The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-07 00:00:00

BOILER EXPLOSION NEAR LEEDS.

FOUR KILLED AND SEVEN INJURED.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)
On Saturday morning, about a quarter after six,
o'clock, a frightful explosion occurred at the mill
of Mr. Samuel Almond, woollen manufacturer, in
the village of Gildcrstone, near Leeds. The ex-
plosion scattered destruction around in every direc-
tion to life and property. As soon as the confusion
had subsided, and the sufferers were collected and
examined, it was found that four persons had been
killed on the spot, and seven others very seriously
injured. The following arc their names :
Dead.—John Bradley, aged 18, the fireman,
whose act was the immediatei cause of the explo-
sion. George Woffington, a boy of 14 years. Sarah
Halliday, aged 22,. Alice Wright, aged 21.
Injured.—The following persons were most of
them severely injured :—James Almond. Martha
Bobshaw : this unfortunate woman was far ad-
vanced in pregnancy, and there is but very little
hope of her recovery. John Gregson. Caroline
Gregson, who is stated to be in a dangerous con-
dition. Mary Ann Thompson. Jane Halliday, a
fracture of the leg and other injuries • she is the
sister of Sarah Halliday, who was killed. Jane
Collinson.
The body of John Bradley, the engine-man or
fireman, was found in a horrible condition in a field,
150 yards from the mill. In its flight, it had come
in contact with a stone wall, at a distance of 140
yards from the mill, with such force that a portion
of the wall was thrown down. Parts of the skull,
the brains, &e., were found scattered about in the
field, and the body in its flight had been denUded
of clothing.
Amongst other effects of the explosion, a room
in which several young women were working. was
thrown down, causing two of the deaths recorded.
Considerable portions of the mill and of the adja-
cent pottery of Mr. E. Ackroyd were also blown
down. Portions of the boiler, with bricks, stones,
flags, timber, iron, &c.,were found in all directions
and at distances of 200 to 300 yards from the boiler-

seat.
Three men were l•ad.ng a cart in the yard at the
time of the explosion. The cart was smashed and
the horse killed, as well as a pig that was near ;
but all the men escaped without severe injury.
As to the cause of this catastrophe, we fear it is
but too obvious. It seems that during the night
the steam was got up, or kept up, and that the
boiler was for several hours left in the charge of a
mere, lad, to fire up, &c. Bradley, the regular en-
gineer, a young man of 18, who appears to have
been very ignorant and unfit for such duties, came
about six o'clock in the morning, and sent the lad
home. Bradley, upon looking at the boiler, was
amazed to find that some of the plates were red hot.
Knowing no better, and desiring to cool them with-
out delay, he at once turned on a quantity of cold
water. Of course, the explosion followed instan-
taneously, and the wretched youth fell amongst
the victims of his gross ignorance.
On Saturday evening a coroner's jury was im-
pannelled, and, after the bodies had been identified,
so as to enable the coroner to issue his Nvarrant for
their interment, the inquiry was adjourned to
Friday next.

Some excitement was occasioned in the literary
world by the sudden suspension from the Messenger of Paul
d'lvoi, the charming and witty chronicler of that paper.
The offence for which he thus incurred punishment was
merely that of declaring that the enthusiasm created by tie
Emperor s appearance in Brittany was exclusively expe-
rienced oy the journalists. The meanness of the order which
was immediately issued to all the papers to refuse employ-
ment to the indiscreet chronicler has been loudly reprobated
by all parties, and to such extent that the interdiction has
been defied, and Paul d'lvoi is himself again.—Ourt
Journal.