|Cause of || Explosions up to June || Explosions in the 4 |
|explosion. || 1866. ||years from June 1866 to |
| || || June 1870. |
| |+--------+--------+------++--------+--------+------+
| ||English.|Foreign.|Total.||English.|Foreign.|Total.|
+=================++========+========+======++========+========+======+
|Worn out, || 92 | 53 | 145 || 89 | 5 | 94 |
|corroded, or || | | || | | |
|burnt plates || | | || | | |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------++--------+--------+------+
|Undue pressure, || 132 | 5 | 137 || 25 | 6 | 31 |
|overloaded || | | || | | |
|valves, || | | || | | |
|intentional or || | | || | | |
|from carelessness|| | | || | | |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------++--------+--------+------+
|Bad || 136 | 108 | 244 || 69 | 8 | 77 |
|construction, || | | || | | |
|weak tubes, || | | || | | |
|defective || | | || | | |
|fittings or || | | || | | |
|stays, or want || | | || | | |
|of repair || | | || | | |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------++--------+--------+------+
|Shortness of || 106 | 8 | 114 || 28 | 2 | 30 |
|water, formation || | | || | | |
|of scale or mud, || | | || | | |
|or external || | | || | | |
|flues set too || | | || | | |
|high || | | || | | |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------++--------+--------+------+
|Extraneous || 6 | 3 | 9 || 2 | .. | 2 |
|causes, || | | || | | |
|lightning, fire, || | | || | | |
|gas, &c. || | | || | | |
|-----------------++--------+--------+------++--------+--------+------+
|Too uncertain to || 247 | 150 | 397 || 6 | 325 | 331 |
|be classified || | | || | | |
|=================++========+========+======++========+========+======+
|Totals || 719 | 327 | 1046 || 219 | 346 | 565 |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------++--------+--------+------+
Table II (continued)
+-----------------++------------------------+
|Cause of || Total Explosions up to |
|explosion. || June 1870. |
| || |
| |+--------+--------+------+
| ||English.|Foreign.|Total |
+=================++========+========+======+
|Worn out, || 181 | 58 | 239 |
|corroded, or || | | |
|burnt plates || | | |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------+
|Undue pressure, || 157 | 11 | 168 |
|overloaded || | | |
|valves, || | | |
|intentional or || | | |
|from carelessness|| | | |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------+
|Bad || 205 | 116 | 321 |
|construction, || | | |
|weak tubes, || | | |
|defective || | | |
|fittings or || | | |
|stays, or want || | | |
|of repair || | | |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------+
|Shortness of || 134 | 10 | 144 |
|water, formation || | | |
|of scale or mud, || | | |
|or external || | | |
|flues set too || | | |
|high || | | |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------+
|Extraneous || 8 | 3 | 11 |
|causes, || | | |
|lightning, fire, || | | |
|gas, &c. || | | |
|-----------------++--------+--------+------+
|Too uncertain to || 253 | 475 | 728 |
|be classified || | | |
|=================++========+========+======+
|Totals || 938 | 673 | 1611 |
+-----------------++--------+--------+------+
TABLE III.
_Analysis of Steam Boiler Explosions in the United Kingdom_
_during the Four years ending 30th June, 1870,_
_showing the Causes of Explosion of Boilers of different descriptions._
A = Faults in construction or repair.
B = Faults which should be detected by periodical examination.
C = Faults which should be prevented by careful attendants.
D = Causes extraneous or uncertain.
E = number of Explosions.
K = number of persons Killed.
I = number of persons injured.
CORNISH, LANCASHIRE, _or other Boilers with internal flues_.
_E_ _K_ _I_
{Weak Tubes 26 17 41
{Weak combustion chambers 5 8 7
A {Weak ends 3 10 10
{Weak dome 1 0 0
{Weak manhole 1 1 1
{Bad repair 3 5 2 _E_ _K_ _I_
------------ 39 41 61
B {External Corrosion 18 42 101
{Internal Corrosion 6 4 5
------------ 24 46 106
{Shortness of Water 14 11 23
C {Scale of mud 3 1 0
{Undue Pressure 4 14 4
------------ 21 26 27 _E_ _K_ _I_
------------ 84 113 194
PLAIN CYLINDRICAL, _or other Boilers without internal flues_.
