The central tube collapsed, and the bottom part was blown out, and allowed the contents of the boiler to issue from the bottom into the culvert leading to the stack, and into the necks of the furnaces from which it was heated. The reaction sent the boiler up to a great height, and it divided into eleven fragments, which were very widely scattered. Comparatively little damage was done to the furnaces and premises, only the brickwork surrounding the boiler being thrown down.
Although it had only worked a short time at this place, it was very old, and the central tube was corroded until only 1/8 inch thick in many places, and many of the rivet heads were quite eaten away. It was altogether so worn out that it was quite unfit to work at any pressure.
No.54. Cornwall. ([Fig. 43.])
December 6th.
none injured.
Fig. 43.
One tube Cornish, 32ft. long, 6ft. diameter. Tube 4ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 40 to 50 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed from end to end, and the front portion was blown out with the front end, and the back end was left attached to the shell, and but little moved from its seat.
The cause was doubtless the weakness of such a large tube.
This is the third explosion at this engine. One of the previous explosions is described at [No. 35].