The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-17 00:00:00

RAILWAY BILLS,

The following Committee, No. 14, of the House
of Commons, on Scottish Railways—namely, Mr.
Mowbray (Chairman), Mr. Bellew, Mr. A. Smith,
Mr. Brooks, and Mr. Butler Johnstone, has been
appointed to commence its inquiry after Easter into
the bills for the Caledonian Railway (Leith
branches), Edinburgh and Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Perth and Fife and Kinross, North British, Edin-
burgh and Perth and West of Fife, Edinburgh and
Glasgow and Dumbartonshire, and Edinburgh,
Dunfermline, and Perth Railways.
LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST.--This
company, in compliance with an order of the House
of Lords, have reported that the number of houses
inhabited by the labouring classes which they pro.
pose to take for the enlargement of their station in
the parish of St. Olave, Southwark, amounts alto-
gether to 50 ; that the number of persons to be dis-
placed thereby amounts to 398; that their bill does
not propose to provide houses in substitution for
them ; and that there are plenty of houses and
lodgings of the same character to be obtained in the
neighbourhood.

ROYAL MAIL STEAM.

The halr-yearly meeting of this company was held
yesterday at the London Tavern, Captain Mangles
in the chair.

The report was taken as read. The working
account for the year 1861 showed that £269,243
had been received for the Government contract,
£210,208 for freight, £302,200 for passage money,
and £21,521 for hire of the Avon and Parana—
making together £803,172. Tho expenditure
amounted to £5^7,594, leaving a surplus of
£275,573. To this sum was added £1,451, the
balance from the preceding half-year, making
£277,029. Out of this was deducted £l,OOO for the
officers' assurance fund, £4,284 written off the value
of premises in London, Southampton, and the colo-
nies, £27,148 to meet loss on ships sold, £84,552
written off value of ships for deterioration,£B4,ss2
placed to credit of repair And renewal account, £154
balance of ieterebt, # 30,000 for dividend' declared
on the 23d of October last—total £231,
of £45,339.690 ; leaving
a balance in favour of the company
The repair and renewal account showed a

