Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1870's

I sent to tell Mr. Brain, brother to the owner, who lives at Penarth, of the accident. I have been on board the vessel as seaman for about eleven months, and during that time a boiler was placed in her at Bristol, which is the one that has exploded. I was given to understand at the time the boiler was placed in the boat that it was a second-hand one repaired. I never heard the captain or engineer complain of the boiler. I do not know the working pressure of it, but I fancied there was a little extra steam on, as we wanted to save the tide. Sometimes the engineer has put an extra weight on the lever of the safety-valve, but I do not think he did so on this occasion, as the steam was blowing off at the time of the explosion. As far as I could judge, everything appeared in a favourable condition, and I cannot account for the accident.

Edward Thompson, of Bedminster, Bristol, a seaman in the employ of Mr. Joseph Brain on board the John, corroborated the statement of the last witness as to the time the John started from the Ely Tidal Harbour and the speed the boat was travelling. He said : I do not believe there was any extra steam on, but I do not know much about it, as I have only been on board about a month. We were trying to get to Bristol in one tide, but since I have belonged to the boat we have never got to Bristol in one tide. I did not see anything of the captain or the engineer, as I was blinded by the steam and smoke. I have never heard the captain or engineer complain of the boiler.

Mr. Joseph Benjamin Brain, the proprietor of the John, said the boiler had been in the boat for about 11 months. It was a second-hand one, and had been previously used in the Taff steam barge, one of the traders between Cardiff and Bristol. It was bought of E. Roach and Company, of Bristol. the boiler had been seen by William Hodge, the deceased, and he recommended it to me. I also had it inspected by am engineer of the Bristol Navigation Company, who reported it to be in good condition, and equal to four years' work at 60lbs. pressure. I bought the boiler at his recommendation. The deceased and engineer never complained to me of the boiler. I instructed the engineer never to use more than 50lbs. pressure. I have heard of him using more than the pressure I allowed, and frequently complained of it. I had the boiler overhauled by one of the boiler-makers to the Steam Navigation Company, named Henry James, a few weeks ago. I then had an old patch taken off and new one put on. The only cause of the accident which I can suggest must than been the over-pressure of steam