One of six, 2 years old. Plain cylinder, 40ft. long, 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. This case was peculiar, as the back part of the boiler was found a long way to the front, and the front end in the rear. An accumulation of scale caused pocket to form, and a hole to burn through the bottom over the grate, allowing the contents to issue so violently that the boiler was sent over end for end, when the front end was knocked off and thrown to the rear, and the contents then issuing more violently, the reaction sent the rest of the boiler in one piece a great distance to the front, where it fell, and was crushed nearly flat and broken into several fragments.
No.46. Cornwall. ([Fig. 28.])
September 16th.
4 injured.
Fig. 28.
One of two, 18 years old. Cornish, 32ft. 9in. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 4ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 45 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed from end to end, dropping together like an old sack, and cracking at the edges. A small piece at the front end was blown out. The cause was supposed to be shortness of water as there was no gauge glass, but it was far more likely the weakness of so large a tube without strengthening hoops. The pressure was doubtless more than usual, as the engine had made a temporary stand. A similar collapse took place in the next boiler in December, 1869, and is described as [No. 57] in the "records" of that year.
No.47. Hull. ([Fig. 29.])
September 22nd.
2 injured.