The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-05 00:00:00

THE LATE sTE_LA-ILtrt EX-

PLOSION,

MP.. FAIRBAIRN

'5 IIEiTORT

On M,

the thre

e adjourned iaqucst upoil tine beciii.s oi-
aeatr:: perst;ns who killed by ti
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the couuty coroner.
consequi .!6 of its Leing known that Wm. Fair-
bairn, Esq., C.E., had been dire.;ted by the coroner to
draw up a ieport of the disaster, the room was thronged
by many manufacturers from different parts of the
country. There were also several scientific gentlemen
present.
Mr. John Bayley, one of the masters, said, my part-
ner's name is Richard Dewhurst ; we have had the mill
sixteen months. The engineer we employed is named
Marshall ; we had no fireman, he did all the work. I
got to the mill on the morning of the accident about a
quarter to six. I went into the boiler-house for a light;
the engine man was attending to the fire. I lighted up
the warehouse, and returned into the boiler-house, and
lighted a gas which looks over the steam guage. Ac-
cording to the gunge, the steam stood about five inches.
I then looked at the water guage, and that was within
an inch of the ordinary working height. I again went
into the warehouse, and had not been in more than two
minutes before the explosion took place. The ordinary
working height is from ten to twelve inches of steam. I
never exchanged a word with the engineer. I had con•
fidence in Marshall's ahility.
In answer to Mr. Barlow, one of the owners of the
property. witness stated that the engine was of 18-horse
power, and that it turned 9,600 mill spindles.
George Brandon said—Mr. Bayley sent for me to start
the engine. It was stopped, and I found a stud of the
eccentric loose. The fly wilt el caaght the wall plate,
and broke it. The engine did not start again that day.
John Thomas came on the Monday morning in Crook's
Place ; but Mr. Bayley sent him home. Some questions
being asked about the safety valve, Mr. Fairbairn said,
as he understood, there was a wood prop under the lever
of the valve, which kept it down, and prevented any
escape of the steam; witness said, the prop was under
when I went there, and I left it so; I did not apprehend
danger when the engine was at work. I always disturbed
the prop when the steam was about 12 inches. If the
gauge was stopped by dirt, as it sometimes was, I had
no criterion to go by only my own judgment.
In reply to Mr. Earle, the witness said the duty of
the engineer is to look after the guages and valves, not
the master's I told Crooks he must keep the steam at
twelve inches, or it would plague him. I looked in the
boiler when it was being cleaned Yesterday week, and
said at that time to a joiner named James Stafford, this
boiler will cause some accident. I was not aware but
there was a stay from end to end, but it has not. Staf-
ford said tell Mr. Bayley, and I said I would, but did
not do so, in consequence of being taken sick.
Thomas Crooks said, I live in Cotton-street, and went
to fire up for last witness. I saw the safety-valve was
fast. I said to one of the young masters that it was
dangerous. The peg of the steam gauge stood about 20
inches high. Brandon had it that high when I went ;
it's no use telling a lie about it. The engine was stopped
at this time. The gauge should be 13 when the engine
is on. I was frightened in consequence of the safety-
valve not acting. The boiler had no stay over the fire.
place, and it ought to have had four.
Mr. Fairbairn said that he had no doubt whatever
but the accident was caused by an over-pressure of
steam. For the purpose of giving the fullest informa-
tion on the subject, he had written out a report which
, he read. A portion of this only need be quoted
" The true cause of the eruption, namely, that the
safety valve was fast, and the engineer being engaged
in cleansing and charging the furnace fur nearly halt an
hour previous to the explosion (with no escape for the
steam), the boiler, as in all such cases, became an in-
strument of destruction, involving the most ruinous re-
. sults to all those within the reach of its influence. This
• fact, therefore, removes all doubt as to the cause of
this lamentable occurrence, which, like most abets of
the same kind, has arisen from culpable negligence of
the engineer, and a callous disregard of consequences too
serious to be contemplated. On no account whatever
should the safety valves of steam boilers be allowed to be
touched after they are once loaded and set, excepting
only for the purpose of ascertaining its free working
condition. .* * * * * The safety valve being
fast, and all escape for the steam being closed, it is
easy to conceive what would be the result, namely,
that of excessive pressure, which acting upon the weaker
parts of the boiler, would bear down that over the fur-
nace, and hence follows the total destruction of the build
legs, and the ruinous consequences which ensued. It
will be observed that the boiler in its descent made a
complete somerset, and reversed its position, which can
only be accounted for by the reaction of the forces upon
the furnace end of the boiler, thus producing a rotative
motion during its ascent. In almost every case where
high steam is suddenly liberated the boiler becomes a
projectile of enormous force, which no erection, how-
ever solid, can resist. Before closing these remarks,
I would respectfully direct attention to the heavy re-
sponsibility attached to the management of steam-
boilers. A little more attention would go far to pre-
vent accidents of this kind, if it did not entirely remove
them altogether. On a former occasion I took
the liberty of adverting to the present imper-
fect state of our knowledge, as regards the education
of an exceedingly useful body of men. I mean that class
of engineers into whose hands the lives and property of
the public are entrusted. At present engineers are far
from possessing an adequate knowledge of the elements
of their profession, not yet has their moral condition at-
tained that high standard of character so essential to a
faithful discharge of their respective duties. It will yet
require some years before such men can be trained for
the public service, but I still hope in this age of steam
and steam-engines to see the whole of our steam navy,
railways, and manufactures, guided and governed by a
body of men at once inspiring confidence and respect
This cesirable object cannot, however, be attained but
through the joint aid of the Government, railway and
steam navigation companies, including manufacturers in
the erection of normal schools for the education ofengineers.
In conclusion I would recommend the same suggestions
which I urged on the occasion of the boiler explosion at
Bolton, that the following regulations be observed.-
Ist. That the practice of placing boilers under buildings
where the workpeople are employed be discontinued.
2d. That two safety valves be attached to each boiler,
one of them to be weighted from the inside to the re.
quired pressure, and to have a long ascending discharge
pipe out of the reach of interference ; the other to be
under the control of the engineer. These valves, in
order to be perfectly safe, should have, respectively, an
area (-Anal to one-half of the steam pipe, or about one
square inch to every two horse of the computed power of
the boiler. 3d. That in cases where boilers are situated
under mills, a mercurial gauge, indicating the pressure of
the steam, and an ascending column of water correspond-
ing with that pressure, will be found of great value in
cases of negligence on the part of the fireman or
engineer. Lastly, each boiler should have a water-
gauge and two fusible fire-plugs composed of suitable
materials."

