The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-21 00:00:00

BOILER EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF LIFE.

A fearful accident happened at Gloucestershire yes-
terday, caused the destruction of one life, and inflict-
ing serious bodily injury on several other persons, be-
sides nearly demolishing a factory, and throwing some
500 persons out of employ.
Messrs. S. S. Marling and Co. are proprietors of the
Ebley clothing mill, an establishment situate on the
bank of the Stroudwick canal, about a mile from Stroud,
and the accident happened about nine o'clock in the
morning. At this hour the workmen and women had
been to . breakfast, and were just beginning to work,
when a loud explosion, followed by a crash, which was
distinctly heard in the town of Stroud, announced a
catastrophe. On repairing to the spot, it was found
that the engine boiler of the factory had burst, and the
building in which it was contained was found to be
almost a heap of ruins. The end of the factory
where the boiler had been placed was completely
blown out, and a' wall forming the boundary of the
premises next to the canal was also thrown down,
the debris being blown into the canal. The
roof had dropped inwards. On removing the rubbish
near the boiler the body of the engineer was discovered,
dreadfully mutilated and dead. Three women were also
found to have sustained serious injuries, and were re-
moved to Stroud Hospital, where they are now lying.
It is a most providential circumstance that the accident
happened at the moment it did, for. in a quarter of an
hour after there would have been some 500. people in the
mill, and some 30 in the floor immediately over the
boiler. One boy had a very narrow escape. He acted
as stoker or attendant to the engineer, and just before
the accident had been sent by him to fetch a hammer.
He was returning with it to the building when the ex-
plosion took place.
An inquest has been opened on the body of the engi-
neer by J. G. Ball, Esq., coroner, but the evidence taken
has been merely of a formal nature, The boy
time
ewfheor lastthe
saw the deceased alive was examined- The inquest was
thensnt aadjourned,
the attendanceo
adjourned
f government
for thih purposecjeue
st. ofgivingwho will be pre-
inspector,

Various rumours are in currency as to the cause of
the accident. One statement is to the effect that the
engineer had put a 71b weight upon the safety valve.

THE DERBY ELECTION.—FURTHER PROCEEDINGS. —A
correspondent says—Mr. Horsfall's friends at Derby
bYM
the
means which that
gentleman is indebted for his temporary occupation ofin who will be
have been taken woe:ully aback by the service of war-
rants upon 70 of them, within the last few days, in
Derby and the vicinity (including two of the principal
parties
sd
ctoonugeicvtee da Nr VI 1 tahe
ctohaneDt
oc rf
a seat for that borough. The circulation of the Speaker's
warrant among such a number of the honourable gentle.
man's supporters has quite spread a panic amongst the
party. Mr. Bass's friends feel no anxiety concerning
the fate of the petition against him. There have been
no practices resorted to to procure his return which will
not bear the strictest scrutiny. The proceedings against
Morgan, the "good and safe man,' will be vigorously
proceeded with at the ensuing assizes, which take place
in March : at the same time it is not intended, while
prosecuting a subordinate, to permit the principal to
escape.
TUNNEL RAILWAY.— A project, it is said, which has
been some time in preparation, is likely soon to be
brought forward, for a railway from the City to Bays-
water, •by means of a tunnel, following the line of the
New•road.