The Sun.
London, England, 1837-06-14 00:00:00

EXPLOSION AT HULL.

INQUEST.—Amongst other evidence given at the last
meeting of the adjourned Inquest was the following. It
may be remembered that the evidence given was generally
little more than a repetition of that which has already ap-
peared in The Sun.

Dr. Charles Wallack deposed, that his attention has
been (Irawn to the bursting of the boiler of the Union, and
he has considered what appears to him the causes of such
explosion. Certainly thinks that steam has been the
cause, and his reason for so thinking is, that he can-
not, on chemical grounds, believe hydrogen or any other
gas could be formed in the boiler to cause such re-
sult. Hydrogen gas could not have been generated
unless a fresh metallic surface were continually pre-
sented to the water as a de-oxygenizing agent. Has
seen a fragment of the boiler which hada been thrown
on the pier, which was encrusted with black oxide of
some standing. Should say that atmospheric air could
not have been admitted into the boiler, for the pres-
sure within would be greater than that without. Con-
siders that the expansive power of steam generated under
ordinary circumstances could not have caused an ex-
plosion of such violence ; it must have been very much
condensed indeed. Supposing the flues red-hot, and water
suddenly dashed over it, that would have produced a suffi-
cient volume of steam to cause the explosion, if the safety-
valve had been closed, or.not sufficiently large. The ordi-
nary safety-valve would not be sufficient to allow the escape
of steam generated under those circumstances. The noise
heard before the explosion took place may be accounted for
by the escape of steam by the water-pipe under the surface
of the water. Has seen the flues ; they appeared equally
oxydised with the boiler. Should think that the air found
in the boiler would be expelled by the steam admitted ; even
had it not, there would not be sufficient oxygen to. cause
the explosion. The opening of the safety-valve might
cause such an ebullition of water as would make it rise to
the gage-tap. Had the explosion be©n occasioned by gas,
there must have been a flash of fire accompanying it.
Mr. John Wakefield deposed that he is an engineer, and
has been acquainted with the steam-engine for fifty years.
Coosiders that in all low-pressure engines, froth the over-
accumulation of steam, owing to safety valves being too
small, explosion will take place ; is of opinion this was the
cause in this instance, If the area of the steam-valve of

the Union were only sixteen inches, it would be too small ;
It should be about sixty. Never knew an explosion from a
red-Lot boiler, although he ha known them red-hot.
William Allen, foreman to Mr> Vernon, deposed that he
was with that gentleman on Wednesday, examining the
flues of the Union. They did not appear to have been
red-hot.

Mr,. A. Barrett said there were some other points with
reference to his evidence which he should like to reconsider
and give at a future perioi.
The inquest was then adjourned until Thursday at three
o'clock.

On Friday an inquest was held on the body of Robert
Shay, a deformed young man, aged 21. Mrs. Gray, the
disreputable keeper of the house, and three girls, named
Jane Smith, Maria Jackson, and Ann Mason, were present
in custody during the former part of the proceedings, and
a man and two other women were added to the number
before the inquest closed.
Mr. Lowther deposed I am a surgeon residing in
Blackfriar-gate. About half-past three on Thursday after-
noon I was called to see the deceased, at a boost! in
Queen's-alley, kept by a woman named Gray. I found
him lying on his side on the floor of a room on the ground
floor, bleeding profusely from the back part of the head.
I turned him over immediately, and found a large cut on
the back of the head ; the skull was not fractured ; he
was unable to speak ; I ordered him to be put to bed,
dressed the wound, and left the house. I saw him again
just before he expired, three hours afterwards ; he was
perfectly insensible. I gave him nothing to take ; I con-
sidered him to be intoxicated by his appearance. 1 have
examined the body, and can discover no outward appear-
ance sufficient to explain the cause of death.

Ann Long, the fat keeper of the adjoining brothel, de-
posed—l am the wife of William Long, net-maker ; I
know a woman named Gray, who lives next door to me in
Queen's-alley ; I was at home on Thursday from two to
foUr o'clock ; I did not hear any noise in her house ; I
have heard noises in that house, but I did not, on Thurs-
day, hear any noise like any person falling down stairs, or
screaming, or falling out.
Coroner—l would advise you to quit the house imme-
diately, and follow a different lino of life. You hear what
this comes to ; if this should go to York, as a case of
manslaughter, it may end in transportation, or death. Now
take my advice, and leave the ncighboureood (which she,
curtseying, promised to do).
The inquest was then adjourned.
At twelve o'clock the Jury re-assembled, when the pri-
soners were allowed to remain in another room.

Mr. Lowther deposed—l have made a post 7110rieln exa-
mination of the body of Robert Shay, and am able to state
the cause of death. It arose from cxtravasation of blood
on the brain ; there was a wound on the scalp, and a slight
fracture of the skull, without depression ; these, together
with the shock of a blow or fall, would occasion death.
The wound appears to me to have been produced by a fall.
It is possible a fall upon a substance of wood would occa-
sion death in this manner.

Mr. Sharpe, who had attended the post mortent exami-
nation on behalf of deceased's relatives, said his opinion
coincided with Mr. Lowther's.

After hearing further evidence, which agreed with the
preceding, the Jury returned a verdict of " Accidental
death."—Abridged from the Hull Obse,ver.

THE MARQUIS OF WATERFORD.

(From the Moroing Post,)
We have received the follo.ving letter, which we insert
although at first we doubted, whether it were genuine. A
Nobleman might have been expected to reprove in more
courteous terms an inaccuracy which he has no reason to
believe intentional. Yet- we have not received this con-
tradiction without satisfaction, for it inspires the hope that
the Noble Marquis is resolved that for all time to come
there shall be no inherent probability in such statements as
that which has excited his displeasure :
" Sir—l read in your paper this day an article headed
Shameful Proceedings.' The whole statement, as regards
me, is false ; I therefore beg you will retract every charge you
have made against me, and refrain for the future from imput-
ing to me the offences of others merely on the authority of
some insolent informer. _

" I remain your obedient servant,
" London, June 13, 1837. WATERFORD.
" P. S. I requ'st you will insert this contradiction of the
article to which I have referred."

Since our last considerable quantities of herrings
have made their appearance on our coast, and the fishing of
them with the hook has been pretty successful. On the coast
of Latheron the catch in this way has been considerable. We
understand that a boat or. the West coast brought in from
seven to nine crans about a week ago. The fishermen conti-
nue to be very sanguine as to this season proving an abundant
fishing, appearances continuirg favourable, and white fish
being plentiful. Oa Tues.l2y, the 16th instant, a boat went
out from Thurso with a few nets, and brought in better than
half a cran, which were dispatched to Leith on the 17th, per
steamer. On the 23d, five or six boats went out, and returned
with from four to ten crans per boat, all of which were sent by
the same conveyance—thus making from this ty to forty barrels
in all. The fish are rather superior in quality, round, and
well formed,—Jam o' Groat Journal. •

- IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Juxv, 13.

The LORD CIIANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at Five o'Clock.

On the motion of Lord SHAFTESBURY, the Private
Bills on the table were advanced a stage.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented three petitions
from Aberdeen in -favour of tl►e prine'ple of the Prisons'
(Scotland) Bill, but praying for soma alteration In its
details.

The Earl of ABERDEEN presented a petition in fa-
vour of a Lord's Day Bill.
Lord E I,LEN BOROUG II moved for returns relative
to the local taxation in boroughs in Ireland. He sl'ould
have moved for them long since, but he hoped he would be
able to have them before the third of July.—Ordered.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY moved that a
message should he sent to the Commons fur the report of
the Committee last Session, on the Bridlington Harbour
Bill.