_E_ _K_ _I_
{Weak flat ends 8 9 12
{Weak manhole 1 0 2
{Frequent repair producing }
A { seam rip in boilers with } 15 18 28
{ plates arranged lengthways}
{Do. with plates arranged in }
{ rings } 8 11 25
------------ 32 38 67
B {External Corrosion 11 5 19
{Internal Corrosion 5 5 6
------------ 16 10 25
{Shortness of Water 2 1 0
C {Scale 1 1 0
{Undue pressure 3 4 3
------------ 6 6 3
------------ 54 54 95
------------
MARINE BOILERS.
_E_ _K_ _I_
{Weak flues 3 6 3
A {Weak ends 2 6 5
{Bad material 1 3 _E_ _K_ _I_
------------ 6 15 9
B {External Corrosion 2 10 3
{Internal Corrosion 3 1 4
------------ 5 11 7
C Shortness of water 1 11 7
------------ 1 11 7
------------ 12 37 23
LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS.
A Boiler used as frame for engine 2 1 2
------------ 2 1 2
B {External Corrosion 2 1 4
{Internal Corrosion 2 0 3
------------ 4 1 7
{Broken connecting-rod }
D { pierced boiler } 1 2 1
{Dome caught by railway bridge } 1 1 0
{Uncertain causes } 2 0 4
------------ 4 3 5
----------- 10 5 14
AGRICULTURAL BOILERS.
A Weak manhole 1 1 4
------------ 1 1 4
B {External Corrosion 2 3 3
{Internal Corrosion 1 1 7
------------ 3 4 10
C {Shortness of water 1 0 0
{Undue pressure 6 15 15
------------ 7 15 15
----------- 11 20 29
FURNACE UPRIGHT BOILERS.
{Too much flame on one part 1 2 0
A {Frequent repair producing }
{ seam rip } 1 13 2
------------ 2 15 2
B {External Corrosion 2 13 11
{Internal Corrosion 2 15 6
------------ 4 28 17
C Shortness of Water 2 3 8
------------ 2 3 8
----------- 8 46 27
ELEPHANT BOILERS.
A Weak ends or want of stays 1 2 2
------------ 1 2 2
B External Corrosion 1 0 4
------------ 1 0 4
----------- 2 2 6
CRANE BOILERS.
_E_ _K_ _I_
A Weak manhole 3 7 3 _E_ _K_ _I_
------------ 3 7 3
B External Corrosion 1 4 2
------------ 1 4 2
C Shortness of water 2 2 0
------------ 2 2 0
----------- 6 13 5
RAG STEAMERS, &C.
{Weak manhole 3 2 5
A {Bad material 1 1 5
{Want of stays 1 1 0
------------ 5 4 10
C Undue Pressure 1 2 6
------------ 1 2 6
----------- 6 6 16
FEED-WATER HEATERS.
D Uncertain causes 2 0 6
------------ 2 0 6
----------- 2 0 6
DOMESTIC BOILERS.
A Weak shape 3 4 7
------------ 3 4 7
B Corrosion 2 0 5
------------ 2 0 5
C Undue Pressure from }
freezing of Pipes } 9 7 9
------------ 9 7 9
----------- 14 11 21
BALLOON BOILERS.
B External Corrosion 2 1 2
------------ 2 1 2
C Undue Pressure 1 1 0
------------ 1 1 0
----------- 3 2 2
BOILERS OF UNCERTAIN DESCRIPTION.
A Weak manhole 1 0 0
------------ 1 0 0
{Steam entered through blow- }
{ off pipe from another boiler} 1 1 2
C { while cleaning }
{Steam pipes broken 2 4 3
{Shortness of Water 1 1 4
------------ 4 6 9
D Uncertain causes 2 0 3
------------ 2 0 3
----------- 7 6 12
----------
_E_ _K_ _I_
TOTALS 219 315 450
TABLE IV.
