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

FATAL EXPLOSION AT MANCHESTER.

About half-past 11 o'clock yesterday morning an oxide_
sion of a lamentable character took place at the Atlas Iron
Works, Manchester, belonging to Messrs. S harp, Stewart,
and Co. The firm is one of the most celebrated in the
country for the manufacture of railway locomuLive,, arid
yesterdav root nieg a lid wly-tignshod. engine of this descrip-
Lien was brought out into au open yard to be tested n the
usual way by steam pressure. The boiler was a cylindri-
cal tube of the largest dimensions, the plates being unu-
sually thick (about five-eighths of an inch), the locomotive
being one the firm had contracted to make for the Russian
Government. The steam had been got up to a high pres
at ball-past 11 o'clock, when one of the plates of the boiler,
along the line of rivets on each side, gave way, and was
blown off and scattered about in fragments at a consider able
distance. The explosion shook the entire premises, break-
ing the windows of adjoining buildings as well as those of
the works in which it occurred. We could not learn how
many persons were present at the testing process, but after
the explosion tho promises 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 iu all directions. The head of one un-
fortunate man was thrown across Bridgwater-street, and
was found on the top of a building nearly GO yards distant.
Mr. Thomas Forsyth, the we:l-known and highly scientific
mauager of the works, was among the killed, his head being
much shattered by the force of the explosion and his body
much scalded. The body of Mr Dawson, foreman of the
boilermakers, was torn to pieces. Mr. James Mawson,
foreman of the engineers, was badly scalded, and on being
removed to the Royal lufirmary. shortly afterwards,
he died of his injuries. Mr. Nicholls, a gentleman
apprentice, aged 21, 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 Carmichel, rivetter. On inquiry
at the works we could not learn the exact numbers of the
killed, great confusion necessarily prevailing in the anxiety
of all parties to render assistance to the wounded and
dyin;. It was believed there that the number was four,
but at that time it was elsewhere stated there were four
deal bodies lying at the Concert Tavern, two at the
Oxford-road Inn, and one at the Lift,. mary. There can
be little doubt there were at least 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 aro 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 by the rumours which rapidly
spread through the town, and among them were the wives
of many of the workmen, in great distress as to the fate of
their husbands. Several of the bodies will bo difficult of
identification from the shocking manner in which they
have been torn to fragment!.