The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-09-26 00:00:00

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT THE ALBERT DOCK,

On Saturday afternoon, about three o'clock, an accident
occurred at the Corporation works, (the formation of the
new dock ,) on the west side of the Salthouse Dock, by which
one man has already lost his life ; that of another is in
imminent danger ; and some other men are severely in-
jured. Several engines are erected on various parts of
the ground for the purpose of driving piles for the founda-
tions of the outward sea-wall and the warehouses to be
built within it, and which have been in operation on sites
distant from each other for many months. While the
men connected with one of these, in managing the
engine, and attending to the breaks, or gearing, by which
the rams that drive the piles are hoisted, an explosion
took place of the flue in the centre of the cylindrical
boiler, which had the disastrous effect of the ignition
of a large quantity of gunpowder. The engine was of
from sixteen to twenty horse power, and, of course, on
the high pressure principle. It is supposed to have bcen
caused from a deficient supply of water in the boiler,
arising from some casualty not yet explained ; and a va-
cuum, to a certain extent, being formed, the flue colapsed,
and the catastrophe was immediate. The boiler, which
was inserted into strong brick-work, enclosing it as in a
culvert, was thrown from its position at the bottom of the
large brick-built chimney, to a distance of about 25 feet
to the westward, along a scaffold, on which were fixed the
breaks and other machinery ; and the bricks and other
materials were scattered in every direction, so that, from
the steam and dust, some time elapsed before the extent of
the havoc could be ascertained. The deceased, Joseph
Greenwood, it was afterwards found, had hold of the handle
of a break, when all at once a blast of steam, and a shower
of bricks and dust fell around him and his companions.
One of tnem, a labourer, named Rvlie, was blown from
his position at the same break about seven feet to the
edge of the scaffold, and over that he leaped, in a slanting
direction, upon some sand many feet below, but was not
injured. Another, named Fowler, saw the explosion, snd
ran to the deceased, whom he found amongst some bars
of iron, &c. which had been blown from the fixings of the
boiler to' a distance of about 20 feet. He was dreadfully
injured. He took deceased's boots offrand received from
him 45,6 d. to give tohis (deceased's) wife. Another sufferer
was Joseph. Green, and another Richard' Holy,vell, both
labourers—the latter much injured in the back. Green
had the management of the engine, and was an old, expe-
rienced, and steady hand, so that the impression is that
something had. gone wrong of which he was not aware.
He was standing close to the boiler at the time,
but a litile on one side of it, so that he escaped it
when it was projected forward from the chimney and
brick work at the bottom of it. Had the chimney not
been strongly built and heavy it would probably have
been thrown down, from the force of the explosion at
that end of the bolter, which was greater than' at the
other end. As it was, it acted as a breach, or
fulurem, from whioh the huge cylinder was projected
in the other direction by the steam. The deceased and
two others, all much hurt and scalded, were immediately
conveyed to the Southern Hospital, where deceased lin-
gered until Sunday afternoon, when he died. On calling
at the Hospital last night we were politely informed' by
Mr. Metcalfe, the house-surgeon, that deceased had re-
ceived a compound fracture of the leg, and was otherwise
hurt beyond the hope orrelief. Hollywell, in addition to
scalding, has sustained an injury of the spine, which ren-
ders his case still precarious. Green is in a more hopeful
war, but much hurt. The fourth man is recovering, and
two others who were scalded have returned to their work.
Our reporter has visited the-spot. The boiler itself is ap-
parently uninjured. The Site' within it had colapsed, and
the' plates are much bent and 'the rivets drawn ; but the
iron, shows no flaw whatever, and'appears to be strong
and perfect ; and as all due care is taken at these works,
and nothing is wanted which money can command when
it is required , the accident is attributable to some unforeseen
cause which cannot be always avoided in the use of steam
in the•best regulated concerns. It is the first of the kind,
we believe, that has occurred at the corporation works.
The boiler in its passage along the stage broke down the
break at'which the men were working, which is the main
damage. The whole is already in a state of forward re-
pair, and no stoppage of the dock' operations will arise,
as the other engines at a short distance are available for
the work done by that which is brought to a stand. The
inquest will be held this day.

ST. HEr.stirs ScnooLs.—On Sunday lust, two ex-
cellent sermons were preached by- the highly-esteemed
and talented incumbent of St. Mary's, Church, St.
Helens, the They. Wm. Pollock, in'behalf of the Sunday
schools connected with that church. The collections
amounted to £62. On the previous, Monday, the chil-
dren, preceded by the Rev. Wm. Pbllock, incumbent of
St. Mary's, the Rev. J. Meredith, of‘Parr, and the Rev.
Mr. Finch, curate of St. Mary's, and, headed by a band,
walked in procession, accompanied by their teachers, to
the parsonage, where they sung several hymns, and were
regaled with buns and wine.

PHILHARMONIC. CONCER.T.—The fifth undress concert
of the season took place, last evening,, at the Collegiate
Institution. There- was an unusually. goody attendance ;
ere reserved seats irrthe gallery were nearly all occupied,
and the theatre presented a most animated appearance.
The opening overture•-was well done. The first part con-
sisted of selections from Fidelio. It was rather heavy, and
went off flatly. The: only encore was- the duet by Miss
Stott and Mr. Ryan.. The second-part opened with
Lindpainter's overture. It was well played.. Bishop's
serenade " Sleep gentle Lady," was encored. The trump
chorus was tolerably. well executed. The duet from
Norma was very cleverly sung by Miss Stott and Miss
Swain. The porformarAPPa oio.Pri at a. little after ten
o'clock.