_Summary of causes of the Steam Boiler Explosions comprised in Table
III._
+-----------------------------------+-----------+---------+---------+
| | E | K | I |
| | Number |Number of|Number of|
|Causes of Explosion. | of | persons | persons |
| |Explosions.| Killed. |Injured. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+---------+---------+
|A Faults in construction or repair | 95 | 128 | 167 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+---------+---------+
|B Faults which should be detected }| 62 | 105 | 185 |
| by periodical examination }| | | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+---------+---------+
|C Faults which should be prevented}| 54 | 79 | 84 |
| by careful attendants }| | | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+---------+---------+
|D Extraneous or uncertain causes | 8 | 3 | 14 |
+===================================+===========+=========+=========+
|Totals | 219 | 315 | 450 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+---------+---------+
BRIEF ABSTRACTS
FROM REPORTS ON
STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS,
PRESENTED TO THE
MIDLAND STEAM BOILER INSPECTION & ASSURANCE Co.,
BY
EDWARD BINDON MARTEN,
CHIEF ENGINEER TO THE COMPANY.
_Description is shortened as much as possible, and facilitated by
slight sketches, showing the position of the fragments or line of
fracture, and the general construction of the Boilers._
REPUBLISHED BY THE PERMISSION OF THE COMPANY.
STOURBRIDGE: B. BROOMHALL, PRINTER, HIGH STREET.
1869.
BOILER EXPLOSIONS IN 1866.
_No. 1. Nottingham. January 1st. none injured._
Locomotive, 110 lbs., standing with steam up near a platform. All but
the fire box was blown away, the main portion being thrown a distance
of 400 yards. The first rent took place at a longitudinal seam of
the barrel where grooving had gone on very rapidly, which was not
discovered when examined and tested a short time before.
_No. 2. Walsall. (Fig. 1.) January 2nd. 2 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 1._]
Butterley, 26ft. 6in. long, and 9ft. diameter. The wagon-shaped top to
the fire place was 8ft. 6in. long, and was attached to the bell-mouth
of the internal tube, which then continued circular to the back of the
boiler. The tube was 3ft. 6in. diameter. All the plates were about
7/16ths inch thick, and although the boiler was an old one, they were
nowhere reduced in thickness by wear. The usual pressure of steam
was 18 lbs., and a self-registering gauge showed that at the time of
explosion it did not exceed 20 lbs.
The top of the fire grate on the right side rent longitudinally,
and the upper part of the shell consisting of four rings of plates,
and also the top of the fire place opened out and blew away to a
considerable distance.
The front end also blew away. The bell-mouth of the tube was blown to
the front, and the tube which remained in the back part of the shell
collapsed upwards.
The cause of the explosion was most likely the intrinsic weakness of
boilers of this shape, especially over the fire, where the top is only
retained in its shape by numerous stays. The boiler had been very
frequently repaired, at this the weakest place, and its strength had
been thus so reduced as to make it unable to bear even a few pounds
more than the ordinary working pressure.
The whistle was found to have been gagged by hemp, carefully inserted,
so that there is ground for supposing there had been intentional unfair
usage.
_No. 3. Blyth. (Fig. 2.) January 8th. 1 killed 1 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 2._]
Marine, 20ft. long, and 5ft. diameter, with internal fire place and
return flue, 14 lbs. There were altogether three rents in the tube over
the fire, as a small band was held in its place by a stay from the tube
to the shell. The escaping contents scalded those near, but no damage
was done to anything but the boiler.
The cause was stated to be shortness of water. There was no water gauge.
_No. 4. London. January 9th. 1 killed._
One tube Cornish, 28ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter, with one tube 3-6
diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 45 lbs.
The tube collapsed in an incline direction from weakness without
strengthening rings.
The appearance after explosion was nearly the same as that shown in
sketch given at No. 12 explosion.
_No. 5. Glasgow. (Fig. 3.) January 13th. 4 killed, 4 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 3._]
Two tube Cornish, 22ft. 3in. long, and 7ft. 7in. diameter, 3/8 inch
plates, tubes 2ft. 7in. diameter, 40 lbs.
About 8ft of the back portion of the shell was torn off, leaving the
tubes and ends intact.
The cause of the explosion was considered to be excessive pressure, but
how accumulated did not transpire.
It is most natural to expect that there must have been corrosion under
the bottom to cause the first rent.
_No. 6. Coatbridge. January 17th. 1 injured._
Cornish. No details have been obtained.