balance in favour of the company of £6,320, the
general reserve fund a balance of £4,829, and the
insurance account a balance of £207,313 also:in
favour of the company.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report and statement of accounts, said that at for-
mer meetings it had happened they had to refer to
a number of items being in excess of those of
the previous year, but on the present occasion
there was no necessity for adopting that course ;
and so far as the working account was concerned,
he had to state that the whole of the disbursements
were £5,000 less than in the previous year, while
the receipts were about £30,000 more. The direc-
tors had appropriated 1 per cent. in addition to the
usual allowance for the repair and renewal account,
as they had done on a former occasion. The in-
crease in the age of their ships rendered that course
advisable, and he might mention that, in spite
of the large sums already set apart for
deterioration, the value of the old ships
stood at a larger figure in the accounts
than the directors liked. In past years a debit
stood against the repair and renewal account, and
in 1858 it amounted to £40,000; but that debit had
since been entirely written off, and they had now a
credit of £6,300 to that account, Their large iron
ships had not 'yet arrived at that age when they
would require considerable overhauling. During
the present year they would have five ships to re-
pair,—namely, the Clyde, the Conway, the Tamar,
the Tyne, and the Thames. They would, there-
fore, not object to the appropriation of 1 per cent.
additional for the purpose he had mentioned. By
the sale of the Dee and the Parana, the amount
would stand as much to the debit of the account as
it did now to the credit. Looking to the fact that
they would soon be in treaty with the Government
for a renewal of the contract, the directors recom-
mended that the surplus in hand should not be in-
terfered with. With regard to the assurance fund,
towards which they subscribed £l,OOO a-year, he
mentioned that 213 per sons in their employ
had assured for £30,000, and they would thus
see it had done some good. The report adverted
with satisfaction to the fact that on a recent
occasion the directors had been enabled,
without delay, to place two of the company's
steamers at the disposal of the Government to con-
vey troops to Canada. In his humble opinion, see-
ing that the Government could obtain, under their
present contract, ships of such a class from the com-
pany that gave general satisfaction for the expedi-
tious conveyance of troops, and that they could dis-
charge those ships when they pleased, he did not
believe they could dispense with so important a
service. The importance of British Columbia was
increasing every day, and they were benefiting
largely by the traffic to that country. The directors
were quite alive to the advantage of increasing the
popularity of the line via Panama, of which a con-
siderable number of passengers had availed them-
selves. They hoped the Government would look
at the necessity of subsidizing a line direct by
Panama to British Columbia rather than by
way of California, which was an American set-
tlement. He believed very little was known
of what subsidized steamers did for the coun-
try. It had been asked by a shareholder how
it was that, out of so large a surplus as
£276,000, so small and so miserable a dividend
should be doled out to them. He believed there was
nothing more popular with shareholders than a
bonus, but it was most desirable at this time for
them to forego the popularity and to have as large
a reserve as possible in hand. He did not wonder
that:they should wish a larger return, but when it
was considered what all steam companies had to do,
and the unavoidable expenses they had to incur in
keeping up their fleet, they must admit that the
determination of the directors was a wise and pru-
dent one. The company had only divided 6 per
cent, on their shares, which were now under par,
and he thought no one could say that 6 per cent.
was a large dividend for such an undertaking.
The folly of yielding the command of the
seas to the French, he thought, would not be
adopted for the purpose of withholding the sub-
sidy from the Royal Mail Company. The French
Government had made contracts for 20 years to
run steamers from a French port to Brazil, with
a subsidy equivalent to 12s. 3d. per mile run ; also
one to run steamers to the West Indies, with a
subsidy equal to 15s. 6d. per mile run ; and another
to Mexico, calling at Cuba, with a subsidy at the
rate of 21s. 10d. per mile ; while the present sub-
sidy allowed for the whole service performed by
the company's steamers was equal to 9s. 10d. per
mile only. There were four or five ships on the
Brazilian line, two a month in the West India line,
and the present Mexican line had about the same
number. He did not think it probable that the
Government would give up the mails now carried
by the company's ships to the French company. He
was personally answerable for those observations,
because he had not taken the opinion of his col-
leagues on the subject. First-class steamers such
as theirs would be the only vessels that could get
away from the heavy iron-plated steamers that
would probably be adopted for war purposes. He
believed that at present no two men acquainted
with the matter could agree in opinion as to the
kind of war ships that should be constructed; but
it was probable that after the Government had ex-
pended two or three millions of money something
tangible would be arrived at. Ships of war were
not so fast as the company's steamers, the latter
being the only ones capable of keeping up com-
munication with the colonies, which he hoped would
never be suspended. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. R. GURNEY, Deputy-Chairman, seconded the
motion for the adoption of the report.
Mr. V. KNIGHT considered the affairs of the com-
pany very satisfactory, and argued that they ought
to have a bonus of £2 ,2 q. share out of the large
balance in hand.

1 Mr. Alderman DARIN remarked that on a former
1 occasion certain persons managed to extort a bonus
from the directors— he believed it was in 1856, and
after it was paid they sold their shares. The divi-
sion of so large a bonus at that time was, he consi-
dered, a most unfortunate event for the company ;
but now they were within less than two years of
the conclusion of their contract, and it was there-
fore of the utmost consequence they should retain
as large a reserve as they could.

Mr. SIMPSON moved an amendment to the effect
that £750 be added to the insurance fund, and that
a bonus of £1 per share be taken out of the insur-
ance fund, and paid with the dividend to the share-
holders.

Mr. WARD thought that each yedr's accounts
should bear the profits and losses of the year, and
that there were now plenty of means in hand to pay
the proposed bonus.

