DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT EASTERNFRIGHTFUL EXPLOSION ON BOARD.

New Zealander, Volume XV, Issue 1421, 30 November 1859, Page 2

DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT EASTERNFRIGHTFUL EXPLOSION ON BOARD.

The great ship at length, un the 7th of September, Bored front her station at Deptford and left the Thames for Portland Early in the morning all hands were astir, making preparations, A number of additional passengers and a crowd of aiautul pilots came on board. Half-a-doten tags were brought np and bate*- , ed to the huge vessel, four being Lashed alongside and the f*» maining two attached by long hawtereto her bows. The who'* of the arrangements were completed soon after 7 o'clock. time of high water was 10 minutes betore 10; but it wee ikoagkt that ih the event of the ship's by chance touching ground de rising tide would be of material assistance. At half-put 7 Mr. Atkinson gave the word, " Let slip the moorings*’ These moorings consisted of three huge chains patting through the hawse-holes at the bead, and a similar number passing through baws-holes at the stern of the vessel; all sis being made fist to “ bin" iniide. Whea, therefore, the chaini were cart of,their weight caused them to quit the ship with surprising velocity, and to emit not so much a shower of iparki as a perfect blast of flame, accompanied by a tear that muit have heard almost eifsr as the lolling of the great Westminster bell. Is it bardly e» exaggeration to say that they announced, as with a salvo el artillery, that the Great Eastern wat free. The tnge tb<B began to nuke way, and the ihip'a own crew being pat into requisition, the vessel glided majestically from the berth, for which she seems to have shown more than a sluggard's affection. The spectacle appeared to afford the multitude who lined both banks the liveliest gratification, for they cheered with a Instinem and a perseverance that have seldom been exceeded. After a short time, however, the awkward turn into Blackwall Beerk was approached, and the plaudits of the spectators now gave wsy (o a feeling of intense anxiety. There was a stilfbreexe blowing S S.W., and the force which this must necessarily esert on her huge broadside rendered it more than doubtful whether she would be able to round the corner without going a»kwr. Amongst nautical men present, “e’en the boldest held bis bresu, for a lime," Happily their fears proved groundless. Tot vessel, in the words of her pilot, *• steered like a boat; too a the skilful hands in which she was, the danger was qsieky passed. Auo'her hearty cheer told how warmly the msxtre population sympathised with her happy escape. We overtora a rough waterman exclaim, with no small emphasis Weil, I’m a poor man, bnt I would rather see that than have a jw* , sent of five pounds J’’ The man appeared to speak onlylM sentiments of his class. The vessel was opposite at about half-past 9. Presently a new danger sbowirtl tue» a-head. The harbour-master had on the previous dsy strict orders that all craft should be moved out of the yewett path; but, 10, a large barque was touud lying right laJ® middle of her course. At first a collision seemed ioc v, “*‘ • but the coolness and skill of the pilot, who was abl) second*® V Captain Harrison, the master, were unce more eqssi lu , emergency : and the barque did not become agromfo of act before the right honourable the judge of her Majesty » Admiralty. She continued her coarse. Captain Htmwn tenuined to stop at Purfleet, because the atate and »* 1 • tide presented trreat obstacles to further p-ogres*. Ab®** o’clock the delicate raaneeuvre of twinging her wiib the tsra _ the tide was performed, and when she lay across the nver appeared to bridge the Thames. Of coarse great crowds U* bled ashore and afloat to witness the progress of the big »r» and to cheer her as she swept slowly on her way. Ne**®*7 . Great Eastern resnmed her progress- As she pas**® ' °®'• aiver everything afloat entitled to carry a flag, dipped it •* passed by. The shore at Gravesend rang with cbeerii vessels ot that place manned their yards; the soldiers *,* v troopship crowded the decks, and of course the British b was beard in perfection. In Sea Reach the steam-tugs csm* l • and the great ship went on her way without aid. Although very bad trim she steamed 15 miles within an boor. dn«. While the gigantic vessel was steaming grandly past a terrible explosion took place in the forward funnel passed through the grand saloon and lower deck cabin* boilers. It was probably one of the most tremendous which a vessel has ever survived, and which none !