The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-08 00:00:00

FEARFUL EXPLOSION.

A most disastrous explosion occurred on Satur-
day on the farm of Mr. Holmes, of Langton, near
Melton. A steam-engine, used for driving a thrash-
ing machine, exploded, killing the son of the owner
and another man, and fearfully mutilating and
scalding six others. The names of the sufferers are
Leonard Suggitt (son of the owner), of Leavening,
killed; Henry Mooring, of Langton, killed; Geo.
Johnson, of Leavening, shoulder dislocated, several
ribs broken, and fearful scalds—said to be in great
danger; Wm. Jackson (foreman on the farm),
several wounds and scalds; and four others greatly
scalded. Yesterday Mr. W. Jennings, deputy
coroner for the East Riding, opened his inquiry
into the cause of the disaster. The most important
witness was Mr. Suggitt, senior, owner of the
engine and father of one of the killed. The follow-
ing is a summary of the evidence:—The engine was
one of a type similar to a locomotive, except that
the motion was above instead of beneath the boiler.
Engines of the description have become general of
late years in this part of Yorkshire for driving
thrashing machines, sawing wood, &c. The engine
in question had been Mr. Suggitt's property for
about five years, previous to which time he (Mr.
Suggitt) was a shoemaker. Witness did not seem
able to give much information respecting the con-
struction of the engine. During the five years it
had been worked frequently, and was in use and
worked well on Thursday last. It had once been
for repairs at an engineer's establishment at York,
but had also been repaired by a country blacksmith
rt Wharraui, a village on the Welds, about a month
ago. No fault had been found with its working up
to the time of its explosion, but it seems there had
been some defect in the boiler, by which the smoke-
box had become charged with steam, young Sug-
gitt being killed by the blowing out of the smoke-
box door at the end of the engine. The explosion
occurred when the work had been stopped for the
purpose of the customary "allowance" to the
men, all of whom were gathered round the
engine. Young Suggitt was standing at the
end of the engine, and Mooring was near him.
Suggitt was killed in a similar manner to being
blown from the cannon's mouth, which the
explosion is said to have much resembled. He was
struck on the chest by the iron door of the smoke
box, and sent a distance of 19 yards, being there
stopped by coming in contact with a wall. Moor-
ing Seas blown under a cart laden with coals, and
was frightfully wounded and scalded, his skull
being split. Johnson and Jackson were both struck
(lawn by flying fragments, and after those who
were scalded the escapes of the rest were truly
marvellous, more especially that of Mr. Suggitt,
senior. At the time of the explosion he was oiling
the brasses of the thrashing machine a few yards
from the engine, but at the opposite end to that
blown out. Thc'rebound caused the engine to leap
back, and most fortunately the shaft used for draw-
ing it about the country had been left on, and the
ends being en the ground were driven like a wedge
under the thrashing machine, which with the elder
Suggitt upon it was suddenly elevated. But for
this providential circumstance the witness must
have been smashed to atoms. After the explosion
the old man descended from his perilous position
and set about finding the body of his son, which
being blown 20 far away was not discovered for
some time. The mediell evidence merely described
the various injuries received. At this point of the
Vondav
proceedings
xtieleekc,oli'nonoerrd aerdjtoliliarnt un-
tileadctohmepientgeoutireyngi_)ti;c:perenmz, be
toe
detect,ol.) et !1e di
ftoponsi,:i.lhzel.e,antheexaremailneaatuiosne of
f
,he accident, and to determine whether or not the
C 1 ine was fit for use. The coroner made an order
g•
'or
VI/burial of the bodies. The calamity has
spread VI/
pread a feeling of terror throughout the district,
engines of the same description being in daily use.
There seems to be.a general expression of opinion
that the men in charge ought to be properly quali-
fi,..d for their management by undergoing some
previous examination ; under present circumstances
the eenfidence of farmers acrd other employers has
been gn:aily:llPk rt.

THE "WEATHER IN SCOTLAND.—The Gicagoto
Exam" ;ior states that one day in Christmas week the ther-
mometer was actually iu some parts of Scotland 40 bclovi
zero!