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

Mr. Walter Hannah, of Bristol, surveyor of steamships to the Board of Trade, said : I examined the boiler after the explosion. The cause of the explosion I consider to be defective riveting around its front edge. the heads of the rivets had been worn away. It would be dangerous to use the boiler in that condition. It could have been noticed when the boiler was examined a few weeks ago, but it might have been overlooked, as it did not show a leak, and as the body of the rivets filled the holes. I think the pressure of 50 pounds was too great, and could have forced the lower furnace plates where the heads of the rivets had decayed. With this exception the boiler was in fair working order. Since the explosion I found the rivets with no heads. If they had had heads in all probability the accident would not have happened.

Edwin Roach, boiler-maker and engineer, living at Bristol, said that he bought the boiler of Mr. Bradley, of Cardiff, in 1869. It was then four years' old, and had defective plates and tubes, and was condemned by the owner (Mr. Bradley.) I cut the faulty out and fixed new ones, and also put new tubes in. I then sold it to Mr. Brain, about 10 or 11 months ago. I kept it for some time in my yard previous to its being sold. When I sold it to Mr. Brain I considered it sound, and fit for use at 45 pounds pressure. The engineer, Wm. Hodge, has told me that he had used extra weights, and when I cautioned him, he said he would not be afraid to put the boiler to 100 pounds pressure.

Edward Bellamy, brother of the deceased, said that his brother told him previous to the accident, that he did not consider the vessel seaworthy, and he had told the owner so, who said that it should be laid up in a fortnight to undergo repairs. The only reason he gave why he did not think the boat safe was, because she was always leaking. He did not say anything about the boiler.

The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said the question before them was, what was the real state of the boiler at the time of the accident? If they thought Mr. Brain had bought the boiler from motives of economy, and was not at the time sure as to its safety, of course he was culpable of negligence ; but if, on the other hand, he bought it after it had been properly repaired, and recommended to him by experienced boiler-makers, no blame could attach to him. The Coroner then reviewed the evidence at length.

The jury retired, and after an absence of fifteen minutes they returned a verdict of accidental death, and acquitted the owners of all blame." Western Mail [164] 8th September 1871.