The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-10 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF THE POONAH.

A magnificent addition was made on Saturday to
the already numerous steam fleet of the Peninsular
and Oriental Company by the launch of the Poonah
at Blackwell. A large number of invitations to
view the launch were issued by the directors of the
Thames Iron Works Company (by whom the Poonah
has been constructed), and thus a valuable opportu-
nity was afforded of inspecting the vast works con-
nected with that establishment. The enormous ex-
tent of the works, the army of workmen employed,
and the gigantic size of many of the vessels in course
of construction, afforded a spectacle scarcely to be
equalled in any other part of this kingdom The
surprising revolution that has lately occurred
in the construction of ships of war is strikingly
evidenced by the fact that by far the greater
amount of tonnage building in the yards of the
Thames Iron Company consists of war ships, and
this, too, in a time of profound peace, when there is
no extraordinary pressure upon the resources of the
Government dockyards, such as has formerly been
the case in times of war when the aid of private
shipbuilders has been called upon to supplement the
efforts of the national establishments. At Black-
wall, as our readers are aware, was built the famous
Warrior, and the slip upon which that monster of
the deep was built is now occupied by the 'Mino-
taur, an iron-cased ship, larger and more com-
pletely protected than the Warrior, the latter having
a partial coating of iron 44 inches thick upon a teak
backing of 18 inches thickness, while the Minotaur
will be protected from stem to stern with iron
armour 51 inches thick, backed by nine inches of
teak. The total tonnage of this vessel will be up-
wards of 6,800 tons, and as she is very far ad-
vanced in out ward construction her gigantic bulk
overtops and dwarfs other vessels in the same yard,
which, by themselves, are wonders of massive
strength and enormous size. The Minotaur is not
the only vessel constructing by the Thames Iron
Works Company for the. British navy, as, in another
part of the yard is to be found the Valiant, an iron-
cased frigate of 4,100 tons burden, to be protected
by armour plates similar to those used by the War-
rior. This vessel is rapidly progressing, and is ex-
pected to be launched in the ensuing spring. Other
Governments besides our own have appreciated the
vast resources of the Thames Iron Company, and
accordingly we find building for the Russian Go-
vernment an iron floating battery 220 ft. long and
53ft. in breadth, measuring 2,800 tons, and intended
to carry an armament of 26 68-pounder guns upon
a draught of water of 14ft. only. This vessel is to
be covered with armour plates 44- inches thick, upon
9 inches of teak backing. The company are also
commencing the construction for the Spanish Go-
vernment of a frigate of about 5,000 tons burden. to
he covered with plates 54 inches thick ; and for
the Turkish Government another frigate of about
4,300 tons burden, to be similarly protected.
Two iron-cased gunboats for the Government of
Denmark have recently been built and despatched
from these works, and in addition to the im-
portant services rendered to the nation in the COn-
struction of such vessels as the Warrior, Minotaur,also
and the Valiant, the Thames Iron Company is
manufacturing the massive armour
plates for the
Ocean and the Royal Sovereign, which vessels are

constructing in the Royal dockyards, having just
completed those required for the casing of the Royal
Oak. It might naturally be supposed that where
so nincla attention and energy are devoted to the
nded for warlike opera-
construction of veBsels

ti3ns the comparatively humble deir.;!lnds of peaceful
commerce would be little regarded, but sudi is not
the case. In addition to the Poonah, of which we
shall presently speak, the company are building a
paddle steamer of 500 tons for the Dublin Trinity
Corporation, and a large sailing iron vessel, in-
tended as a yacht for a private gentleman, which is
expected to afford more ample accommodation and
to be more speedy than any other vessel of her elms.
There are other works which, although compre-
hended among the et ceteras of the Thames Iron
Company, would be regarded as important items in
the operations of less extensive, but still not insig-
nificant establishments.

The particular event of Saturday was, as we have
stated, the launch of the Poonah, a large screw
steatner, measuring 315 ft. in length and 41ft. ex-
treme breadth, with a depth of hold of 30ft. Her
burden is 2,597 tons. In her construction every late
impzovement has been adopted, not only to secure
strength and speed but to provide increased acconl-
modation and comfort for passengers. The most

confident anticipations are entertained that she will
be one of the fastest vessels afloat, and her beautiful
form and fine proportions fully justify such hopes.
The recent death of Mr. Wilcox, M.i'., chair-
_

man of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navi-
gation Company, could not fail to have a depress-
ing effect upon such an occason, and in consequence
of that sad event none of the directors of the com-
pany were present on Saturday to witness the
launch of their new ship. The ceremony itself
would have been deferred had not all the arrange-
ments already progressed so far as to render
postponement a matter of great difficulty. Soon
atter 2 o'clock, being nearly high water, the ship-
wrights commenced to cut away the shores under
the vessel's bottom, and those supports being re-
moved the ship, having been duly christened by
Mrs. Collier, moved gradually down the ways
amid the cheers of thousands of spectators, and en-
tered the river with a quietness, grace, and ease
that seemed to betoken she had gladly reached her
proper element. Immediately after being launched
the vessel was towed up to Deptford, where she
will be fitted with engines of 500-horse power,
manufactured by Messrs. Humphreys and Tennant,
The guests of the Thames Ironworks Compiny
then proceeded to one of the offices, which had been
tastefully fitted up for the occasion, and there par-
took of a sumptuous dejeuner, with the indispens-
able Mr. Harker as toastmaster. Mr. P. Rolt,
chairman of the company, presided, and among
those present were Mr. G. W. Bentinck, M.P.,
Mr. Vansittart, M.P., Ismael Pasha (Gen. Kmety),
Sir B. Bromley, &c. It was stated that the slip
from which the Poonah has just been launched
would be immediately occupied by another of simi-
lar character, also for the Peninsular and Oriental
Company, the fleet of which now amounts to nearly
80,000 tons.