CkOTION TO BOYS ^AND OTHERS.--Ybsterclay after-
noon,. a fine boy, about twelve years of age, was observed
by some workmen engaged in the repair of a steamer at
the Coburg Dock, to be loitering about the machine with
which they were cuttingand punching iron plates, and he
was repeatedly chased away. After they had finished
cutting one of the plates, however, and had left the ma-
chine in motion from the impetus of the fly-wheel, he
again came up unobserved, and began to touch it, when
his fingers were caught between the two-cog-wheels, and
his hand was dreadfully crushed. He was taken to the
Southern Hospital, where it was found necessary, the
bones being much crushed,.to resort to amputation of the
greater part of the hand; and it is questionable whether
a second operation will not be required, by which he will
be entirely deprived of the use of it.
PORTRAITS IN MINIATURE.—We beg to direct the
attention of our readers to the advertisement in another
column, of the Hubbard Gallery, the conductor of which,
Mr. Norman, an artist of undoubted :talent, is on his
third visit to Liverpool.. The public have only to ex-
amine the portraits at the establishment in Bold-street, to
be convinced of the accuracy of resemblances so cheaply
and so rapidly produced, for in the window are exhibited
specimens, the principal of which will be immediately re-
cognised-as portraitures of many of our: leading local cha-
racters. In the whole of Mr. Norman's productions
there is an exceeding freedom and boldness of style dis-
played, but withall they combine that fine and delicate
finish, so much to be desired in portraits that are closely
examined. The success with which Mr. Normau's pre-
vious visits have been attended, and the satisfaction he
has given will, we are sure, command him increased,
patronage.

The claimant of the Tracey peerage has discovered the
missing tombstone at Castlebrack, Queen's County, the
only,link necessary to prove him- descendant of the late
Judge Tracey, and heir to the dormant peerage. The di-
lapidated memorial had been carried out of the church-
yard, and used for some years past as a hearth stone
Limerick Chronicle.

The repealing papers affect to " make merry" the
preparations in progress at the military stations through-
out Ireland, and it is so pleasant to see them in a good
humour that we wish they would enjoy themselves. with-
out, by the anger which they mingle with their mirth, ex-
citing a suspicion that the latter is but assumed. Let them
laugh as long and as loud as they like, but let the laugh be
from the heart. As to the " mystery" of the preparations,
perhaps, if they keep their temper, it may be by-and-by
cleared up.—Enough for the present to say that the mili-
tary are in a hospitable country, and when visitors are
expected, it would be un-Irish nbt to be ready, to receive
them.

ARRIVAL OF STRIPS OF WAR.—On Friday the town of
Cove presented an animated appearance when it became
known that the expected ships of war were making the
harbour, and crowds of persons mounted the, hills to com-
mand a view of the entrance to the port. At two o'clock
the St. Vincent, 120 gun ship, commanded by Captain
Richard F. Rowley, and bearing the flag of Admiral Sir
Charles Rowley, anchored near the Spit.buoy. The Cam-
perdown, 104 guns, commanded by Captain Francis
Brace, dropped anchor inside her, and the Caledonia, 120
guns, Captain Alexander Milne, and Eurydice, 26 guns,
Captain George Elliott, lay outside her. The vessel hav-
ing the flag of Admiral Bowles saluted the flag of the Ad-
miral of the Squadron, by firing 17 guns, which was an-
answered by a similar discharge from the St. Vincent,
Cove is now honoured with the presence of two admirals
in commission. It is expected that the ships will remain,
at Cove until the 10th of October.

REBECCA. AND HER DAB GHTERS .—A successful
resistance to a presumed encroachment on public right,
has been made at Bury after the Rebecca fashion. During
the preparations for the fair, one of the large booths
which are usually erected for the sale of toys, trinkets,
&c., and called bazaars, was placed on some vacant ground
in Agar-street, not far from the New Market ; the owner
of the bazaar paying to. Mr. Whipp, the lessee of the
land under the rector of Bury, the sum of 30s. for the
use of it for one week. Mr. Stutters the deputy-stewad
of the Earl of Derby, conceived this to be an infringe-
ment on his lordship's manorial rights, and after consult-
ing with his lawyer came to the determination of blocking
up Agar-steet at the market end. A barricade of boards
was accordingly erected across it near the bazaar. The
occupants of shops, &c., in the whole street, considering
this public nuisance would operate most injuriously against
them, especially during the fair, made some inquiry as to
the extent of Mr. Stutters' powers as steward of the lord
of the manor; the result, as may be well supposed, pla-
ced Mr. Stutters' authority i❑ at least a very questionable
light. With the illegal blocking of foot-paths, the public
of Bury are unfortunately already too familiar, but the
blocking up of a street, and that street in the very centre
of the town, rather astonished the natives. A crowd col-
lected on each side the barrier, and after the manner of
such like crowds in Wales, soon descided that a street
was a thoroughfare, that a thoroughfare was something
like the Queen's highway—that a barrier seven feet high
was an obstruction and ought to be removed ; after which,
some how or other the barrier came down. In the fore-
noon of Monday last, the barrier was again raised by
order of Mr. Stutters, and was again pulled down, no
doubt, if not by the daughters, by some of Rebecca's
imitators,