The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-23 00:00:00

ADJOURNED
IR.II
inquest Ali I
tNoi.
inquire
The adjournedA e of the
death of Mr. Dakiu, the extensive 4:41kUl
into INQUEST
Ye
iauTsjP°N
tea dealer in St.
Paul's Churchyard, was held beforeto-d
the City coroner, at the London Coffee Mr.
Payne,
Mr. W. M. Wilkinson was re • e House.
t to watch the pro-
ceedingsl on behalf of the detp•easseecill
and Mr. Edwin James, the barrister,gentleman'sfamifoyr,
Messrs. Brown and Co., the patentees attended
cylindrical
of the _
oven, to which the fatal accident hasb
thateen attributed.
Mr. Farey said it was his opinion
arose from the weakness of the metal of
the explosion
arose
which t
was made to resist the pressure which it subjectedu
to, that pressure being attended by heat. was
Mr. George Nasmyth, the engineer of Ebury-street,
Pimlico, was next examined. He said he had carefully
examined the hot water apparatus, and examined
minutely the casting where the explosion had taken
place, and he considered that the explosion bad arisen
almost entirely from the manner in which
had been made. There was not head or column of
metal sufficiently high to get rid of the surge or frothi-
ness which always took place in casting iron. Accord-
ing to the custom of the trade the oven ought to have
been cast with ahead, and then cut off, so as to get rid of
any imperfections in it.
Mr. William Healy, ironmonger, and manufacturer of
hot water apparatus, said he was also of opinion that
the explosion was caused by the defective casting of the
valve.
Mr. Perkins, the inventor of heating water under
pressure, said he had examined the cylindrical oven, and
understood perfectly the manner of working it. It was
made of cast•iron, which be considered was a very im-
proper material for an apparatus which had to bear an
excessive pressure of 2,0001b5. to the square inch, and
was subjected to 500 or GOO degrees of temperature. He
considered that the casting was detective for the reasons
stated by the previous witness, and be was of opinion
that the accident would not have happened if the oven
had been made of wrought instead of cast it
n. Tohere
erected. were air-holes visible in the casting. He also cod. nsidered
that the apparatus had not been properly
Mr. Waterhouse, who was in the employ of the de-
ceased, proved the contract with Messrs. Brown and Co.
for the apparatus.
The witnesses on the part of Messrs. Brown and Co,
were then called.
Mr. George Taylor said he was an ironfounder at
West Bromwich, Staffordshire, and was the party who
made the c) lindrical oven. It was made of Staffordshire
iron, which cost in the rough state from 34 to 61. per ton,
which was the market price for pig iron at the time. in
casting iron it was usual to leave a column head at the
top about six or eight inches high, and the cylinders
supplied to Mr. Dakin were cast in that wily. They
were cast from the top, and the column or head which
was left was broken off on each cylinder, and made level
with the casting. It was usual to do so when the casting
was to be subjected to a great pressure. A few air
bubbles were perceptible on the outside. The sum
which Mr. Dakin was to pay for the cylinders was
at
the rate of 154 a ton. The market price of pig iron of
the same quality as that used by them was 31. 18s. at
the present time. Ile considered that the cylinder was
perfectly safe, and capable of resisting the pressure
which it had to bear. There was nothing in the ap.
pearance of it which showed that the casting Was
defective.
George Ilanagan, one of the sufferers from the acci-
dent, who was obliged to be assisted into the room Was
next examined. He said be was in the employ of
Messrs.
Brown, and was present when the accident hap..
pened. He was directed to get up the fires in order to
dry the brickwork on which the cylinder was raised, and
which had been built up in the night. He lighted thi,,
fire about one o'clock, and Mr. Dakin came in and told_
him to get up the heat, as he intended to roast some