_No. 7. York. (Fig. 4.) January 18th. 1 killed, 2 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 4._]
Agricultural, 8ft. 2in. long, 3ft. 6in. diameter in the barrel, 5/16ths
inch plates, internal fire box, 2ft. 4in. wide, 2ft. 4in. high, and
2ft. 10in. deep. From the back of this fire box, two 12-inch tubes
passed to an internal chamber at the back of the barrel. From this
again passed nine 3-3/4 inch tubes to an exterior smoke-box fixed over
the fire door. The boiler was fitted with one spring safety valve,
which was screwed down tight, but there was no pressure gauge. The
front plate was intended to be bolted on so that the fire-box and tubes
could be taken out for cleaning, but it had been rivetted, leaving no
means of cleaning, and it was nearly full of scurf.
The crown plate of fire-box which was too flat and unstrengthened, rent
at the front and along both top edges, and was driven into the fire.
The boiler was thrown backwards and reared against a wall, resting on
the front right hand corner.
The cause of the explosion was that the very dirty state, caused
overheating where the water was not in proper contact with the plates,
and the defective construction did not admit of proper cleaning. The
mountings were insufficient for the proper protection of the boiler.
_No. 8. Durham. (Fig. 5.) January 29th. 1 killed, 3 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 5._]
Plain Cylinder Boiler with hemispherical ends, 30ft. long and 6ft.
diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. It was the second from the engine
in a bed of five, and had been at work three years, then remained idle
for eight years, working again fourteen years. The boiler was mounted
with two safety valves 3-7/8 and 4 inches diameter, a float and alarm
whistle. The boiler had been more than once repaired over the fire with
several new plates. One seam over the fire had been observed to leak
about a week before the explosion, but not seriously, and had been
caulked. The boiler had just been started after cleaning. Six months
before explosion, the boiler had been tested to 69 lbs.
About 5 feet of the front end of the boiler opened out flat, and was
thrown to the rear about 60 yards; the front hemispherical end was
liberated and thrown 20 yards also to the rear and right hand. The back
part of the boiler was thrown in a mass, and after bounding twice,
lodged at a distance of 230 yards.
The cause of the explosion appeared to be from the failure of a seam
over the fire place in a plate deteriorated by age, and overheated
through a deposit of scurf and mud.
_No. 9. Birmingham. (Fig. 6.) February 7th. 1 killed, 4 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 6._]
Plain Cylindrical Boiler, with hemispherical ends, 23ft. long, and 5ft.
diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. It was set so as to be fired under
the bottom if required, but the grate was seldom used. The principal
heat was supplied from a mill furnace, the neck of which was at the
left hand of the back, and the flame was carried by a wheel flue round
the front of the boiler to the stack on the right hand side of the
back. The boiler was fitted with a 4-3/4-inch safety valve, and also a
float, but it was suspected that the latter had broken from the rod.
A horizontal seam about the middle of the left hand side had given way,
and the upper portion of the 3rd and 4th rings of plates had spread out
like a lid without being detached from the boiler. The front end became
detached and was thrown some distance to the front.
The cause of explosion was, that the left side of the boiler became
overheated, and so much softened, that it first bulged outwards with
the ordinary working pressure, and then rent open. The overheating was
most likely the result of shortness of water, but it might possibly
have been in consequence of the intense heat of a mill furnace
impinging on a small area so near the water line, leading to such rapid
ebullition as to prevent sufficient contact of the water to keep the
plates cool.
_No. 10. Dunse. February 14th. 1 injured._
Locomotive. It exploded while standing in a shed, but no particulars
have been obtained.
_No. 11. Middlesbro'. February 26th. 1 injured._
Marine, in a small tug boat, but no details have been obtained.
_No. 12. Gainsbro' (Fig. 7) February 26th. 1 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 7._]
One Tube Cornish, 21ft. long, 5ft. diameter, with one tube 2ft. 11in.
diameter, plates 3/8 inch, 64 lbs. There were no strengthening rings on
the tube. The boiler was second-hand, and had only worked a part of a
day at its new position when it exploded.
The tube collapsed from weakness without strengthening rings.
