The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-07 00:00:00

LATE DREADFUL BOILER
EXPLOSION AT LEEDS.
INQUEST UPON THE BODIES.
The inquest upon the hedies of the engineer, John
;eeeton, and Harriet Harrison, the girl killed by the
boiler explosion, at the Victoria Foundry of
slessra. Smith, Tannett, and Beacock, was opened
yesterday morning, at the Commercial Inn, Marshall-
atreet, before J. Blackburn, Esq., Coroner for Leeds,
an,: a respectable jury.
Previous to taking evidence, the jury inspected the
premises, which are in raiins. The boiler which burst
Lad been blown through the engine-house roof, had
rn-:.:d over a passage, and knocking down two walls,
demolishing a second roof, cleared a third very
bieeh wall, and eventually fell in an adjoining field, a
ranee of thirty yards. The boiler which was along-
aide the one burst was turned upside down, and con-
siderably injured. The boiler which caused the
injury has its bottom rent away, and remains in its
present position. After the inspection the jury re-
t u rzed, and
Robert Beacock, one of the partners in the firm,
was called, and deposed that John Newton, the de-
ceased engineer, was our engine-man. He was ac-
qaainted with the duties of an engineer, and had been
us about twelve months. He attended to the
encriile, which was 12-horse power. It was an old
There were two 20-horse boilers attached to
it, out only one was in use, and that was the one which
was blown up. It was old, and had had a few re-
pairs lately, which we did ourselves. It had been in
work ten weeks since its repair. We considered it
substantial and trustworthy. I saw the boiler at ten
on Monday morning. I was called here by Newton,
eho said, " Master, look here, here is'a leakage ; won't
be Letter to have it out and repair it." 1 told him
repaired the first opportunity; that would
be when it stopped for cleaning, probably next week.
I did not consider that the leakage was dangerous.
Ciee re:rt thrown over weighed about three tons. The
e' of the building over which it was thrown
be twenty feet, and the distance the boiler was
.. is between twenty and thirty yards. The
le :name of 'hie engine was broken to pieces, the
:re :vas thrown down, the pump rod bent to the
und, and the pipes and other things injured. The
er, Newton, and a man named Williamson
in the Infirmary), were in the place at the time
of the explosion. Williamson was standing in the
doorway', and was badly bruised and scalded. They
were Loth found under the doorway of the engine-
se ; and that door protected 11 illiamson in some
Newton was taken home, and died imme-
Williamson
,annot account satisfactorily for the explosion upon
the idea of its having been caused by pressure;
in fal, such an accident could not arise from
the pressure of steam. lam inclineded to believe
11at the float was out of order, and that the
deficient supply of water caused the generation of
Ps, and consequent explosion. The engineer said
that the boiler was good enough to carry 121 b. or
3 lila, but we have never carried more than 91b. to
the eouare inch. I think the overplus valve might
sticle, and the steam forcing the water out of the
boiler, if cold water were placed in the boiler steam
would generate, and an explosion would take place.
The pump would force cold water in at much more
than a nine-pound pressure. Newton was a very
mid man, and always went to Mr. Blacklock, the
engineer, when he saw that anything was wrong.
We put 91b. on the engine—which is a low pressure
—in day, and 411 b. at night. I approve of this
change of weights on the safety valve, as it prevents
cereeosion by keeping the valve working.
Archibald Blacklock, engine fitter, in the employ-
ment of Messrs. Smith, Beacock, and Tannett, was
sworn, and stated.--aI believe that Newton, when a
Jatge fire was agate, put 91b. extra on the safety
valve, which would make the pressure l 31b. ; but I
cannot say how much he had on at the time of the
explosion. We had not a glassgauge. if there had
been any want of water it must have been Newton's
neglect, because he had two floats to go by, one of
them being a telegraph one. He must be to blame.
I saw him after the explosion ; he was cut about the
faese, and his eilotties were wet. I never saw the
engine when it was overweighttd. Nine pounds to
the square inch was the standard. I believe more
Las been put on, but I do not think Mr. Beacock
}mew it. No person had any right to regulate the
weights but the deceased.
William Anderton, a mechanic at Messrs. Smith
r.t.l Co.'s, aided in carrying home the deceased en-
gie er, who on his way said, " I thought this would
be the end—l thought this would happen." He
almost immediately asked for water, and said no
more. He died almost directly afterwards in wit-

