The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-03 00:00:00

FATAL EXPLOSION AT MANCHESTER.

About half-past 11 o'clock yesterday morning an explo_
siou of a laiaeutidile character took poice at the Atlas Iron
Worki., Manch st,:r b,lotiging to Messrs. S harp, Stewart,
and Co. The ii! to is one of the most celebrated is the
country for the in inufacture railway locoarocives, and
3 estetdav morning a newly-finished eugiue of this descrip-
tion was brought out into an open yard to be tested in the
usual way by steam pressure. The boiler was a cylindri-
cal tube of the largest dimensions, the plates being unu-
suall, thick (ahiut five-eighths of au inch), the locomative
being one the font had contrasted to make f.,r the Russian
Government. The stoner had been got P tors high pretoture
at half-past 11 o'clock, when one of the plates of the biller,
along the lino of rivets on each side, gave way, and wa,,
blown off and scattere, about iu frgweuts ,it a considerable
distance. The explosion shook tne entire premises, break-
ing the windows of adjoining buildings as well as those of
the works in which it occurred. We could not learu how
many pers( rus were present at the testing process, but after
the explosion the premises near the catastrophe presented
a shocking spectacle, the grounds and walls being covered
for yards square with blood and portions of human remains,
which were scattered in all directions. Tile head of (me un-
fortunate man was thrown cerise Bridgwater-street, and
was found on th?. top of a building near!) 60 yards distant.
Mr. Thomas F(irsyr th s wcl-known :in hi,,hly scientific
manager of the w.rks, was among
much shattered by the killed, his heae being
the fo7ce. of the ?splosi,in and his body
much scalded. The badly of Mr liswEein' fun:mail of the
boileritrakera, was torn to pieces. Mr. James Mawson:
foreman of the engineers, was badly scalded, and on being
removed to the Royal lufirrnery, shortly afterwards,
he died of his injuries. Mr. Nicholls, a gentleman
apprentice, aged 2 t, received a severe fracture of the skull,
and died also soon afterwards at the Infirmary. Among
the others killed were Mr. Stocks,' a young gentleman
apprentice, and James C trtnichel, rivetter. On inquiry
at the works we could not lest n tie exact numbers of the
killed, great confusion necessarily prevailing in the anxiety
of all parties to render assistance to the wounded and
dyin 4. It was believ.,d there that the nutuber was foui ,
bet at that tine it was elsewhere stated there were four
deal bodies lying at the Concert Tavern, too at the
Oxford-road Inn, and ne at the Infi wary. There can
bo little dr:tibt there were at lust six, but as the
fragments of the bodies were gathered up in sacks for
removal, it is possible there may be a doubt about the
seventh. In addition to these four persons who have been
badly scalded were carried to the Royal Infirmary. Their
names are :—Mr. Gustav Cohn, a gentleman apprentice ;
Mr. John GasevskY, a Russian engineer, said to be em-
ployed as inspector for the Russian Government ; Michael
Kelly, and William Sands.
The works at which about 1,500 persons are employed,
have been closed in consequence of the sad event until
Monday. As may be supposed, a great number of persons
were attracted to the spot b'y the rumours which rapidly
spr et through the town, and among them were the wive:,
of many of the workmen, in great:distress u to the fate of
their husbands. Several of the bodiertwill bo dirtied.; of
identification from the shocking manlier in which they
have been tern to fragrnentf.