_No. 13. Redruth. (Fig. 8.) March 3rd. 1 killed._
[Illustration: _Fig. 8._]
One Tube Cornish, 31ft. 9in. long, and 5ft. 9in. diameter, tube 3ft.
8in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs.
The tube had been repaired with a bolted patch on the left side the
day before the explosion, and it is presumed it was slightly out of
the circular shape, as it collapsed sideways, the top being thrown up
above its proper height. There was no evidence of shortness of water.
The tube without strengthening rings was too weak to sustain the
ordinary working pressure.
_No. 14. London. March 5th. 7 injured._
Cornish, at 27 lbs., but as the boiler was not injured, it is only
noticed as an explosion, because of the imprudence of placing fittings
in such dangerous positions. The boiler was beneath a work room, and
the lever of the safety valve became displaced, allowing the valve to
blow out, and the escaping steam rushed into the room above and scalded
seven men very badly.
_No. 15. Manchester. March 6th. 1 killed._
This was a Boiler with two internal fireplaces, connected into one flue
at the back.
The crowns of both furnaces were collapsed, and slightly rent, and the
escaping steam and water scalded the attendant.
The water was 8 or 9 inches below its proper level, allowing the
furnace crowns to become overheated and unable to bear the working
pressure.
Each furnace had been fitted with a fusible plug, but they proved
inefficient.
_No. 16. Norwich. (Fig. 9.) March 13th. 1 killed, 1 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 9._]
This was a very small boiler, 8ft. long, and 3ft. 2-1/2in. diameter,
with two small tubes. It was fired externally.
The dome was blown off and the rents continuing, the top opened out on
each side, and the upper portion of both back and front was bent back.
The dome cut away the whole of the top plate, and so much reduced the
strength that it would not bear the ordinary working pressure.
_No. 17. Dudley. (Fig. 10.) March 19th. none injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 10._]
Plain Cylinder Boiler, 36ft. long, 5ft. 6in. diameter, 60 lbs. It had
frequently been repaired over the fire, so that the longitudinal seams
ran for several plates without break of joint. A patch had been put on
a few days before explosion, and as the rivet holes had badly fitted,
there had been much strain caused by drifting, and the rivets were much
distorted.
A longitudinal seam gave way over the fire, when two rings of plates
opened out, rending the transverse seams at each side until completely
separated, and fell in two parts at a distance of about 100 yards in
front of the boiler. The front end was liberated and fell in one piece
about 100 yards beyond the two pieces of the shell. The main body of
the boiler was driven back a few yards and rolled over so as to be
upside down, but was little injured.
The frequent and badly executed repair over the fireplace, had so
weakened the structure as to make it unable to bear the very high
ordinary pressure. This frequent repair over the fireplace had been
made necessary by very hard firing and deposits of scurf from muddy
water, preventing the proper contact of the water with the plates.
_No. 18. Liverpool. March 22nd. 1 killed._
This was a small Boiler to supply steam for some steam winches on board
a steam boat, and exploded from the overheating of the upper tubes
through shortness of water, or from over pressure in consequence of
having only one safety valve.
_No. 19. Leeds. (Fig. 11.) March 27th. 2 killed, 18 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 11._]
Two Tube Cornish, 24ft. 6in. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter, tubes 2ft. 6in.
diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 54 lbs., fitted with steam gauge, blow-off
cock, 1-1/2 inch dead weight safety valve, loaded to 54 lbs., and 4-3/8
inch lever safety valve, loaded to 62 lbs., and had been at work about
five years.
Nearly the whole of the two back rings of the shell were torn off and
opened out, and the boiler was turned partly round, and moved upon its
seat sideways and forwards.
There was extensive corrosion at the under side of the back of shell,
where the first rent took place, caused by the leaking of the joints
and seams.
_No. 20. Swansea. (Fig. 12.) April 4th. 5 killed, 4 injured._
One Tube Cornish Boiler, 30ft. long, and 7ft. diameter, tube slightly
oval about 4ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 43 lbs., fitted with 3-1/2
inch safety valve, which is much too small for such a boiler, glass
water gauge, two gauge cocks, and pressure gauge.