FATAL BOILER ACCIDENT Al THE
GREAI WESIERN STA.TRO.

A fatal accident took place on Saturday at the
Great Western Railway Station, Paddington, by
the bursting of a boiler. From information obtained
at the station and at St. Mary's Hospital, it appears
that three men, two of whom were named James
Thomas and Stephen Bishop, were pursuing their
ordinary business in the engine-house at 5.40
that morning. From some cause, which at pre-
sent cannot be ascertained, the boiler of the en-
gine named Perseus suddenly burst and killed the
two men, Thomas and Bishop. The explosion
was of so forcible a nature as to blow off a great
part of the roof of the engine house. The engine
itself was soon discovered to be a complete wreck,
and a pine of the boiler, weighing 15 cwt., was
thrown to a distance of 150 yards from the scene of
the accident. The dead bodies of the two men were
carried to St. Mary's Hospital to await an inquest.
One of the men was mutilated in a fearful manner.
The other was not very much mutilated, but both
of them seem to have been instantaneously killed.
The third man in the engine house sustained some
injuries, but they were not supposed to be of a dan-
gerous ch, raster. This man was conveyed to his
residence as soon as possible after the accident.
Thomas was 22. He was unmarried. Bishop was
a fireman.

Since the foregoing account was written we learn
that another man died at St. Mary's Hospital yes-
terday morning from injuries received through the
accident.

FATAL COLLISION ON THE LONDON
AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILTPAY.

On Saturday Dr. Lankester, the Central Middle-
sex coroner, held a long inquiry at the Bank of
England Tavern, Praed.street, Paddington, relative
to the death of Joseph Buckingham, aged 43 years,
a breaksman, in the employ of the London and
North-Western Railway, who was killed on that
line on Tuesday last, under the following circum-
stances:—

Henry Plews said he was a guard in the service
of the London and North-Western Railway, and
was arriving with the train on Tuesday last, be-
tween the Great-Western line and Fulham, at
about 9.20 a.m., when on going down the incline,
some plate-layers informed him that the train had
parted. It was very foggy at the time,
and he could not see behind. He told the
driver to slacken his speed, and he got down and
went back, when he found the waggons coming
over the Great Western Bridge. They were going
slowly, and he put down five breaks, but as they
were on a decline the speed was increased, so he ran
up to the driver and told him to go on faster, which
he did. The waggons, however, rushed on and
came in contact with the front part of the train. The
result was that three breaks and two waggons were
thrown off the line by the force of the collision. The
under guard, the foreman, and waggon examiner
were in breaks. They were not altogether. The
deceased was i❑ the front van.

Mr. Bruyere, general superintendent of the line,
explained that this witness spoke of the deceased
as the under guard.

WitnE•ss continued and said that the foreman and
waggon examiner jumped out before the collision.
By a Juror—The five breaks did not take effect
The couplings had become unfastened.
Mr. Bruyere said that witness had charge of the
train, and it was his duty to see that the carriages
were properly coupled. The coupling chains un-
hooked, as they frequently will.
Witness, in answer to further questions, said that
som?times in coming down the incline the breaks
are put on to check the speed, and the hooks will
then, on the train going on again, come out of the
loop. He examined the coupling after the accident,
and found that nothing at all was broken.
Mr. Bruyere said that the incline was very great
at this spot, it being 1 in 60.
Piews, in answer to the Coroner. said that side
couplings were not used. He did not consider them
safe.

Chas. Read, the engine-driver of the train, was
was the next witness, and said the train was run-
ning from the West London Junction to Fulham
Basin, and consisted of about 27 waggons and two
breaks. He slackened speed to go down the incline
and over the Great Western Railway Bridge. When
they had got a little way down the last witness called
to him that the train had broken loose. The de-
ceased held out his hand, standing onasolitiooloat
the corner of his break, and then he got on to the
tte andc
ground. He missed sight of him as the waggons
ran down and came into collision. He saw ono of
the breaks go off h
come in
what be-
e in c
was in then
witvheitiohitiara
the bridge
ec
Beadie, h
d girder.
e foreman,
line
He
id notoal
see
said
d eased.
train on Tuesday last. He Was in the break, into
which the deceased got after the waggons had
parted. Before the break came into collision with
the bridge witness got out and left the deceased in
the break, and he was not seen again until he was
found on the road over the bridge some time after
thevery much.
ingl4. He was removed to St Mary'4

Hospital, where he expired in a few i;oura
injuries he received.
Mr. Rhodes, the house surgeon, said Wat de-
ceesed died from effusion of blood in the pelvis, 51-14
contusion of the spine.

'rota

The Coroner then summed up, and a long con—
versation ensued as to the security of the couplings,
several of the jury expressing an opinion that the
fast,;nings were insecure.
Mr. bfuyere said the books were of the safest
description.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death,
but expressed a desire to bring under the notice of
the coroner a recommendation that in future more
secure couplings should be employed.