Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-09-26
Explosion on the Great Eastern.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM CHINA.
A BATTLE IN CHINA.
The English and French Beaten
AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.

to Quebec.
The steamship Asia, from New York, arriv-
ed at Liverpool at $40 A. NJ, 18th.
The steamship Hungarian, from Quebec, ar.
rived at Liverpool at A. M, 18th.
The news of the North American is very
important.
From Great Britain.
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION ON BOARD THE
GREAT EAsTERN-.Sir Men KWed-Ihe So
looms BadLy Damaged The steamer Baltic, for
Halifax took out Il brief announcement that an
explosion of some sort had occurred on board
the Great Eastern. The following are the de-
tails
1t appears that, on the afternoon of the 9th,
when off Hastings, a feedppe casing in the
forward funnel, which had been introduced on
the ground of economy in heat and to keep
the heat of the tunnels from the cabins, expod-
ed with terrific force, blowing the funnel into
the air, and tearing to pieces the grand saloon
and the lower deck cabins through which the
tunnels passed, and otherwise doing great dam
age to the internal fittings. Great consterna-
zion prevailed on board, and prompt efforts
were made to get at the unfortunate men in
the engineering department. who were either
buried in the rubbish or Frustrated by the
steam. Three firemen were found in dying
state, and soon expired, while eight others
were more or less injured, two of whom subse-
quenty died. One fireman was lost over
board, having either fallen into the water or
jumped into it to escape scalding.
The injured men were generally progressing
favorably, although two or three of them were
III u very precarious condition.
The numerous guests on board had only
quilted the grand saloon through which the
funnel passed, and in which they had been din
ing few moments 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 vessel
ever survived, 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 whateyer. but it made SO little differ
ence to the movement of the vessel, that the
engines were never once stopped until she
reached Portland.
1t is stated that great objections had been
made to the casing around the tunnels, but the
directors persisted in adopting the plan, not
outstanding it was tried and abandoned in
the Collins and other steamers.
A coroner'S inquest commenced at View
mouth on the 18th. The evidence clearly
showed the cause Of the explosion to be-
Firstly, the supply of the boilers, through the
water jacket of the funnel was stopped, be-
cause Of failure in the auxiliary pumpngp pow e
er secondly, a stand pipe, which acts as a
safety value, had in it tap when the casing
was automatically tested and that Tap was
turned. apparently Intentionally, SO that the
pipe was useless. The inquest adjourned till
the 18th.
Prior to the accident, the performance of the
vessel was most satisfactory and she was al
most without motion, while large vessels in
her vicinity were pitching and tossing in a
stormy sea- survey of the vessel had been
held, and estimates sent in to forthwith repair
the damage at 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 a rumOr prevailed that she
would not proceed to Holyhead but sail direct
for Portland. The accident caused slight
decline in the shares of the company, but did
not influence the general confidence in the
ship.
A new reform movement has been commence
ed in England. Golden and other retormers
had had meetings, at which it was resolved
that branch financial reform associates should
be established in the principal towns-that
lectures should be given so as to prepare the
way for an organized Parliamentary attack on
the system at present i'll vogue.
The action of the master builders of London,
in throwing open their yards to all men who
would sign the obnoxious declaration, had
proved a failure, only 80 or 40 having signed
the declaration and at some establishments
the masters had yielded to the men.
Kossuth, after spending some time in Paris,
had returned to London.
Important from China-The British and French
badly Beaten by the Chinese One Third of the
British Force Killed or Wounded Gun
Boats Lost-Full Particulars of the Battle.
The news from China is highly important,
but only few meagre kilograms, in anticipa-
ton of the arrival of the China mail, had
reached England. The following dispatch has
been published by the Government
Admiral Hope arrived off Peiho river on the
18th of June, and found the Notifications had
been rebuilt, but no guns or men were visible.
The entrance into the river was barred with
booms and stakes. The Plenipotentiaries join
ed the squadron on the Goth, and, no notice hav
ing been taken of the announcement of their
arrival, an attempt was made ON the 10Th to
force passage, when, on a sudden, batteries,
supported by Mon gol force of apparently 20,-
900 men, were unmasked, and opened de-
structive fire. After severe action the squad
ron was obliged to withdraw with the loss of
the gun-boats Cormorant, Lee, and Plover,
and AGA killed and wounded. The French
ndu IL kllleu anu WOuHueuJ ouI Vi w.
The plenipotentiaries have returned to Shang-
haze. The rest of China is reported to be
quiet.
No fears were entertained about Canton, but
the Tartar troops had been dsarmed as a mat
ter of precaution. A further telegram mem
tons that seven officers were killed and seven
enteen wounded, Admiral Hope being among
the wounded Other kilograms confirm these
particulars, and one via Trieste adds the fOl
Living -
sac hope of the treaty being carried out is
given up, and a fresh war is considered immi-
nent.
Canton, July 20.-All traffic with the interi-
or is interrupted, and the allies still occupy the
town. The mails, with full details Of the
news, are expected to reach London on the
morning of the steamers departure. The
Caption markets are dull At Shanghae ex-
change was IS. I'D. The tea markets were
favorable. In freights there was nothing do
ing.
The English and French secretaries of lega-
ton to China had returned home in the mail
steamer.
This news, of course, created much sensa-
ton, and the violation of the treaty in such
treacherous manner called forth demands for
terrible vengeance. The Times says Hence
forth negotiations must be carried at Pekin,
where no one can doubt Europeans will soon
be as much at home and as safe as at Paris.
1t concludes an article, with the following I'M
complimentary reflections on the American
Ambassador:
"The American ambassador, without force
of arms, is said TO have been admitted to Pc
kin. or course he had a peculiar claim to
this exceptional privilege, on account of nm
sistance given to the Chinese mandarins to
to deprive us of the fruits of the late success.
ful war. Whether this or some new claim OF
OF the same character, rendered him more ad