■ could have withstood save a structure of such marvellous and solidity as the Great Eastern. The strongest Ime-o - thip, it is affirmed, would have had her sides blown out 7 and must have gone down like a stone- The Great only resisted it, but in spile ot the dreadful nature of toe ca trophe.it made so little difference to the movements vessel that her engines were never once stopped, and, •*”. half an hour, her course was never altered from it* ongt § lination to Portland harbour. Nevertheless, the acc * most shocking and disastrous one. We take the !**: rcjp. account of it from the letter written on the same „„ tember 9] by the special correspondent of the 4 Times, on board: — . . VnnVTl “ In order folly to understand as far as it l* yet a“ cause of the accident, it will be necessary I" »»y a | e , on the peculiar construction of the two forward funnel* . paddle boilers- In the first plans for the vessel i it * funnels, mined in order to economise the heat given off bytnu aud to keep the saloons through which they P^* s , c , ’ wl | e i. them all wiihwhat is termed 4 a feed-pipe casing or jacket,’rising from the boilers to about eight feet * .£ f upper deck. This ca-ing is simply a double or outer m the length we have slated, the inner one. as usual, car y n^ r the smoke and flame, and the space bciween it and (fce casing being filled wiih water. The water is into lb* top of the casing while cold, and gradually passing dow j space round the furnace, become* greatly heated; wim. f ch njed into the boilers by mean* of an ordinary tht plan by which so much coolness ia supposed to be gal fO ,«Jy berths and saloons, and so much fuel saved by the amp § of hot water to the boilers, promises such obvious that for the last 10 years attempts of every kind nave to carry out the principle saccesslully on board a*cgoing steamers. In no one instance has the plan e ceeded. In bnt to many cases the funnels nave o»° , funnel of the Great Eastern now did on such a co **. When such an accident has not occurred, the pressorn « Ilium of waier upon the base of the funnel near me wea tber, hern so great as to cause them when strained > n “ . . , or worn bj long use, to icak iotothe fires ami cstt“» more or less rapidly. Any one the least coiiversan arbol* j mechanism will see, at a glance, dial the sMety jute I affair depend- upon the stop-cock which lets on the The the boilers being watched with unremitting VI S U . AnerzU I fleglecl of this for half an hour would allow steam to I.

'* which would then, in plain terms, become a i tie c ** iD ?’ w ithoot a valve or any means of letting off its jnntic up. This was the apparatus which, as 1 wTe ,„ij loonier to economise heat and cool the saloons, e*pl liD^l‘ (0 introduce on board the Great Eastern, in the li*st screw engine, and the two forward funnels |W*® fßßl !i*J?MlMesirs. Bolton and Watt were intrusted with the w tie Pr° fThe screw engines and boilers, and they at once o hive any such casing round their funnels, or engines in any way whatever. The plan how•taeM'* 10 anted Dr the two paddle funnels, though at about Jiet, •** time the Collins line of ste oners, which had tbi> rer y , _ nearly S/iree years, dis carded it as often danpifdlie jj”, * yi worthless. Who is responsible for its being P r ** , ’h < lnaddle funnels, or for the manifest defects which. Jjtd I* ,Be Lojion, it is stated were fonnd to exist in the stopliter * be **? _ t i )e water into the boilers, is not now known, jock for * e,u v f, been ascertained is that there has been neglect jill that has y the stop-cock for letting the water off WJ> e iiher incapable of performing its duty joto •**' not sltended to at all. The casings of the two w»peHy or , of (he Great Eastern held each about seven or fatird too" Tjtcr( in( j the forward one, at least it is now eight wo* jj’ are exploded at any moment daring the (nrtetiti j while the grand saloon was filled with the visitors TOf***’, 1 , listen to the admirable music of the ship’s band. w board to 0 were p ajseng ers on boad, numbered about ** TJ>* vl ’ njj’y readily be believed, included among them I#,* o"’jrp 0 "’jrp most distinguished navigators, engineers, and loin*' of jn Eorope. All, as usual, were assembled at (tieslifi® ® half-pant 5 o’clock, wheu before dessert came ou dinner »* 1 , eft t i ie chairman’s table to look at the coast near t«ro t tn, e M r . Campbell, the Marquis of Stafford. Earl H»tin{S- Alfred Paget, and a few others followed, jlaaoithtr • deuert. The departure of these gentlemen yithsot, i 00I)) aj j, happened, broke up the dinner party, (rt® * a of retirinei to the grand saloon, as usual, nearly all tl din»tf* a on deck, and went right forward in the bows, remained at table—a few were on the bridge with Ijl&oot So r thus, by a most merciful interposition, it J(r. C*"jP ’th e first time during the voyage, that there was WP* 8 * o ’. t in g | n the grand saloon, and no one on the little •o ,n 1 v round the foremost funnel. One or two gentlemen fds«dratolating Mr. Campbell on the almost marvellous »ere g when in the space of a second there was a •see# 50 *njosion. The forward part of the deck appeared to tun®*,?.