Star.
London, England, 1828-11-20 00:00:00

TURATRIL

71111-

rittatiliT ok Ting $ 'Om.
Yesterdiy afternoon a JoirY., erslisting of several of
the principal inhabitants of 'St. nial, Covent garaen,
assembled at the Garrick's Head, 90" w-street, to inquire
into the cause of the deaths of William Douglas and
Richard Fennell. The bodies ifeie lying in Mr. Far-
ley's dressing room. There did not appear to be any
marks of external violence, and their clothes did not
seem scorched.

Mr. James Corder, Vestry Clerk of St. Paul, Covent
garden, said, about half pat one o'clock on Tuesday he
heard an explosion from Covent GArden Theatre, and
on going there discovered that there was a ire in one
of the vaulted passages, and a strong smell of gas.
Some firemen, Bow-street officers, and persons, were
engaged in eadeavouring to suppress the fire burning
in the gas room and parts adjAcent ; when the fire was
conaiderably checked, it was recommended that the
water in the lower passages should be pumped off,
Preston descended a short way and called ouL several

times, but no answer was returned. It occurred to
witness, that with a safety lamp a person might possibly
teach thtextremity t f the passage ; two were procured,
upon which, in company with II swlins and Ramsden,
witness descended into the vaulted passage, reached the
gas room, and after one or two effnts witness sue-
ceeded in geiting under the gasometer, called out, and
through the aperture of a newly built wall, discovered
the remains of Douglas. He was lyidg at the foot of some
stairs, with his legs up, horn which position it was
evident he had fallen is the act of escaping. At the top
of the stairs 'was found the body of Fennell against the
door, which wis locked. Witness assisted in

conveyiagi

them into the Bedford avenue, into which they got b
forcing open another door, where they had the assistant,
of four Medical iGentlemen. They were quite dead.
Do you know the cause ,f the accident ?—The fire-
man is here, who will prove that it was solely an ex-
plosi,n. lam satisfied they died by suffoc,tion.
The witness produced some property which hefoend
on the body of Douglas. It consisted of a gold „witch,
seals, &c. and six sovereigns, two half-sovereigns, one
Queen Anne's half-crown, some toys, rings, Ste.
Some questions wet e put by a Gentleman in the room
to Mr. Corder, respecting the door which led to the
passage where Fennell was found, and he was asked
whether a man named Bliss, who was acquainted with
the house, had not volonttered his services on the oc-
casion, and recommended that the door should be
forced open ?
Mr. Corder said that he did not hear of the door until
the bodies of the men were found.

The Gentleman then inquired whether, when Btu
offered his a•.sistance to rescue the men, he was not de.
sired to leave the premises?
Mr. Corder said he bad no recollection of the cir.
cumstance.

James Er yington, fireman to the Theatre, said, I was
in the Theatre yesterday (Tuesday). and was sent for by
Mr. Roberts ,n, the Treasurer, and Mr. Cooke, into the
gas works; Mr. Cooke asked me whether one of our
small engines would get the condensed water out of
the tank in which the gasometer floated? I replied, that
I thought the suction pipe was not tong enough, and Mr.
Lott, of Lang Acre, was sent for to provide another',
suction pipe to reach to the water in the tank, and I
made preparations for getting the engine ready for
work ; Fennell, Douglas, and three other men who were
after Wards taken to the Hospital. at this time had
gone to the other end of the gas room. I and one of
the lamp lighters were making after them. They were
about a deten or fourteen zards ahead of us, and when.
'they had reached the gasometer. I observed the flames
caa.e but of the doorway of the gasomet r. 1 and
the man who was with me hastened back. on seeing
the flames cothe along the passage ; at this time
the deceased persons were about fourteen yards ahead
of me, hut they were close to the gasometer. The
three persons who accompanied Mr. Douglas and'
Fennell hastened back towards me; I opened the door
and enabled them to pass. The first that approached
was a man, named Skinner ; he was all in flame's but
rolled him on the ground and extinguished the file.
kr. Cooke and the other man rushed pat me into the
street; their clothes all on fire; I then instantly pro-
cured assistance to estingoish the flame?, but an hou'r
elapsed before we were enabled to reach the ga,ometer.
Did either of the men carry a light ?—Yes ; otre of the
firemen carried a back lamp (a commcn lamp, which is
mate to hang against the wall).
Did you think that Vas the occasion of the fire?-1
Jon% know.