After the reading of the report, the coroner and jury
wqrc of opinion that no other witnesses was necessary.
A juror wished the last engineer, Marshall, called in,
which was done, and, in answer to questions put to him,
said he lied taken out the prop, from under the boiler,
the day before the accident.
The jury were then left to themselves, and, after a few
minutes' deliberation, returned a verdict of " Accidental
death, caused by an over-pressure of steam, and by reason
of the safety-valve of the said steam-boiler having been
overloaded or pressed down, but by whom, or by what
means, is not known."—Crowds of persons were con-
gregated in the street to hear the result.

FREAKS OF AN ENGINE.—One of the engines on
the Taff Vale Railway " ran away" on Wednesday morn-
ing, when not verydistant from the Bute Dock Terminus;
it dashed onwards, got to the end of the rails which were
turned upwards, knocked them off; and after running a
short way on the gravel and knocking a lamp-post down,
.was Stopped either for want of steam or by getting its
wheels too deeply embedded in the soil to permit of its
carrying the joke any further. From information we
have received, it seems the accident was caused by these
circumstances :—The coupling chain, connecting the
engine to the tender, broke, upon which, being relieved
of its burden, the engine instantly acquired a great in•
crease of speed; the driver, who happened to have one
loot on the tender at the time, fell backwards, so that no
one was left on the engine to shut off the steam, as the
stoker jumped off. Two waggons were much damaged,
but no accident to life or limb occurred.—Cardiff and
Merthyr Guardian.
THE ARMY.—Thirty-two gentlemen have been
gazetted as Cornets or Ensigns in the army during the
preceding month, 22 of whom have their commissions,
varying in price from 45c1. to 1,200/. each, purchased,
and amounting in the aggregate to the sum of 10,000/.
The following non-commissioned offizers have been pro-
moted during the month, and have received the usual
bounty of 100/. each to assist them in their outfit as
commissioned officers :—Sergeant-Major W. Blackburn,
to be Ensign in the 83d Foot; Colour Sergeant J.
Mansfield, to be Quarter-Master in the 2d Foot; Ser-
'geant-Major W. Stillwell, to be Quarter-Master in the
„Rifle Brigade. 31 Ensigns have been promoted to the
rank of Lieutenant, 12 without purchase, and 19 by
purchase. The amount which has thereby changed
hands is 6,950/, the regulated difference for the com-
missions varying from 2001. to 850/. each. 18 Lieutenants
have been promoted to the rank of Captain, 7 without
purchase, aria 11 by purchase. The amount which
bas thereby changed hands is 10,4001, the regulated
difference for the commissions varying from 1,1004 to
2,7501. each. Six Captains have been promoted to the
rank of Major, five by brevet, and one by purchase.
Amount of purchase-money, 3,5001. Three Majors
have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Cononel
by brevet. Eight Assistant-Surgeons have been pro-
moted to the rank of Sargon, and nine medical gentle-
men have been gazqtted as Assistant-Surgeons.
CONTINUED DESECRATION OF TIIE DEAD.—THE
T. GILES% PAUPER BURIAL-GROUND.—According aS
the excavations proceed and preparations are made to
sink the foundations for the new buildings abut to be
erected in Short's-garden?, immediately at the rear of St.
Giles's Workhouse additional coffins are found at depths
varying from 4to 12 feet from the surface. Although
within the course of six eight weeks, the remains of
nearly 2,000 persons haver been removed and deposited
at the new burial-ground, St. Pancras-read, it is evident
that the portion of ground
brcught
ghastly contains a great
number of coffins. The b
bodies are still to be seen lying aYborteltlic. lsn all of dedciorcmcptioosnesd,
s,
and the workmen have, within the last few a
to the surface some SO or 90 coffins with their contents.
The entire piece of ground laid bare will not be required
to be built upon, but no directions have been given to
move the human remains contained in that portion re--
scribed in the plans for the new erections as a " yard."
It is the intention to spread a thick layer of concrete
ever the surface, in order to prevent any unwholesome
exhalations.