had made the amplest pro% ision for the
unfortunate sufferers, aNd that he would readily adopt any
suggestion which the jury might make to improve the
safety of the boilers and machinery. The jury returned the
following verdict—" That the deceased David Thomas and
others met their deaths from an explosion of two boilers on
the 17th of February, and that such explosion was the
result of accident arising from the bad state of the boilers,
but they have no evidence to show that those in charge are
responsible for such accident. They recommend the sug-
gestions of Messrs. Williams and Longridge for the con-
sideration of Mr. Bailey, and also suggest the adoption of
printed rules, that all may know their duty."