Do you think it was occasioned by the light having
been taken into the gasonietet ?—Yes I believe that the
fire was occasioned by the naked light having been
carried into the gasometer..
Were the men in the habit Pf carrying a light into that
pine r-Y4s, I have been a light carried in their several
times.

Was there any objection raised by Fennell or Douglas,,
to the light being carried into the gasometer?—No;
never beard them make an objection.
Then du you think the accident was caused by the,
light having been carried into the gas-room?—Yes,
that is my opinion.
Have you known of a light having been cirried into
the gasometer on other occasions?—Yes, several timer,
and I have gone into the gasometer with it, thinking
there. was no danger.
Was there a safety lamp on the premises ?—Yes, one
was always kept in the gasometer, but the men did nut
chuse to use It. They took the open light,thinking there
u as no danger.
Do you consider that any blame is attributable to.
any body ?—No, do not ; I think no person was to
blame; it was solely an accident.
Mr. Edge, of the Gas Light Company's office, i 6
Westmin-ter, observed, that a hen the machinery was at
work, and the gas in use, there would have been no'
danger in entering the gasometer with a light; but in
he slate it then was, it was extremely improper. On
that morning he had adinonished Fennell not to enter I
the ?Own.,
A. Medisial Gentleman said he had no doubt that the
deceased "men bad died from suffocation. In answer to
a question put by a Gentleman, he said that if the bodies
had been got out sooner they probably might have been
restored.
Mr. Edge was then examined— He said, that on Mon-
day morning he received a letter from Mr. Robertson,
desiring him to proceed to alter the gas fittings in the'
interior of the theatre, as it had been determined to use
no more oil gas, but to substitute coal gas for it. He
intended with his workmen, and 'before he proceeded
with the work, he examined the retorts used for gene-
rating the gas, and the gas-houses, where he discovered
a strong sme'l of gas, and essential oil, and- water was
running into it. The wbOle of the gas apparatus Was so'
carelessly and slovenly managed, that he expressed his
surprise that the theatre had not been burin down before.
He examined the oil apparatus, and gave such precau-
tionary instructions to his foreman to guard against in

