BOILER EXPLOSION.—LOSS OF SEVERAL LIVES.

West Coast Times, Issue 72, 18 November 1865, Page 5 (Supplement)

BOILER EXPLOSION.— LOSS OF SEVERAL LIVES.

From the " Clarence (N.S.W.) Examiner," On the morning of Friday last, Grafton was thrown into a stnto of the greatest consternation and excitement by the arrival from Ulmarra of a boat containing the second mate and four seamen belonging to, the Agnes Irving, steamer, with the news that one of her boilers had burst at Ulmarra, that six mm had been dreadfully burned and calded, of whom one was already dead before they left, and that the vessel herself was injured. It was found before Dr. Smith's arrival that three men had died ; a fourth was fast following them, being injured beyond the power of art to relieve ; and two others, Mr Ilickey, tho chief engineer, and a lad named Robert Young, were lying in great suffering. Tho fourth man, who had for sonic time been evidently sinking, died almost as thoUloom reached the wharf; and tho survivors were placed in spring carts, and conveyed at once to the Grafton Hospital. Tho particulars of this mournful catastrophe, which has created a profound sensation in Grafton, are, as far as wo have been able to ascertain them as follow : — Tho Agnes Irving left the wharf, Grafton, at a quarter to fivo am. on Friday. Everything appears to haye 1 gone well until sho was leaving Mr Wavrell's wharf, at Ulmarra. At this time the engineer (Mr Hickoy), tho second engineer (Mr Cunningham), the lad (Young), and the fireman (Jones) were below, tho last-named in the stoker's room, tho others in the engineroom. The vessel had been cast off from the wharf, and orders given by Captain Maidcs " to turn astern slow, which was done, and when the engines had mado about half-a-dozen revolutions tho explosion took place, tho gaugoglassos at tho timo showing the boilers j to bo well supplied with water, not more than fifteen pounds of steam on — her certificate allowing twenty pounds to tho square mch — and her safety valves open, tho vessel blowing off steam at tho timo. Tho lad Young 1 , who was tho first to notice that something was wrong, heard a hiss, as of tho escape of steam, and, with a prompt activity that has probably saved his life, ran at once to a email tank of cold water, into which ho crept ; Mr Hickoy followed, intending to have adopted the same course, but finding tho tank already occupied ran for tho ladder, but was caught by tho stonm and severely scalded. The fireman, Jones, must havo been killed on tho spot, as ho was awfully burnt, and his skull apparently fractured. Mr Cunningham had no means of oscapo, and was so sovorely scalded that ho only survived about three or four hours. The man Salvadora was standing noar tho

grating on deck, and was caught by the rising steam and dreadfully scalded. Ho also died before medical aid reached tho vessel. Tho last man killed, Hill, was also near Salvadora, by tho grating ; and tho- men were, we understand, taking their coffee. Ho survived his injuries longest of nil, and died almost as ho reached Grafton. Mr Mann, the chic officer, who was standing very near Salvadora, had a marvellous escape—Salvadora being killed on onosido of him and a coop of fowls destroyed on tho other. Ho was struck on tho head, but received no serious hurt. On examining the boilers, it was seen that tho boiler on tho port side was split completely open, tho steam having forced open tho solid lining between tho boiler and tho engine room, and come through ; the wholo of tho brickwork, used as bridges, been torn away and scattered. As no one was left to stop the engines on tho occurrence of tho disaster, tho vessel backed into the river bank, and continued to work into it till the fires were put out by steam and hot water. Wo are informed that hot water and other things were thrown by the explosion nearly as far as Mr. Wall's house — a distance of about '300 yards. The passengers were not in ony way sufferers except by detention. The bodies presented a terrible appearance, especially that of the fireman Jones. Most parts wcro so scalded as to separate tho skin entirely from the flesh ; and the skin of ono poor fellow's hand, with the nails on it, was loft on a cask which ho seized. Tho following is tho list of the sufferers : — Thomas Hickey, nativo of Manchester, chief engineer, severely scalded, wifo and six children ; Robert Cunningham, of Londonderry, second engineer, single, killed ; Hugh Jones, North Wales, fireman, killed, leaves wii'o and three children; George Hill, Dublin, fireman, killed, leaves wifo and five children ; Salvadora Fernandez (a Sardinian), fireman, killed, single, but was engaged to bo married this trip to a young person in Sydney ; Robert Young, of Glasgow, engineer's assistant, singlo, much burnt about the face, and one leg and foot scalded. Tho Agnes Irving was towed up to the company's Wharf, Grafton, by the river steamers Uloom and Ulmarra, on Saturday morning. After undergoing some repairs to her steering gear, sho will proceed to Sydney.