*'a mine,blowing the funnel up into the air. There iprif! 11 . j heavy roar, amid which came the awful crash of **** f °nd iron mingled together with frightful uproar, and then tllU ' l * r *1 idrten in a rush of steam- Blinded and almost stunned overwhelming concussion, those on the bridge stood ij . e ,,„ | 3 the white vapour till they were reminded of the jwl 10 "* 0 f seeking shelter by the shower of wreck—glass, giltuloon ornaments, and pieces of wood, which began to t»*> •* ■ ; n a u directions The prolonged clatter of these as fi ll rtl orevented anyone aft the bridge from moving, and the? t* ll ,| v n ew that a fearful accident had occurred, none were though * ex(ent or what w; , s likely to happen. Gradually, »s m cleared oil, the foremost funnel could be seen lying ”*’Ta across the deck, which was covered with bits of glass, Re* fraeementilof curtains and silk hangings, window frames, |iM |D fi , f (M)( | blown into splinters, and a mass of fragments, d evidently com |from the cabin fittings of the lower k beoeilh the grand saloon. In the middle was a great 4*®*'. ffubbish where the tunnel had just stood, from which the steam was rushing up in a white, and therefore not ■ bout ®bnt enough to bide completely all that had happened T, *j n ’ ano ther minule all the passengers came rushing k' o *’. the spot. The 20 or 30 who hand remained at table in b Mr V next that wbith blew up come on deck also, and it Unlive vour readers some idea of the gigantic strength of the I when I tell them that these latter until they saw the were almost unaware of the terrific explosion which had betides them. It was only the dull heavy roar, followed he rattling of fragments as they rained down on and through •? .kvliiht: which warned that something dreadful had occurred, iwilnone knew what had really happened, or what injury the * 1 had sustained. Captain Harrison, who was aft at the "swot rushed forward, and, seizing a rope, lowered himself ?°b through the steam into the wreck of the grand saloon, and ffini to six men to follow him, began a search among the rnins / those who might have been below The only one in the * rlraent was his own little daughter, who had just arrived at hj ifter part at the moment of the explosion, and who, comI i-lvsheltered by the wrought iron bulkhead, had escaped, by mireale totally unhurt. Captain Harrison merely gave order *Bits her up through the skylights, and continued his search, nhwss no easy matter. The wreck and rubbish piled in all antiions ic the ladies’ small saloon, forward of the funnel, made liiicultlo move about The steam hid almost every object; *L o |, ce was broken, the floor ic parts upheaved and riven, so tioihew a nil I more frightful smash in the saloons and cabins Low Through these apertures the bright glare beneath the Liwcr'deck of all showed that the furnace doois had either been rL s open or blown away, and the funnel being gone, the was down the remains of the chimney, forcing out the S * a nd ashes in a fierce and dangerous stream. This, as the sobers touched water, sent up a close suffocating air—half * „ half gas—in which it was difficult to see, almost impo-si-lltio breathe. Some of the ablest engineers and machinists ’ „„ deck, who could pretty well guess whit had happened Md what worse might follow. A funnel, filled similarly to that whkhbid blown up, was evidently getting intensely hot, and of ■hole present none knew to what extent its 1 jacket ’ or outer ufinj had been damaged or how soon it might explode. Mr. gcotl Bussell, followed by one or two engineers, at once went hdow to the furnaces of the boilers, and ordered Hie steam to lx blown off. thr speed of the engines to be reduced, and every preeautioa laken to guard against mishap. Mr. Campbell resum'd calm and collected on deck, getting the crew forward sad preventing any unnecessary alarm- Some of the men Usually went below to search for those employed in the stokebolfifwbo it wps now evident must be fearfully injured, if indeed alive. At tbit moment a ery was raised of a man overkind. Some of the crew and many of the passengers went aft, ybn tomeiiiiug like the figure of a human being was visible imoog the waves. Life buoys, grating, and bits of timber were Ihrowß over all at once, and two gentlemen were endeavouring lolowera boat when it was staled that the alarm was a false sue. Unhappily, however, it was but too true, as was aftertifdi aidrrtained. The man was a fireman, and when the Itplosion tuck place he rushed to avoid the steam to the aperture sat of which the ashes were emptied, and from this