eaplosioa es Le deemed necessary ; and icier giving his
Mu directions in
,what manner the pipe* were to
,bo,
Nhaneged: kit `the" theiire. 0 going Collie theatre on
.Theiday gaining, his tireihnis !legged he would not
allow Nona, or to into Me With the. gas ap-
Ottani', otherwiie the Vies (Tall the workmen and the
theatre were in clinger, rticulatly if Fiona' ?was per.
t • •
/bitted to have the management of 'the gas holder s.-.. 1
In consequence of these reptis,•ntatiOn's he admonished
Fennell, and told him to be cautions, and not to attempt
to discharge the gas frosts the holders, but to leave the
apparatus alone, and keep the cocks communicating
with the gas holders 'shut. Witness at the same moment
lizanninet'd the principal coek„whith pressed upon the
gai; holder, and found it open. Pennell said that it bad
been left turned by accident, but he promised, to guard
against such an accident in futute; witness again ad-
monished him—told him that the greatest care was
necessary, and then went home ; soon after be had
reached home a messenger.came to 'apprise him of the
explosiOn having taken place; he hastened back, and
found that the accident had occurred duiing the absence
of his men, none of whom were injured; his opinion as
to the cause of the accident was, that it originated in
consequence of the men having endeavoured to extract
the gas out of the gas holders; a portion of it escaped
and exploded; the gas which was in the holder had not
"'Winded, as the holder was not shattered ; the explosion
bad been caused by Fennell's having taken a candle into
the foes room ; both Douglas and Fennell were exceed-
ingly anxious to remove the nuisance from the theatre,
and they had not been so cautious as they ought to
have been.
Joseph Hutchinson, foreman to Mr. Edge, said, that
on Tuesday morning, when he went to the Theatre to
remove the oil gas apparatus, he saw Douglas, and
before he commented work he desired to sic the gaso-
meter ; D.-uglat said that the main cock was fastened,
and nothing was to tear; but on entering the gas room,
he found that the main cock was turned, and which
Douglas said was occasioned In the carelessness of Fen-
nell; witness told him that it was extremely dangerou
for hint to allow any one to enter the gas room with's
light, until all communication with the pipes had bee'n
'cut off; Douglas promised that no one should enter;,
loon atter waids he went home to dinner, and during his
absence the accident took place.
Mr. Phelps, a chess's', was next examined—He said
that Mr. Robertson applied to him to remove the water
from the tank in which the gasometer floated, and also
to remove the apparatus which was erected for the oil
gas; he went to the Theatre at eleven o'clock on Tues-
day morning, and saw Douglas and' Fennell; on ex
amining the gas rooms, he found the walls saturated
with essential oil; he went into one of the gasometers,
but saw no gas nor the appearance of gas; he car-
ried a candle with him into the gasometer, an did not
consider the least danger, or he should not have placed
his own life in jeopardy ; he recomn esded that the oil,
which was of an inflammable nature, should be drawn
off, and then some liquid should be pouted in to purify
it; Fennell said that all the gas had been removed;
witness then went to a corner of the gasometer, and,
on making a small puncture,he lighted it, and found that
it did not contain ga-, but essential oil; he allowed it
to burn for a short time, and then put it out with his
foot; he recommended Mr. Robertson to draw oat the
oil, by a small hole; Fennell shortly afterwards went
into time gas room, and, by making a puncture in the
corner of the gasometer, some of the essential ign'te,
and burned with great rapidity, but the sic not ..sing
upon it, it went our, and all was agaio,qune safe; he
(witness) then again went into the gasometer; he the
left the room. N. twithitanding all itteditections arti
Instructions Fennell had received from witness, he suf-
fered water to get into the tank, not , thinking the oil,
which was the lighter bo.iy, would float, and of cou se,
first run over ; the oil, after it had run over the tank,
formed a small pool, and being of a volattle,inflaminable
natine,it caught fire, but made only a etplosioa.
It his instructions to }emelt hid been attended to, the
' accident Would not have taken place; there was no
over lioa log of gas; no danger was to be apprehended'
frons•the escape of the gas, as witne4 htu up tab
lights to the ceiling ; the toreillosing'of the oil was the
cause of the accident.the slightest spar b'eing sufficient
to ignite it; and it then generates gas; *hither Douglas
or Mr. Co. ke had a greater influence °kir norll he
knew not, but it seemed strange that be obeyed the',
instructions, instead of attending to Witness's directions.
Witness thought that Fennell was a ticientific man,
and had entrusted him two or three times with the
management of the apparatus, or he would not hav'e
left him in the gas-room. Fennell disobeyed his orders;
if he had attended to his instructions the accideut would
not have happened.
Mr. Robertson cot tobrlated Mr. Phelp's statement.
The accident, he considered, occuried from over zeal s h
the part of the two men. He was obliged to check their
z. al several times. a •
Mr. Guid, Secretary to the Chattered Gas company,
begged leave to it & am the Cot otter and Jut,. that about
tight years ago an application was made by the Thea-
tre to supply them with coal gas, but they retused, on
account of the Theatre manufacturing oil gas on the
ipremises, which they also consumed.
John Palmer, Inspector to the Chartered Gas Com-
pany, said that at about half-past one o'clock on Tues-
day atm noon, he was informed that an explosion of the
gas had taken place in the Theatre; he went to the stage
door, and saw some men come out in a dreadful state;
hethen sent for a safety lamp, and descended into the
,gas works ;•he met with Bliss, who said he would go
down and see if he con!d render assistance; witness went
down, and got within 10 or 12 yards in front of thel
gasometer, and was obliged to return on account of
Ole efilJvia; he went in again and called for the men,
Ibut received no answer. Miss then proposed that
they should got in through a window, which, be said,
would bring them to the tops of the gasometers, but at
that swami befsaid he heard them groan ; Bliss then
[imposed they should break through a stone wall, by
which means, he said, they could get to the men; but
on going into the street, a Gentleman spoke to him, and
bliss immediately put down the legs of his trowses
which he had pulled up to get through the water, and
said he would net again go into the house; witness then
went down with Mr. Beasley, but could not find flit
bodies ; two young men who accompanied them, and
went in a different direttion, found the body of DouglaS
lying against a brick wall; he had pushed his bead
through the wail in endeavouring to escape; Fennell
was found lying at the foot of the stairs, near the duo/
which Bliss had proposed forcing open, when he was
sent away ; he did not know who sent Bliss away, but
he found the body of Fennell near the door which Bliss
had proposed to enter, and which could have been
pushed down in a few minutes.