Dr. BEATTIE said it was impossible for any com-
pany to perform the mail service without a subsidy;
and if an old company could not do it, with all their
experience, he would ask how could a new company
do it ? He considered that everything was con-
ducted by the directors with the utmost regard to
economy, and that considerable mischief would arise
to the company and the country if the system of
short contracts for such important services were
continued. Ho agreed with the directors that this
was not the time to give a bonus out of the avail-
able surplus.

Mr, POWELL thought the Government did not
intend to terminate the contract with the company.
It was impossible to work a mail contract without
a subsidy, and if that was the object of the authori-
ties he hoped the directors would tell them they
must wind up the company. He believed the assets
would realise enough to pay them back AGO a share,
and a bonus of £3 or £lO, which would not be
much after 20 years' working.

Mr. GURNEY explained that the present position
of. the company was very different from what it was
in 1856, when the bonus was paid to the share-
holders. They had received in that year £400,000
for the hire of ships to convey troops to the Crimea.
They never could get a bonus out of the present
contract for the mails. They had not been able to
divide more than 6 per cent. out of it, and to pro-
vide for depreciation. It was of the utmost import-
ance they should be able to show the Government
they had the requisite Means tOp-erform the service
efficiently in every respect, which no new company
could command.

On a show of hands, the amendment was nega-

THE SUN, LOADON, TIIURSD Xl' EVENING, APRIL 17, 1862.

tived by a large majority, and the motion for the
adoption of the report was carried.
Captain G. J. Redman and Mr. T. R. Tufnell,
the retiring directors, were re-elected, and also Mr.
J. Capel, the retiring auditor. The proceedings
then terminated.

THE BOILER EXPOSION AT PRIEST-
FIELDS.

BILSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING.

The disastrous occurrence which took place yes-
terday at the Millflelds Ironworks, near this town,
has created much excitement throughout the dis-
trict, and the scene of the calamity has to-day been
visited by thousands of persons. The total number
of deaths up to this afternoon is 23, including nine
married men. Several of the survivors are in a
very precarious state ; among these is a woman who
was employed in washing " gleeds" at an extreme
part of the works; she has sustained many injuries
—among others, fracture of the backbone and injury
to the spine.
A few additional particulars may be given to
those which have already appeared. The works
are literally blown to atoms; huge fragments are
strewed in all directidns ; the immense boiler, raised
from its bed, was hurled high in the air, across the
works and the West Midland Railway, and now
rests one end firmly embedded in the ground a dis-
tance of nearly 250 yards from the spot on which it
was fixed. There were 10 furnaces in operation on
the side of the works in which the explosion took
place; all these are shattered to atoms. The more
distant buildings on the premises bear many traces
of the violence with which material was cast at
them ; the tall chimney alone appears to have
escaped serious injury. The roofs of the forges
were supported by cast-metal pillars ; these are
forced asunder, and the buildings have fallen in.
The " office" is by an outer wall some distance from
the spot where the explosion took place ; an im-
mense fragment of metal was thrown through the
roof of this building, and now lies in one of the
upper rooms. Some of the brickwork was thrown
200 feet high.
The injuries which some of the poor men received
are of a character too shocking to be described;
several of them were frightfully scalded, besides
receiving various fractures. The escape of Mr. Rose,
the proprietor, was miraculous ; he was in the very
part of the work where the explosion took place a
few minutes before it occured, and had moved
away in a particular direction not many yards.
He appears scarcely to have heard any sound ;
but, suddenly seeing the men running away, and
material flying about, his first impression was that
some part of the machinery was broken. As he
was hurrying off he was himself struck in several
places, and is a good deal bruised; finally Mr, Rose
got over a wall.

At present nothing is known as to the cause of
the accident; but, as the head engineer escaped un-
hurt (having crept into the engine-house just before
the explosion took place), it is most likely that he
will be able to give some account of the occurence.