jumped and tiigbt at a beam under the ‘ aponson,’ in front ol the paddles. To this, it is said, he hung for a few moments, when probably weakened by the explosion or scalded by the steam, he relaxed kis hold, and filling the paddl s was, of course, instantly killed by them, and so floated past astern. All that I have Haled occur ed in ths space o three or four minutes Mr. Trampm, with one or two others, went below to the lower deck tabini, when one at least was known to be covered by the wreck, while Captain Harrison came on deck and ordered the •lip’s course to be altered towards the land till it could be ucntainrd I hat there was no immediate danger from fire or Injury to the frame ot the vessel below. The latter risk appeared lo be the moot imminent, as the flames were still rushing fiercely from the furnace doors. The hose was .therefore ordered to be faiil on, and instant preparations made for extinguishing the fires. During this time some gallant fellows among the crew had gone daws lo the stoke-hole to see after those below, and bring the poor firemen who ware on duty near the funnel at the lime on d«k atqaickly as possible. It was said that only two or three Benweib below, and that these men were but slightly injured, (bough itwai, unfortunalely, soon found that there were not less this 12 more or less hurt. Two or three of these poor fellows walked up to the deck ahno.n, if not quite, unassisted, amt this may have led lo the belief that their injuries were slight. Their aspect, however, told its own tale, and none who had ever seen Nown-np mea before could fail to know at a glance that some kafl only two or three hours to live. A man blown up by gunpowder is a mere figure of raw flesh, which seldom moves alter Ike explosion. Not so with men blown up by steam, who for a few minutes are able to walk about, apparently almost unhurt, though in fact mortally injured beyond all hope of recovery. This *« so with one or two, who, as they emerged from below, walked aft wiih that indescribable expression in their faces only resembling intense astonishment, and a certain faltering of the pit and movements like one that walks in his sleep. Where not {rimed by the smoke «r ashes, the peculiar bright, soft whiteness oMhe face, bands, or breast, told at once that the skin, though anbroken, had in fact been boiled by the steam. One man waited along with the movement and look 1 have endeavoured to describe, and seemed quite unconscious that the t fleah of his .highs (most probably by the ashes from the furnace) was burnt in deep holes. To some one who carnelo hit assistance he said quietly, "I am all right. There are others worse than me. G« and look after them.” This poor man was the first to die. Another stoker wss brought »p with the scalp hanging in raw strips from his k«d. One of the crew went to assist another fireman, and ought him by the arm, and beneath the grasp of those who thus aided him the skin peeled off the poor fellow’s hand and arm like an oid glove, and thi<, too, without the sufferer apparently feeling or knowing it. As fast as the men were got up they were Men aft to the infirmary, where cots were prepared. Drs. “later and M atson, the surgeons ot the ship, with one of the visitors. Dr, Markham, of St Mary’s Hospital, were at once in attendance, and everything which unremitting kindness or medical skill could suggest was at once done for their relief. It was, however, seen at once that but little hopes existed lor many, if sot the majority, of the sufferers, who were 12 in number Most cithern seemed very restless, and almost if not quite delirious; hot a few of those whose injuries were likely to be more immediately fatal remained quiet, half unconscious, or at most only •jiting to be covered up, as if they felt the cold. For these latter all knew nothing whatever could be done, as, in fact, they were then dying. Ja the meantime on deck the hose had been got at Met into play , and a stream of water was poured down into the tlokt-hole beneath the lower deck, so as in a few ininuies to quench the Sre in the furnaces, and put at rest all fear of danger from that source. Withiu 20 minutes alter the blow-up the real eacse and nature of the mishap was known, and the total safety “fill the engines and aftcr-boi’ers was definitely ascertained, ftartnl as was the explosion, it was seen that, owing to the immense strength of the ship, its violence had been entirely confined to the compartment in which it had occurred. Beyond this lie injury was done of any kind, excepting a stray piece break- ••{» skylight here or there. Prudently, therefore, and in order Jc prevent exaggerated reports or unnecessary alarm, it was de•‘ffflmed to resume the original course and steer for Portland. oefurtihU Waidone, Mr. Hawkins, one