Do you think it dangerilus to the public to allow gas
to be manufactured in a Theatret—Most certainly. '
Are not gis Mantifactories_grabrilly isolated and
away from other buildings?—alley generally are.
DO sOis ram the alert in your facia), to use other'
thin the sefety Wisp ?—Certnioly

' Has there not been a great escape of gas lately in the
Thisqe?—Xts.
dfiis wiz hen essrsit d-. •
on toe- •'• •
;aid that wily
he came to l Ow '-':iferettt :meet lifih Palmer, the last
witness, to thank leim for having.procnred him a situ-
ation, when he hearcl the eaplotion. He had been enu
played for seven years in the gas *co ks in the Theatre,
hut having been dismissed, he refused to enter the
Theatre to tender any assistance, unless he obtaiged
permission from Mr. Fawcett, or some other Gentleman
connected with the Theatre. He was called upon Nun
various quawrs to render assistance, and at length Mr.
Fawcett did direct him to assist, and he made every
exertion to rescue his fellow creatures. He was tlsus
engaged when he was ordered off the premises. He
firmly believed, that if he had been allowed to continue
those exertions, and force open the door, he could have
saved the lives of the men.
Mr. Phelps—Are,you the man who had the manage-
meat of the gas woo kquitne Fennell was employed at
the Theatre? illiss—Yes.
Mr. Phelps—Then I tell you that the state in which
y 4 u left the works reflects great discredit upon you.
Bliss—l say that is (else; I thought I should have my
enemies here. f
Mr. Phelps—l had my information from Fennell
himself.
Coanwza—D'd any accident occur at the Theatre at
the time you were there? Bks—No, never.
Mr. Thomas, the comic rble, said that he was employed
throwing .water into an aperture where the efiluvia came
from, when Bliss pointed to a spot under the King's
Avenue, and said if they could get up some of the
stones they could get to toe spot whee the bodies were
lying; the men went to work, but Mr. Robertson haw-
ing been informed that Bliss was at work, .aid he bad
been discharged from the Theatre some time ago, and
desired he would quit the premise.; Bliss then walked
away, and did not say any thing about the door.
Mr. Fawcett then stepped forward and said that Bliss
had been engaged at tile theatre as principal gasman
for some years. Having received repeated a .m.
plaints of his slovenly bad conduct they discharged
him at the end of the season. Since that time Bliss
had annoyed them by every means in his yower, arid
had circulated a variety of unpleasant. but unfounded
rumours in the public houses in the neighb.
hood. At the time when the unhappy calamity to k
place, a person cerise up to him in the street, and re-
que-ted him to allow Bliss to enter the premises. He did
not like to explain the Gleti% character •n the street, but
said, I have no power to direct him to go on vie pre-
mises; if he is a proper person let him go in. Upon
this girth rity, Bits immediately entered the remises.
If, said Mr. Fawcett, Bliss had proclaimed that there
Was a door in Pr inces•place, the King's avenue, or else.
where, that. upon being o,,ened, the litres of the poor
men could have been saved, many deem of met., fire-
men and others, with crow bars and other implements,
would have flown to open the door —(Loud cheers, and
Cries of .4 Certainly, certainly.")
The Jury said it was unnecessary to waste time by
further observations, as the object of Bliss was quite
apparent.
The Coaostra then summed up the case to the Jdry,
and said he did not 'hook they could swerve at any other
conclu.ion, than that it was an accident. It lault could
be imputed to any persons, it must be to the men them.
tellre-, for having disobeyed the instructions which had
been given to them. As to the opinion that some per-
sons had entertained, that the Managers had refused to
h:ore the dour leading to the passage opened, or • small
wall which was near it culleddow ft, because it might
occasion a destruction. proptity in the Theatre. he was
