The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-17 00:00:00

BURSTING OF AN ENGINE BOILER.

On Sunday morning an accident of a most alarming
and serious nature occurred on the south branch of the
Midland Railway, by the bursting of the boiler of an
engine attached to a goods train, the engine (No. 142),
which was a four-wheeled one, built by Berry, of Liver-
pool, had taken the 8.30 p.m. passenger train on Saturday
from Nottingham to Leicester, and then returned to
Kegworth, about twelve miles from Derby, to await
the arrival of the goods train from London, which is
divided there, one portion being conveyed to Derby, the
other to Nottingham. The engine was intended to
draw that portion of the train destined for Nottingham.
The goods train from London arrived at Kegworth in
due time, but did not proceed forward in consequence of
having to wait for the passing of the down mail train,
due at Kegworth at 1.13 a.m. on Sunday. About ten
minutes past one, however, the engine boiler burst with
a terrific report, at which time the stoker was standing
on the engine, and the driver by the side of it, talking
to one of the porters. They both received very severe
injuries, which, in the case of the driver, will most pro-
bably prove fatal. The engine was a perfect wreck.
The down mail train arrived shortly after the explosion,
and the driver and stoker were placed in it, and con-
veyed to the Derbyshire Infirmary. It was stated at
the infirmary on Monday morning that the driver had
received such severe injuries that very great doubts were
entertained of his recovery. One of his eyes was knocked
out, his right arm broken, his nose broken, and other
severe injuries. The stoker, it is thought, will recover.
The driver and stoker are brothers, named Louis and
John Cooke, are very steady men, and have been in the
company's service several years.

FOUNDERING OF TWO AMERICAN PACKET

SKIPS.

Within the last few days two heavy losses have been
reported on the books at Lloyd's, which have excited
considerable attention. By the arrival, in the middle
of the week, of the American mail, advices were re-
ceived from New York of the loss of the ship Prince
Albert, while on a voyage from that city to Hamburg.
It appears that she encountered very formidable wea-
ther on the Ist of December. Her masts were carried
away, her leakage was considerable, and she was
otherwise in a most distressed position. Her con-
dition became worse, and the captain commenced
to adopt the necessary measures for the preserva-
tion of all on board. On the 4th of December,
while in lat. 29, long. 60, the Orinoco had been spoken
with. She bore down to their aid, and after some
difficulty the whole of the passengers and crew of the
sinkinc, ship were got off to her. The Prince Albert had
lost her rudder, and, when abandoned, was water-
logged. There is little doubt that she must haves water-
foun-
dered shortly afterwards. It is somewhat remarkable
that when the news of the wreck was received, the editor
of the Shipping Gazette mistook her for another ship of
the same name—the Prince Albert of London, an
American packet ship,. consigned to Baring Brothers,
and inserted the Captain's name as Bradish, the name
of the commander of the latter. This brought a commu-
nication from Messrs. Phillips, Lowther, and Co., bro-
kers to the London Prince Albert, denying that that was
the ship that was lost. The correction was duly made,
but, curiously enough, on the following morning, the
loss of this very ship was telegraphed from Liverpool,
and under precisely similar circumstances as her
namesake. She was on her passage to London, with 16
passengers, and a valuable and general cargo, when she
encountered a fearful gale about the same period as the
formes ship ; and her captain, Mr. Bradish, was com-
pelled to abandon her in 48.15. Her perilous position
was observed by the Norfolk, which succeeded in rescu-
ing those on board, and eventually landed them at
Queenstown. A communication was read on Saturday
from Lloyd's agent, at St. Michael's, intimating that a
ship, answering the Prince Albert's description, had
been
seer, by the Vesper, which had arrived at the
island. The reporter applied to Messrs. Phillips and
Lowther, in the course of Saturday, for the purpose
of ascertaining whether any additional information had
been received ; but the application met with rather an
uncourteous refusal. The ship and cargo are very
heavily insured.

ODESSA.—Telegraphic intelligence was received yes-
terday afternoon from Odessa confirming the anticipated
fall in the rates of freight. The rate for grain, which a
few weeks back was 255. per quarter, has now receded to
12s. 6d. This will operate favourably upon the supplies
of food to France, Italy, and elsewhere.

Mr. Roebuck, it seems, has 'biNTO.n up the idea of
bringing the affair of the Coburg in fluen ces at
Court before the House of Commons. This is much
to be regretted • for no man, had he gone into it
heartily and fully, could have dime-greater justie#
to the subject. Others are mentioned as having
determined to take up the matter* provided it does
" not fall into abler and better haUds ;.londEtitere
is one member who is represented as so very an xiours
to undertake the task, that it is said he hopes it will
be left to him. That hon. gentleman is no other than
Sir Robert Peel. But what a contrast between the
present possessor of that name, and his predecess or.
He is not the man for a question of this nature,
and rather than that it should fall into his hands, or
into those of any one like him, we would prefer
.that the matter were never even alluded to in the
house at all. Nothing would gratify the Coalition
more than that the subject should be taken up by
some member of no weight in the house ; and it is
actually said that they are in great hopes that
Colonel Sibthorp may spoil the whole affair, by
putting some questions to Lord John Russell on
the subject, which will throw an air of burlesque
around it. But Ministers and the party chiefly
interested, may rely on this, that however success-
ful they may be in preventing a thorough exposure
and discussion of the affair in the Commons, they
will not thereby succeed in deluding or satisfying
the country. There is a deep-seatd and strong
feeling in the public mind, in connexion with the
matter, which it would be exceedingly imprudent
to trifle with.—Morning Advertiser.