The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-07

bring his ship up the river eight miles. A
great deal of correspondence has passed be.
tween the officials. The English squadron
was lying in close proximity.
Explosion upon the Great Eastern.
FEED.PIPE CASTING BURsT-TwELvE PER.
SONS KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING.
On the afternoon of the 9th, when the
Great Eastern was off Hastings, feed-pipe
casing in the forward funnel, which had been
introduced on the ground of economy in
neat and to keep the heat of the tunnels from
the cabin, exploded with terrific force, blow
ing the funnel into the air, and tearing to
pieces the grand saloon and lower deck
cabins, through which the funnel passed,
and otherwise doing damage to the internal
fittings.
Great CONSERVATION prevailed on board,
but prompt efforts were made to get at the
unfortunate men in the engineering depart
ment who were either buried in the rubbish
or Frustrated by the steam. Three fremen
were found in dying state and soon expired,
while eight Others were injured, two of whom
subsequently died. One fireman was lost
overheard, having either fallen into the
water or jumped into it to escape scaldiDg.
The injured men were generally progressing
favorably, although two or three of them
were in precarious condition. The nu.
merous guests on board had only quilted the
grand saloon, through which the funnel
passed, and in which they had been dining,
few minutes before the explosion took
place. But for this the consequences would
have been most serious. The explosion is
stated to have probably been one of the
most terrific which a vessel has ever sur.
vived, and which none in the world could
have withstood, save a structure of such
marvellous strength as the Great Eastern.
She not only resisted it, her frame sustaining
no injury whatever, but it made so little
difference in the NOV ments of the vessel
that the engines were never once stopped
till she reached Portland.
1t is asserted that great objection had
been made to the casting round the tunnels,
but the Directors persisted in adopting the
plan, Notwithstanding it had been tried and
abandoned in the Collins and other steam
erS.
The COroner's inquest was commenced at
Weymouth on the 18th, and the evidence
clearly showed the cause of the explosion to
be-Firstly, the supply of the boilers
through the water.jack of the funnel was
stopped because of failure in the auxilia-
ry pumping power secondly, a slant pipe
which acts as safety valve, had in it tap
when the casting was automatically tested,
and that tap was turned, apparently inten-
tionally, so that the pipe was useless. The
inquest was adjourned till the 18th.
Prior to the accident the performance of
the vessel was most satisfactory, and she
was almost without motion, while large YES
sells in her vicinity were pitching and tossing
on a stormy sea.
A survey of the vessel had been had, and
estimates sent in forthwith to repair the
damage, at a cost of not more than $4,000,
the injury being far less considerable than
was at first supposed.
Little, if any delay, would take place in
the departure of the ship on her first voyage,
but rumor prevailed that she would not
proceed to Holyhead, but sail direct from
Portland.
The accident caused a slight decline in
the shares of the Company, but did not
influence the general confidence in the ship.
Scott Russell undertakes to have the
Great Eastern ready for sea in three weeks.
New YORK, Sept. 27.-The Heruld's re-
porter had an interview yesterday with
Capt. Comstock, lately of the Collins
steamer Baltic, who came home as pas
senger in the Vanderbilt. Capt G. COM
manded the Russian frigate General Admir-
al on her voyage from New York to Cron-
stadt. He has taken great liking to the
mammoth steamship Great Eastern. He
has visited her every few months while in
course of construction, and on the invitation
of Capt. Harrison, her commander, and the
Board of Directors of the Great Ship Com
pany, he accompanied her on her recent
trial trip and happened to be on deck at
the time Of the explosion off Hastings, on
the evening of the 9th inst
Capt. Comstock is highly pleased with
the steamer, and pronounced her perfect
success so far as navigation is concerned,
and is even enthusiastic on the subject of
her performance. Many have the impress
sion that the late trip was trial trip for
speed, but this is a entire mistake. The
trip was made simply for purpose of run
ming the ship from her position in the
Thames to sea port where she can be
coaled and put in perfect trim for her trial
trip.
The Great Eastern is to be prepared for
her trial trip as soon as the repairs necessi-
tated by the explosion can be completed.
Her trial trip will be from Portland to
Holyhead, and according to present ar
rangements she will sail from Holy
head for Portland, Maine, on the Goth of
October.
1t has been fully determined by the
Board of Directors that from Portland,
United States, the Great Eastern will come
on an excursion trip to New York by way
of Sandy Hook. This is positively settled,
and determined shortly before the ship left
the Thames. Capt. Comstock and Capt.
Harrison were both questioned on the SUBJ
ject before the Board of Directors, and both
concurred in the opinion that the ship can
enter the Harbor over the bar at Sandy
Hook, drawing twenty-one and a half feet of
water, with perfect safety.
Capt. COmstOck is of the opinion that
the Great Eastern cannot cross the bar
safely except at the spring tides, which oc-
cur once fortnight, and that even then she
cannot bring much of a cargo. 1t would
hardly pay to run her regularly to this