of the boatswains, had discovered that Mr. Kawlinson, one of Mr. Gray’s assistants, vso was in a lower-deck cabin, was completely buried, and in j i xffbeating beneath a pile of lumber ol all kinds. In an “ftwt men were set to work to free hint, who dragged away the •feckand splintered glass and wood by handfulls, till Mr. Rawimion was caught sight of and pulled out by main force, a good deal shaken, contused, and cut about the head and face, but not dssjeioosly. All danger from fire or another explosion being at an endi, those who chose were enabled to go down and tk*a' Dt or themselves the scene of the disaster. The litter on 'Mdeck showed that in the compartment in which it bad laken P“», and where it was confined by the wrought-irou bulkif had been wide and general. The fore-part of Mr. urace s beautiful saloon was a pile of glittering rubbish, a mere 'oofused mass of boards, carpet shreds, hangings, mirrors, gill and splinters of ornaments; the rich gilt castings were "Oken and thrown down, the brass work ripped, the handsome hot) columns round the funnel overturned and strewed “wl. In the more forward part, a stale sitting-room for ladies, 'o’'ingle thing was destroyed, and the wooden flooring broken P. As one gazed on the evidences of the appalling force of the epionon it was recollected with profound gratitude to Province that the accident occurred at the only single moment when ® raD . l * saloon was empty, and the berths on each side were “occupied. What the consequences would have been if it had tli ,P** ce . aD hour later, when the visitors would be sitting in Wood, is ilinost feamil to think upon. But the damage in . P* r * seerned a mete bagatelle when compared with the •|M among the lower deck cabins beneath. difficult to go down there, for the whole place was filled dins 4ra ® lnentlf hoards, ehairs.beds,cabin fillings,broken steam and syphon lubes, torn-ont rivets, and masses of the inner ,unue ' s rent to pieces and lying about like heaps of to or r cardboard. Everything was in literal fragments. The explosion eouid tlien be seen at once. The water, blow! r Mea,r '> hi the casing had crushed in the inner casing, •en i ** l ' ! funne * above deck, while both funnels below it w * or “ t0 pieces and hurled abont, sometimes in single rivets Wej .*P* n ° longer one’s hand, sometimes in crump ed up lumps it , f VITal hundredweight. Bciuqlh this deck, towards bole i?v r'pi fre ll,e remnants of the funnel left a yawning afire i an r V volcano, the force of the explosion was still lie ' Not only was the iron compartment nearest to beams* * r rent at) d pushed back, but one of the main-deck feet a . an enormously massive wronght-iron girder about iwo back C * s anri vtrenglhencd with ancle irons, was wrenched hntroM- neary hent in halves. The ruin would be an ft m d j v ® eight for engineers to witness It would be still better in ®" m cn could inspect them and solve the problem of how base JT* * lilve happened that men who stood round the torn un V U ' ine * ”h' n it exploded, and when tons of iron were but r i ca6t a h°nl, were not only not killed on the spot, t (fj c i ' <>ne . " a * "nable to walk, and not one has sustained relocation. This is at present an inexplicable cirthe n so: >ve parts the explosion seems to have acted with *betwo i 1CI0U!1 viu’unce of lightning. Thus in the grand saloon •ere m ■ 4l "’ eSt humus on each sole of it. running fore and all, back* „f ,( u “hhroki-n, '.hough the silvering was boiled oil the 01 hoth by I ic neat of the steam. By the side of these

glasses east-iron columns were bent and broken, and mirrors at lour times the distance from the seat of the disaster were almost pulverised, aud their framings even destroyed. The beautiful oak staircases descending to the saloons were blown up like cardwork, yet not a book on the library shelves close to the funnel, was stirred. At toe bottom of the stoke-hole I found one of the gilt framing* which were placed round the windows of the saloon; it was perfectly uninjured For your readers lo understand this singularity they must suppose that one house—say number eight —to have had an explosion in its cellar, and among the ruin is found uninjured a drawing-room picture belonging to the next door neighbour at number nine. The boiler, as far as can be judged from a superficial examination, standi firm; a close scrutiny, however, will be necessary to enable the engineers to determine whether any part of it, more especially its lubes are injured. It seems almost too much to hope that when such a severe concussion was experienced, it can have escaped entirely without injury. Near and upon the boiler lie scraps and morsels of the funnels, which show where the first tearing away commenced belore the inner «astng was blown up to the deck.”