The tube collapsed from end to end. The front end was blown out with a
short length of the tube attached, and was driven against a wall about
30 yards to the front. The main body of the shell, and the back end,
with the collapsed tube within it, were driven back against another
wall, about the same distance away. Very great damage was done to the
surrounding property.
[Illustration: _Fig. 12._]
The cause of the explosion was the weakness of the tube of so large a
diameter, without strengthening rings, which made it unable to bear the
ordinary working pressure. It is very probable, however, that at the
time of the explosion, the pressure was considerably more than usual
during the stoppage of the engine, and the confusion caused by a man
becoming entangled in the machinery.
_No. 21. Morpeth. April 10th. 1 killed._
Plain Cylinder Boiler, 34ft. long, and 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates
placed lengthways, 33 lbs.
The explosion took place at a seam in the front part of the bottom
of the boiler just over the fire. This rupture allowed the sides to
expand, until the boiler was completely destroyed and torn into seven
pieces.
The cause of the explosion was supposed to be the defective state of
the seams over the fire, which, being placed longitudinally, were in
the weakest position.
_No. 22. Shiffnal. (Fig. 13.) April 21st. none injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 13._]
Two Tube Cornish, 15ft. long, 6ft. diameter, tubes 1ft. 8in. diameter,
3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs. The heat was supplied by two furnaces, one of
which played into each tube.
The left hand tube collapsed from shortness of water, and tore away
from the angle iron in the front plate, and allowed the contents to
issue violently and scatter the brickwork, but the boiler was not
disturbed.
_No. 23. Burnley. April 26th. 2 killed, 2 injured._
Small internally fired Boiler, 5ft. high, 2ft. 4in. diameter, and was
intended to work at 70 lbs. The fittings were defective, the spiral
spring of the safety valve being most easily altered, so as to cause
over pressure. The manhole was not strengthened by any ring, and the
first rents commenced at that point.
The cause of the explosion was over pressure and defective construction.
The sketch at No. 57 explosion in this year, is of a similar boiler
which exploded from nearly similar causes.
_No. 24. Bilston. (Fig. 14.) May 13th. none injured._
Balloon or Haystack Boiler, about 16ft. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, and
worked at very little above atmospheric pressure.
The boiler was chiefly used to store water during the time another
boiler by the side of it was emptied. When the water was required to
refill the other boiler, a fire was lighted under the balloon, and
sufficient steam generated to drive the water from it into the other
boiler. The safety valve never being used, it had become fast, and as
a little more steam than usual had accumulated, the bottom gave way,
and the reaction of the issuing contents made the boiler rise from its
seat, and it fell on its side at some distance away flattened by the
fall.
[Illustration: _Fig. 14._]
_No. 25. Westbromwich. (Fig. 15.) May 25th. none injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 15._]
One Tube Cornish Boiler, 15ft. long, and 4ft. 6in. diameter, taper
tube, 2ft. 9in. diameter in front, and 2ft. diameter at back, 3/8 inch
plates, 40 lbs. The boiler rested on two walls forming the bottom flue.
There was a safety valve, a glass water gauge, a pressure gauge, and
two fusible plugs upon the tube.
Two longitudinal rents took place on the under side of the shell,
allowing two strips, forming the central part, to open out by the
continuation of the fracture, until they were blown to a considerable
distance. The tube with the front end, and one ring of the shell were
thrown to the front, while the back end was thrown to the rear, the
smallest end of the tube having torn away from the back.
The shell was deeply corroded where it rested on the side walls of
the bottom flue, and the strength of the boiler was thereby so much
reduced, that it was unable to bear the ordinary working pressure.
_No. 26. Halifax. (Fig. 16.)_ _May 26th. 1 killed._
[Illustration: _Fig. 16._]
One Tube Cornish, 24ft. 6in. long, and 5ft. diameter, taper tube,
slightly oval in the front, 2ft. 8in. diameter, and 2ft. diameter at
the back, 3/8 inch plates. The boiler was fitted with glass water
gauge, float, self-acting feed apparatus, and safety valve loaded to 52
lbs., and also a mercury gauge.
The tube collapsed over the fire, a rent taking place in the second
ring of plates. The issuing steam and water caused the death of a man
in front, but the shell of the boiler was not injured or moved.