The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-11 00:00:00

BOILER EXPLOSION AND FIRE

AT MANCHESTER.

On Saturday TriornirTg,ataqua;ter before eleven
o'clock, the workpeople employed in Dy che-street
mill, near Rochdale-road, were thrown into a state of
great alarm by a loud explosion, and such an escape
of steam, as filled the yards and the whole building.
It was immediately found that the mill was on fire in
a number of places, which spread with furious ra-
pidity. There were at the time about three hundred
people on the premises, and as they had all to pass
through a narrow door to make their escape, and the
whole place was full of steam, so that none could find
their way out—as the steam continued for some time
time to rush with immense force across the yard
through which they had to pass, the consternation
which was produced was almost indescribable.
from
sm to
A rush was at once made to the entrance door;
many who were unable to escape by the door
tgt
eet
sogeurcotounondfd
.tahnedNl oow thirder
sooner wstionrdihoe
aswds ,
the threw an and
steam sotmheemeel
themselves
ro e
somewhat
abated than it was discovered that the boiler had
exploded in such a manner as to scatter the fire com-
pletely over one end
of the mill and into every win-
dow. The pile of buildings is in the form of a square,
haring a yard in the centre. On the left from the
entrance stood the boilers and engine-house, in front
the main body of the mill, and on the right the ware-
house. That boiler nearest the middle of the yard
had burst, and swept the contents of the fire-
hole, so as to scatter them over the whole of
the 'warehouses immediately opposite. A large quan-
tity of brick and iron work connected with the
boiler was also blown against the building; the mas-
sive iron door was thrown with terrible force against
the wall across the yard. Many parties were struck
with the burning coals and other materials, which in-
flicted some severe scalds, burns, and bruises, but we
have not heard of any loss of life. The mill being
chiefly occupied by power-loom weavers, the material
was very combustible, and as the fire had been.
thrown into every room from the top to the
bottom of the warehouse, that part of the building
was one mass of flames in a short space of time.
Engines were speedily on the spot and in full play,
but the superintendent at once pronounced it impos-
sible to save the building, and in less than an hour
from the explosion only the bare walls were left. The
mill was surrounded by small dwelling-houses, and
of course the utmost consternation was produced
amongst their occupiers. With great exertions, how-
ever, they were preserved. The mill was occupied
by four tenants, three of whom were power-loom
weavers, and the fourth a small-ware manufacturer.
The loss is variously estimated at from ten to twenty
thousand pounds, most of which is covered by in-
surances. It is stated that the catastrophe was oc-
casioned by some defect in the boiler.

BLOCKING EVENT.—A melancholy catastrophe oc-
curred at Rayleigh, on Tuesday lest, the wife of a re-
spectable labourer, named Finch, having drowned herself
and infant in a pond. It appears that about four o'clock
on the above morning her husband and a lodger got up
to attend to the horses on Mr. Beadel's farm, at Rayleigh,
where they work: they returned to breakfast about five
o'clock, and while at their meal the wife came down
stairs with the child in her arms; after sitting a short
time she complained of pain, and made an excuse to go
down the garden ; not returning, however, her husband
became anxious and went to look after her, but not find-
ing her where he expected and receiving no reply to his
repeated. calls, he continued his search, and at length
discovered her with her infant fastened to her in a pond
contiguous to the cottage. Medical aid was immediately
procured, but it was of no avail, life being quite extinct.
Deceased, who has left four or five children, had recently
been confined and was only churched on Sunday last.
An inquest was held on Wednesday last, before W.
Codd, Esq., coroner, when a ♦erdict was returned of
-" Found drowned."—.Essex Herald.