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.])