confident that they would never Wink from any le nor
sacrifice of property, if life could be saved.
The Jury then c. n.oited together a few moments,
and returned a verdict of Accidentally Suffocated:*
Alter the return of the verdie t, tile of the Jury, ad-
dowsing Kt. Fawcett, hoped that after tire dreadful at-
cidenytithich had happened, the proprietors of the theatre
would discontinue the use of gas altogether, at least in
the interior of the house.
M.. Fawcett—l wisisi it to be publicly tinier:toad.
that it is the intention of the proprietors never to make
gas again in the htiese, and never to use it is an interkr
light ; indeed, they had made sip Weir minds ro that
before the accident took place. (Mr. Fawcett) was
always opposed to the use of gas, from its eateemely
hazardous and inflammable nature, nut to speak o f its
, offensive smell.
On making inquiries at the Hospital last night, we
• learned that Mr. Cooke and Mr. Charles Skinner, the
; Directi.r of the Gas, etre still considered in a
dangerous suite, acid 1144 ultiniate tee. very rendered
extremely doubifo‘. Berry, ti e 16;11 labourer, is doing
as well at cal be expected; and, indeid, the Midi.
cal Gentlemen, since u e melancholY catitunphe,
• have confidently entertaitfeJ hopes Of his recovery.
The report that one of We ut.forlunate men had
expired after being conveyed tb t e Hospital, is
totally unfounded, although the injuries they had
receied were mast serious. Mr. Cooke is suffering
under • considerable degree of fever, produced in
• measure by his flesh having been toin in a shocking
manner by the eiplosion. The unfortunate Gentleman,
although laboutityg under great torture, is perfectly
sensible, and appears willing to relate all the circuits-
fannies attending the expl..slon ; but Mr. Albert Green,
the Acting House Surgeon, and the other medical Gen-
tlemen, request that lie may abstain from any wine ces.,
sary exertion. Several persons of distinction sent to in-
quire the state of the sufferers in the course of the day.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SATR.
" Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, Nov. 19, 1.828.
"Sea—As several erroneous statements, and greatly ex *aerated
accounts, of the accident at this Theatre haae appeared, I think k
right to inform you of the following particulars—
" In pursuance of the published intention of the Proprietors to
remove any future fear of nuisance to the Public, from the effluvia of
the gas, persons of experience bad been employed since SAturday to
effect a complete removal of all the gas app.ratus in the 'Meares
for which purpose, it was necessary to empty the fasometen if all
the remaining gas.—To do this effectually and safely, persons from
a public Gas Establishment had been employed, and these Go/N4l.
men had taken every precaution to prevent accident, and bad moss
particularly directed some workmen, who were not immediately
under their cornrow!, to be careful in their operation*
•' In spite, however, of this precaution. during the tempos,: r,
absence of the Superintendent at his dinner, one of the unfortunate
men, who bas suffered by the calamity, in his over anxiety, it in
supposed, to get rid of the gas, perforated a small bole in the gags•
meter, with a view of burning it out. The flame produced by this
unfortunately communicated with the volatile oil no the gasonteier,
and the See coming in contact with the gas w►ich was unavoidably
Boating in the arched passages, It instantly ignited awl occasioned
the accident. Every exertion was made on the part otall penes*
present to presesve the lives of the two unfortunate individuals who
have suffered. It is my most sincere regret that their efforts should
have proved unsuccessful.
" I think k right to add, that the solidity elate arches on which
the 'Maude* is bulk entirely prevented any .lesions damage sawlike
to the building.
I 420, air, your 11411 °bodkin humble sonata.
N FA TigliTT:'