Destructive Explosion at the extensive works of
Messrs. Calvert Brothers, Walton-le-Dale
DESTRUCTIVE EXPLOSION. -The other morning an explosion occurred at the extensive works of Messrs. Calvert Brothers, Walton-le-Dale, Preston. The work commenced at six o’clock, the usual time, and about an hour later, whilst several of the firemen were attending to the furnaces, a loud report was heard, and in a moment a place known as the economiser shed was completely demolished. Bricks and slates were thrown a considerable distance higher than the tall chimney of the mill; large pieces of iron pipe were hurled in all directions; huge stones were overturned and broken, and the covering of the boilers shaken completely loose. One of the firemen was thrown over a heap of cinders nine feet high, but fortunately alighted among mortar, where he was afterwards picked up by some of his fellow-workmen; another was seriously scalded on the face and hurt on the back; and a third was injured on the shoulder and very severely shaken. Mr. W. Parker, one of the managers, had a very narrow escape. manage was standing opposite one set of boilers when the accident occurred, and was blown against the plate-glass windows of the card-room, which was smashed to pieces; but fortunately he received no serious wound. It seems that in one of the boiler flues about two hundred and forty economising pipes were fixed, the object being to heat the water before it was run into the boilers. One of these pipes burst, and as all are connected with each other the result was the explosion of the whole of the pipes and the destruction already described. Mr. Richard Calvert, the principal proprietor, was quickly on the spot, and Dr. Ashton im-mediately proceeded to the works to attend the sufferers. The damage is estimated at £2000. About one thousand operatives will be thrown out of employ for a short period.
From the Queanbeyan Age Newspaper.
New South Wales, Australia
4th February 1869
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/30578788
~
~
