Enough of the fragments were not recovered from the river to trace the cause of the explosion, but it is presumed that, although when the boiler was left, only 20 lbs. pressure was shown by the gauge; the fire door being left closed, the pressure must have risen to a point much above the working pressure, and to more than the boiler could bear.
No.61. Bilston. ([Fig. 28.])
October 1st.
none injured.
Fig. 28.
One Tube Cornish, 22ft. long, 6ft. diameter, tube 4ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 12 lbs. There was an unusually large dome at the back end, 5ft. diameter, and the whole of the shell was cut out from under it, so that the construction was peculiarly weak.
The boiler had been off for cleaning, and steam was being got up in the night, and it was said that an extra pressure was caused by the stop valve being left closed, but it could not have been very great, or the large tube would have collapsed.
The dome was split in two, in the line marked in the sketch, owing to the extreme weakness of the shell at the juncture of the dome, and the shell was a little ruptured on each side of it, and so large a rent was suddenly made, that the contents of the boiler passed harmlessly into the air, without moving the boiler on its seat.