The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-12 00:00:00

1857

irEARPuL !lid TEE SOUTH-
IFE6TEI?N RAIL JVA Y.

BASINGSTOKE, SATURDAY.
This morning an accident occurred by the burst-
ing of au engine boiler at the Basingstoke station on
the South-Western Railway, by which two lives
were unfortunately lost.
The up goods train left Southampton station on
Friday night at 9 o'clock, being a quarter of an hour
late. Having a very heavy load, and the wind being
also strong, considerable time was lost, and it did
not arrive at the Basingstoke station until 10 mi-
nutes past 1 o'clock this morning, upwards of an
hour behind its usual time. The engine-driver, after
stopping at the first bridge, proceeded on to the
water-tank for the purposs of taking in a fresh sup-
ply of water. The stoker was at the front of the en-
gine, oiling it, and the driver was attending at the
fire. At this moment the internal cylinder of the
boiler burst, and the door of the engine striking
ag,iitist the poor stoker, he was forced a distance of
40 or 50 3 ards up the line, while the driver was
blown in a contrary direction, and must have gone
a considerable height into the air, inasmuch as ho
was found at the top of the refreshment room, evi-
dently having been caught in the stomach by the
explosion. The poor fellow was discovered in a
frightfully mutilated condition, lying with his face
on the ground, his skull completely blown off, toge-
ther with part of his face. His cap was found some
50 yards further off. The cause of the accident is
perfectly inexplicable. Both the unfortunate men
were exceedingly steady and sober, and had a
thorough knowledge of their business. The engine
was nearly a new one, and considered perfect in its
construction. Mr. Beattie, the superintendent of
the locomotive department of the line, was tele-
graphed for, and he arrived on the s; of two or three
hours afterwards. The names of the deceased are
Reuben Thoroughgood and Henry Farrell. Both
were married men, and the former leaves two chil-
dren. _ _ _ _

At 11 o'clock in the morning an inquest was held
at the Queen's Arms public-house, close to the sta-
tion, before Mr. Shebbeare, the district coroner.
Mr. Beattie and Mr. Williams, the station-master,
were present, and desirous of affording every infor-
mation to the jury. The proceedings were rendered
much more satisfactory by the fact of one of the
jurymen—Mr. Soper, of Basingstoke—being a
practical engineer.
John Hodgkinson said—l am the foreman of the

locomotive department on the South-Western Rail-
way at Southampton. I see to the repairs of the
engines, and that they are in a fit state to go at the
proper time. The engine which left Nine-elms at
6.15 yesterday morning is numbered 139, and is the
same engine which took up the goods train at 8.45
last night. On the arrival of the train at South-
ampton, as was my duty, I examined the engine
and its machinery, when I found that everything
was right. The engine and machinery were made
by the company's servants, and had been used from
that time to the present day. It was almost a new
engine. Thoroughgood has been in the service of
the company three years ; he was a sober and at-
tentive man. The deceased Farrell has been in the
company's service about the same time as fireman,
and was also a sober, steady man. He has been
employed on the engine that has exploded ever
since it was made, and accompanied Thoroughgood
with the ud goods train last night. He had never
made any complaint as to the engine being a bad
one, or that the machinery was in an inefficient
state. I considered that there was a sufficient sup-
ply of water from the appearance of the fusible
plugs that are inserted at the top of the fire box.
If the boiler had been short of water these plugs
must have given way, as they would have got hot
and melted.