liaiel

Ikeri 3 arms.
William Longboftom, engineer, in the employment
of Messrs. Marshall srld Co. for twenty years, de-
posed—l have examined the premises and the boiler,
and say decided opinion is, that shortness of water,
and no other cause, was the origin of the explosion.
frpon examining the lower part of the boiler I found
it incrusted with oxide of iron, caused by excessive
13ent, so excessive as no boiler ought to have.
.olacklock was recalled, and stated that the de-
cnsec' (Newton) couiti have seen the telegraph float
at as time, even when in the fire hole. I do not
thin!: this explosion could have been caused by the
over--,veighting of the valve. I have calculated from
the properties of iron, that it would have required a
force of 800 tons to produce the effects which have
been produced in this instance, supposing the plates
to ha, been perfect, and 400 tons if you make every
ailow_ace for rivets—a force which no over-weight
could produce.
George Lodge, another engineer, after an examina-
tion of the boiler, was also of opinion that the pri-
man, cause of the explosion was shortness of water ;
the secondary cause was the over-weighting of the
saf-ty valves, or their becoming fast. That the water
mas short is evident from the fact that the ends of the
boiler are carbonised.
.I,lln Hinckley, thread maker, deposed to finding
the L;rly of the deceased female in the thoroughfare
the engine-house. She was quite dead,
as •irrounded by rubbish. He had just seen her
7ae corner a minute before the explosion.
.I'l.:Abeth Newton, the widow of the deceased John
New ;on, said—My husband was 61 years of age last
March. He eiomplained that his work was too hard,
but made no either complaint. He said he thought
the boiler bottom was flinching, and that the boiler
iva3 not going to turn out a very good one.
This was the last witness ; and, after some observa-
tions from the Coroner,
The jury, at two o'clock, returned the following
verdict :—" Accidental death ; and that the explosion
of the boiler arose from a deficient supply of water ;
and the rtriw recommend that in future the boiler
should be feed by a common feed-pipe, and not by a
force pump."
Mr. Beacock said this should be attended to.

In London we are again spared the task of report.
ing any failures From Manchester the letters men-
tion the suspension ..of Messrs. de Jersey and Co., an
event which was expected in connexion with the stoppage
of Thomas, Son, and Lefevre. At the same time it is
stated that the immediate object is to ascertain the
pc:,i.tion of the latter firm, and that do Jersey and Co.
re,: upon paying in full. The amount of liabilities is
extremely large, acid the house having been extensive
purchasers of yarn and machinery for the Continent, the
engineers and spinners throughout Lancashire will be
heavy at reel. These purchases, however, have been
chiefly made upon Russian account, and as the proceeds
Of ?heir sale will gradually come forward, it is quite
probable that Messrs. de Jersey and Co. may require
tirr:e alone to restore them to a sound position. Another
.....failure is announced from Manchester, the firm being
Yfirft of James, Nephew, and Co., with reference to whom
it is remarked, " they are a most respectable house, and
it is generally reported that they will yet pay in full." Tne
suspension of Messrs. Bradley and Parker, of the Man-
Chester Stock Exchange, is also mentioned, and it is said
Ile amount will prove serious. From the country gene-
asaily the letters are not unsatisfactory. At Liverpool
the impression en,', to bri that the panic has rather
stcapbpBrietin'saitol'n"autseh rt that a deep feeling of
iowin74 sornewi‘a". Prevail, From Hull we have the fol-
tar;markable paragraph Everything
here remains on
even a rumour afloat:m'_
an4i, sound basis, and we have not
REMESENTATION Or St% T
very desirable that Mr. vai-
Ile Will sit for South Lancastli .L.JANCASIIIRE.—It 15
rs should decide whether
r for Wolverhampton.
On'o or other of those constituencies
;mght to be on the
out for a fit man to represneeniet*
mind and an-
' iic can move until he makes t, 1.,i9 his place, but
..; his decision. Two parties are
eat for
Henry,
ceasors to Mr. Villiers, if he should relstrokenof as sue-
d a liberal
Lancashire. The one is Mr. Alexander
Charles
of Manchester, a gentleman of great weaislthlainr
supporter of free trade ; the other
Towneley, of Towneley, the brother-in-law
wofouthledeh
of Softon. We believe that either of them
gonq colleague for Mr. Brown.—Liverpool Times.
, TRA LAND COMPANY.—At a public meeting of the
Mernriers and friends of the National Land Company,
heir! at the Fox and Hounds, C irter-gate, the following
don was passed unanimously That
ti,e members of the National Land Company, do
express our disapprobation of the steps taken by
,itinglom 'threw,' to suppress the Land Plan, by
L scaudaißs attack upon its founder, Feargus
C,!;!nor, Esq., aI.P.; and also an attempt to annihilate
means of the working classes in carrying out their
ncipation ; and further, we do hereby express the
-Jost confidence in the honesty of our liberator, Fear-
rats O'Connor, Esq., and we will do our utmost to assist
him in obtaining our rights, viz , the Land and the
ebarter."—Nottingham Review.
Among the many instances of courtesy shown by
Prince Albert, during his visit to the highlands, we are
pleased to learn that his Royal Highness made very gra-
dolls inquiries as to the health of Mr. Patrick Fraser
Tytler, our Scottish historian, and expressed his satisfac-
tion on learning that it was so much improved. We
,bave.much pleasure in stating that this gentleman has,
like his cotemporary, Lytton Bulwer, derived muen
benefit from the hydropathic treatment of Dr. Mayo,
-rho gives every hope of his entire restoration to his
=earner health. Mr. P. F. T. and his family are now
'dying the mountain air of Elgersberg.—lnverness
ourier.

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