Mr. Rose had not been in possession of the works
more than three months, and the calamity which
hai befallen him has naturally excited much sym-
pathy for him on the part of his neighbours. A
portion of the works only had been got into opera-
tion; it was that where the manufacture of puddle-
bars was going on. Preparations were being made
for getting a plate-mill and bar-mill into work.

Mr. Baker, the mine inspector for the district,
was on the spot in the course of the afternoon,
At the time of the occurrence there were upwards
of 100 men employed on the works. Several of the
men who were killed have left families, and in that
as well as other respects this casualty is much to be
deplored.

An inquest was commenced before Mr. T. Moss
Phillips, the coroner, at the King's Arms, in this
town, this afternoon. Lieut.-Col. Hogg, the Chief
of the County Constabulary, was present.
One of the first witnesses called was Wm. Bridg-
water, the manager of the works, who spoke to his
identification of the bodies of several of the men
found in the ruins, all of whom had been employed.
All of them had received cuts or bruises, or were
scalded to death. Other witnesses were called for
this purpose, and ultimately the whole of the bodies
were identified.

John Freeman, a carpenter employed at Messrs.
Gibbons, Mil Melds furnaces, which adjoin, was
called. He said—l was on the opposite side of the
basin, the basin which divides the works at the time
the explosion occurred. I heard a bumping noise,
and then saw the boiler go up. It was thrown
across the railway a distance of 200 yards. Imme-
diately afterwards I saw a man jump into the canal
and swim across from Mr. Rose's works. I got into
the works as quick as I could. I saw the bodies of
three men in a boat which was in the basin, about
a dozen yards from the boiler—they were all dead.
The injuries they had received was so great that it
was impossible to discern their features. I infer
that the injuries were caused by the hot bricks. I
asked about the engineers, and was told that one of
them, Joseph Starkey, had been on the boiler 20
minutes before it exploded ; and that Thos. Starkey
had been on it 6 or 7 minutes before it burst. There
were two boilers at work on that side of the engine
—it was the outside boiler which exploded. I saw
one of the fragments of the boiler plate measured ;
it was 5-16ths thick. This portion of the plate was
from the lower part of the tub?, near the bottom of
the boiler. I had not heard any whistling or escape
of steam before the explosion took place. The
whistle might have sounded without my hearing it.
Samuel Rhodes, a puddler, of Monrnore-green,
went to the works for the first time .on employment
yesterday morning. Just before the explosion
occurred was at work between the two boilers, but
at the time it nappened was between the forges.
Had never seen either of the engineers before the
accident. Witness was in the midst of his -work
when he heard the explosion ; but had not heard
any whistle previously. 'He made his escape as
fast as possible, but was struck many times with
bricks, and received injuries on the arm. The young
man who had worked with him was found in the
canal killed.

Richard Rowley, engineer, was next called. He
said—l am an engineer employed at the works. I
have known the boiler which exploded ever since
it was erected, which is about 10 years since. I
was on duty on Monday night, and left the works
at seven o'clock on Tuesday morning. Everything
was then in good working order. Joseph and Thos.
Starkey succeeded me when I went off duty. The
bolier which exploded was a four-furnace boiler;
there were two floats and a whistle, the former
causing the latter to sound when there was a scar-
city of water. The boiler was egg-shaped about
10ft, 6in, in diameter ; the plates about 7-16ths,
the height of the boiler from 28 to 30ft. When the
mill was full on, it was worked up to 401 b. to the
square inch ; at the time of the accident it was
worked at 351 b, The boiler was made by Mr.
Elwell. Until three months ago, the boiler had
not been worked for four years. I and Starke y
examined it before the work was recommenced, and
found it in working order. Since operations were
resumed the boiler had been cleaned every fort-
night. The last examination took place on the
Monday in :.lest: week. I think the boiler
was too large ; my impression is that it
had more on it than it would bear. I
had never any caution or notice that the
boiler was defective. There was a slight leakage
a month ago at a rivet ; a peck of bran was put
in and no leakage had occurred since. I made an
examination of the boiler-plates after the explosion,
and found a. good deal of scurf. Had the boiler
been overheated that scurf would not have been
on. The bell of the safety-whistle had been re•
moved from the boiler after the explosion, but the
portion of the screw left was in a perfect state. I
believe the boiler was too large for a high-pressure
boiler. I am unable to account for the explosion.
Do not believe there bad been any deficiency of
water.

