The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-09 00:00:00

FEARFUL STEAM BOILE.R EXPLOSION.

We are enabled to-day, from the statement of a
correspondent, to give fuller particulars of this sad
calamity at Middlewich, where on Wednesday
there was a fearful explosion of the steam boiler
belonging to Mr. Samuel Heath, ironfounder. A
report was heard, resemhling that of cannon of
heavy calibre, nearly all over the town, shaking
the houses in the immediate neighbourhood as
though there had been an earthquake. It was soon
evident from the report and the crowds attracted
that a dreadful calamity had occurred. On arriving
at the place it appeared that the ironfoundry, a
building of three stories and shed, was completely
shattered to pieces. It was known that Mr. Heath
and two sons were under the ruins, and assistance
was quickly rendered by several brave young men,
at the risk of their lives, amid vapour, dust, and
heated metal. The eldest son, William, was first
taken out, having been heard to speak while under-
neath the debris. Though very seriously injured
he with some assistance managed to walk
home; but his body presented a series of frightful
wounds, and he now lies in a very precarious
state. His brother was next got out though
quite dead. His body seems to have
sustained injuries in every part. After some fur-
ther search the old man was extricated, just alive,
and not expected to survive. His eyes were swollen,
and his cars nearly blown off. Dr. Hughes was
quickly on the spot, and rendered every assistance
in his power, dressing the wounds, and seeing to
their comforts being attended to. It is impossible
to say from which of the causes the men received
greatest injury—the explosion or the fall of the
building. The boiler was of the egg or oval shape,
about 12 or 121 feet long, and 4 feet 3 or 4 in. in
diameter, having a common old-fashioned safety
valve, but without a steam gauge or indicator. The
feed-pipe supplying the boiler with water was
worked by hand at intervals, which seems to have
been neglected. Sad to relate, it had been custo-
mary to weigh down the safety valve in order to
obtain greater pressure of steam. One end of the
boiler is blown clean away; the remainder leaped
from its bed to a distance of eight or nine yards,
knocking down the wall of the Red Lion Inn brew-
house, and lodging within two inches of the outer
wall of the Red Lion Inn itself. The whole length
of the boiler now lies in the brewhouse, but divided
in 3 parts. One end is entire, three-fourths of the
length being completely burst open, and about three
feet in its natural form, though separated from the
other two portions. The plates when new had been
nearly half an inch in thickness, but many parts of
the plates seem worn down to 3-16ths of an inch
only, and were the least able to offer resistance.
The engine (a high pressure) which was from 6 to
7-horse-power, and was situated in close proximity
to the boiler, now lies shattered, the cylinder and
half of the piston-rod lying alongside. The engine
was used principally for the purpose of driving a fan,
to give a blast to the furnace in which the ore was
heated. At the time of the accident the ore was
molten and ready for casting. The engine was,
therefore, at rest, and being tea time, the other
hands and assistants, from 8 to 12 in number, were
gone home; leaving Mr. Heath and two sons to
watch the heated metal. Had the accident occurred
half an hour earlier or later, it is impossible to say
what might have been the loss of life, as often
many persons congregate to witness the casting
process. It will, no doubt, be asked at the inquest
when the boiler was last fed, but the common opi-
' nion seems to be that the steam was generated too
quickly, and coming in contact with the heated
plates through a scarcity of water, an explosion in
nature similar to that of the Great Eastern took
place. The boiler was placed there 14 years ago,
and was then a second -hand one ; and it is said to
have been condemned six years. Bricks were
I blown by the explosion into the air, and descended
at a distance of from 45 to 50 yards. The foundry
stood in the Nantwich-road, about 14 or 15 yards
' from the Northwich-road, and was situated next
to the Red Lion Inn. The inquest will probably
be opened to-day.—Manchester Examiner.