Mr. Soper—ls there not a possibility of those
plugs becoming incandescent ?
Witness—l never knew one. There was no in-
dication of the boiler plates being overheated. I
have known the fireman for more than 10 years.
lie was a steady, clever man, and capable of work-
ing an engine himself. The proper time for the
train to start is 8.45, but it started some 15 or 10
minutes late. I cannot say exactly what is the
evaporative power of the engine.
Charles Binfield said—l ant night porter at the
Basingstoke station. I got upon the van next to the
engine of the up goods train at the arch, and rode
with it down to the station. I asked the driver if he
could take any goods on, and he said he could hardly
get along with what he had got. I then told him to
drive on to the water stand. Thatwasall that passed
batweeu him and me. On reaching the station I got
down. Both Thorougligood and Farrell were on the
engine together. They made no remark as to
there not being a proper supply of water. They ar-
rived here at ten minutes. past 1 o'clock in the
morning. Their proper time was five minutes to
12 o'clock. The explosion took place about ten
minutes after the engine stopped. Both men ap-
peared perfectly sober. I heard no reason what-
ever for their more than usual delay. • I did not
hear them blow off at the safety valve. I heard
the explosion. It was just like a sharp clap of
thunder, and fire flew in every direction. Every-
thing was covered with smoke. I wonder I escaped
as I did.' I went to Mr. Williams, the station-
master. When I came back some one sai I, "He re'
s
one of the poor men." The body had been blown
a distance of 45 yards from the engine. The train
was about the same as usual ; there were 34 trucks.
They said they were so heavy they could not take
any more on.
Edward Deane, another porter, said—l
remark
at
the station when the up goods train arrived this
morning. I saw Thoroughgood and Farrell on the
engine when they came in. They aladen
no ark
about the engine being out of order, nor did they
give any reason for being late. They stopped at
the water column. I heard steaztrblowing off, but
heard
doiatl onenollfilLieodinecineaniteeds
ili
heardot s o m
the
eh asl lv )
explosion.ae
call out just before to the guard,
ready, John ?" That was all I heard.``Arelyou almost
We searched for the bodies for some timen.
with the policeman I found the body of the driver.
colvmepahnal
that
etiheefroetshher
found one, and at lengthb we thought it was just
possibletbe t ()p
etfhtai
we found it.
placed my lamp
eon the top
might have blown on
ep puttingef it.in
blown off ; there was was
refreshment room. That was where
the next thing yn
itd was had
aSucdadskenal
I
knowwas a tremendous explosion, and
I do not doorway of
the refreshmeut room. How I came
but we
there know. It was then we heard the
noise of something falling on the top of the roof,
thought it might be bricks.
James Tandy Said—l live at Lambeth, and am
foreman of the boiler-makers in the service of the
South-Western Railway Company. I have seen
the engine 139. I superintended the making of
the boiler for that engine. I watch the making of
boilers through all their processes. I tested the
one in question by steam and water pressure. We
turned this boiler out about four or five mouths
ago. She has never bsen in dock since. I have
examined the plate ; 1 perceived a rent, but I can-
not say how it came there. I cannot give any ac-
count of the rent. I never saw anything like it.
before in the whole course of my life. When I
examined the plate I .found it c Aapressed and
rented, but I cannot account in any way for the
compression. The boiler is constructed of-the very
best Yorkshire iron, allowed by all engineers to be
the best. My instructions from the company are
to carefully examine every plate that is supplied
to the company, and in order to do that mote
effectually I aui furnished with a magnifying glass.
If I detect the slightest flaw before or after it is
operated upon I mu to return it to the makers.
Mr. Soper.—What is the proportion of defective
plates you find out of a quantity ?
Witness—Very few ; indeed in these Yorkshire
plates not more than 3 or 4 per cent.
Mr. Soper—Have you ever had occasion to take
out a defective plate.
Witness—Never.
Mr. Soper—When was the last time you saw this
engine ?
Witness—The engines scarcely ever came einder
my notice except they require repairs, and
this ono
has never been under my repair. Somo boilers
will last from 12 to 15 years.
Mr. Soper—W hat power do you: suppose this
engine was ?
Witness—l don't know how to calculate the
power of a locomotive engine ; but I should say
about 120-horse power.
Mr. Soper—Have you comp to any cencluaion
iu your own mind:as to this accident 1
Witness—ln all my experience I never knew
before such an accident. I put the very best ma-
terial into every boiler.
Tmhre. CsoolpeJenr—er—yelt;Bobeeille
IS 'll
aseinrny
of this plate is torn away from th
Witness—The usual testi
the squire inch, and 300 I
ue or
line whilel hai e b in sotrearyihan six incites
e solid material.
, s 180Ib steam on
Iydraulic pressor©. We
have never had b
le boiler burst before on this
;en the company's service, now
ten yeirs, and that was not made by the 0 -impany's
servants.
John Smalley said—l was guard of the up goods
s last night. outLaniptou train night. We We arrived at
Ba-
singstoke five minutes after ono o'clock. I knew
Thoroughgood and Farrell well. I have known
them over since they have been in the company's
service. They both were sober, steady men. I
never saw them drink a glass of ale on the line.
They both seemed perfectly satisfied with the en-
gine. I have been with the former driver of this
engine, and he liked it very much.
We were an
hour late. We were 15 minutes behind our time
in starting, and 1 consider that we lost the other
time on the road. It is mostly up hill, and there
was a very strong wind, On arriving at Basing-