By a Juryman—There was scurf on the top of
the main or upright tube. The feed pipe was within
21t. Gin. of the bottom of the boiler. The feeding
was by hand.

Joseph Johnson, engineer, of Bilston, sworn—
Put up the boiler which had exploded eight or nine
years ago. It was a furnace four•flue boiler. Be-
lieved it was only 7ft. Gin. in diameter. It WAS

set to work at 351b.t0 the square inch, Considered
it safe to work at 501 b. They were half-inch plates '
before they were set and bent. Examined portions
of the plates after the explosion; they seemed to
be good, and of good iron. Was of opinion that the
cause of the explosion was an excessive pressure of
steam. Had the balance of the ball been at the ex-
tent of the lever, it would not have caused a pres-
sure of 501 b, to the inch. It was most likely that
the " clack" was not in good order, and that the
steam generated faster than it passed away. A
minute or two before the explosion there was a roar
as of thunder, which shook the ground, and follow-
ing instantly a rush of steam and the ascent of the
boiler. Witness was in the adjoining work, not
more than forty yards off, and described the motion
of the boiler as resembling that of a balloon. It rose
to a great height.

The inquiry was at this point adjourned until
Thursday next.

A.ll' TI-SL AVERY DEPUTATION TO THE
AMERICAN MINISTER.

At two o'clock yesterday afternoon his Excel-
lency C. F. A dams, United States' Minister to this
country, received a deputation of the members of the
Committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery
Society, at his official residence, to receive an ad-
dress from the committee. The deputation consisted
of:Mr. Saml. Gurney, M.P, Mr. John Ivatt Briscoe,
M.P., the Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P,, Messrs. Josiah
Forster, Henry Sterry, Robert Alsop, William T.
Sargant, Gerard Ralston, the Rev. Dr. Carlisle, and
L. A. Chamerovzow.

The following is the text of the address :
" To HIS EXCELLENCY CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS,
UNITED STATES' MINISTER TO THE COURT OF
ST. JAMES'S.

" Sir,—The Committee of the British and Foreign
Anti-slavery Society are gratified at being able to
offer an address of cordial welcome to an Ambassa-
dor from the United States of America to this coun-
try who holds principles in harmony with their
Own.

" This important and elevated office has been most
appropriately conferred upon 3 on, Sir, whose senti-
ments on the subject of slavery have ever been in
sympathy with those of the British nation, and who
may be said to inherit them in direct descent from
one of the most illustrious Presidents of the Ame-
rican Republic.

"The committee are rejoiced to welcome you as
the representative of the first Government of the
United States which has taken any active measures
towards the removal of slavery, and they desire to
pay it, through you, a tribute of confidence and re-
spect. For many years they have watched with the
deepest interest the development in the Northern
States of public opinion through all its phases, and
anticipated with anxious solicitude the day when a
predominance of sentiment against the extension of
slavery should inaugurate a new and memorable
era in the history of the country.
"The committee desire to express their unquali-
fied satisfaction at the avowed determination of the
President and his Administration to put down the
African slave trade, and consider that the cause of
humanity is deeply indebted to them for the de-
cided attitude now assumed against all persons im •
plicated in the prosecution of this most infamous
traffic. But, while the measures the United States'
Government is adopting are evidence of a resolution
which cannot be too highly commended, the com-
mittee respectfully submit that others equally de-
cisive are imperatively required to prevent the abuse
of the United States' flag for slave-trading purposes.
It is notorious that the Transatlantic African slave
trade is carried on almost exclusively under cover
of that particular flag, and the committee would
therefore venture to suggest that the United States'
Government should, without delay, concert with
that of Great Britain the means of preventing the
abuse referred to.

" The committee feel it incumbent upon them to
express their extreme gratification at the several
propositions tending towards abolition recently in-
troduced to the United States' Legislature, more
especially those for the removal of slavery from
the District of Columbia, and for according Go-
vernment aid to any State desirous of emancipating
its slaves. While these measures may, indeed,
when judged of from the committee's point of view,
fall short of actual right to the oppressed and in-
jured slave, the committee rejoice in them, and hail
them most cordially, as full of promise for the fu-
ture, and as steps approximating to the absolute
requirements of justice and humanity.
" The committee view with profound sorrow the
unhappy contest between the Northern and the
Southern sections of the Republic. In the presence
of so appalling a calamity? they can only give utter-
ance to the fervent hope that the fratricidal conflict
may soon cease, and peace be restored to the land;
and that, with the abolition of the true cause of
the strife, a common ground of union may be found
and a divided community be again joined in the
bonds of brotherhood.

" In conclusion, the committee would assure you,
sir, of their personal esteem and consideration, and
of their very sincere desire for the welfare and the
prosperity of the nation you represent.

" 27, ,Tew Broad-street, E.C., April 4."
The address having been read by Mr. Chame-
revzow, his Excellency made the following reply :
" Gentlemen of the Committee,—l receive your
communication in the spirit in which it is made,and
with every desire to reciprocate the friendly senti-
ments it conveys, as well to your country generally
as to yourselves in particular.
" The desire of the people of the United States is
to extend the blessings to be obtained under free
institutions as far as possible, consistently with the
preservation of every existing obligation, over the
entire service of their territory. Against the pro-
secution of this policy an appeal to arms has been
taken by a misguided portion of their number. The
ultimate effect can only be to accelerate the same
general result, under circumstances rendered need-
lessly distressing to all. It is the earnest wish of
the Government to see the end so brought about as
to avoid all the deplorable consequences that may
follow wilful and violent resistance. I trust that
those deeply interested in the issue may avail them-
selves in season of the means left openrfor their re-
storation in safety, and that the common ground for
a re-union may be, as you express it, the voluntary
removal of the true and only cause of strife.
" I think I can assure you that the President's
attention is closely fixed upon the' subject of the
African slave trade, and that every effort will be
made by the Administration, as far as it is possible
under present circumstances, to co-operate with
her Majesty's Government in putting an end to the
abuses to which you allude. I am not without
hopes that effective means may be found to pre-
vent, for the future, the desecration of the national
flag by the pirates engaged in the nefarious traffic.
I pray you to receive my thanks for the very
kind allusion you have made to myself, and to
assure you of my cordial sympathy with you in the
arduous labours in which you have been so long
and so honourably engaged."
The Hon. A. Kinnaird, Mr. John Ivatt Briscoe,
and Mr. Josiah Forster having addressed the Minis-
ter on the subject of the memorial, the deputation
withdrew.

A DEVONSHIRE SHOOTING-BOX FOR THE PRINCE
Or WALES.—It is understood (says the Western Morning
.11rews) that the negotiations which have occupied some
time, respecting the purchase of a shooting-box in Devon-
shire for his Royal Highness thO Prince of Wales, are
completed, and that a fewpreliminaries only aro required to
transfer Werringion Park from the ownership of the Duke
of Northumberland to that of the future King of England.
The park is an occasional residence of his grace, and lies
about a mile and a half from Launceston—one portion of it
is in Cornwall, but the seat is Devonshire. The park is
supposed to have been in existence for about 600 years. and
about the fourteenth century was the property of the great
Odulph, Duke of Devonshire.
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