  No.1. Tranmere. (Fig. 1.) January 1st. 1 injured. domestic cast iron boiler Fig. 1. Domestic. Cast-iron, 1ft. 4in. wide, 1ft. high, and 11in. deep. The circulating pipes being frozen the pressure accumulated, and rent the boiler into pieces, doing great damage. No.2. Rochdale. (Fig. 2.) January 2nd. 1 injured. plain cylinder boiler Fig. 2. Plain cylinder, 11ft. long, 3ft. 1in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 25 lbs. pressure. Ruptured at a bad patch over grate, around which were No.3. January 2nd. none injured. Cornish, 32ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. Tube ruptured at first seam over the fire from weakness caused by internal corrosion. No.4. Middlesbro. (Fig. 3.) January 4th. 1 killed. domestic boiler Fig. 3. Domestic, 1ft. 3in. wide, 1ft. high, 11in. deep, 5/16 inch thick. The circulating pipes being frozen, the pressure accumulated and rent the boiler open, doing considerable damage. No.5. Stirchley. (Fig. 4.) January 9th. 1 killed, 4 injured. Lancashire boiler Fig. 4. One of five, about 30 years old. Lancashire, 18ft. 2in. long, No.6. Cornwall. January 12th. 1 killed. Cornish, 30ft. long, 6ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 35 lbs. pressure. The ball weight of the safety valve was unusually near the steam pipe, and it is supposed that the boy who was scalded having put his dinner on the pipe to warm, it slipped between the ball and pipe; and that in trying to extricate it he lifted the valve which was held open by the "pasty" wedged under the ball. No.7. Dalry. January 13th. 3 injured. One of two, 25 years old. Plain cylinder, 24ft. long, 4ft. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. Gave way at a ring seam where much corroded near the back end, which was blown to the rear, the front end being thrown considerably forwards, and the shell was torn into many fragments which damaged the engine house, and so injured the other boiler that it also was rent into pieces and thrown some distance away. One safety valve was made to serve for the two boilers, and the connecting valve being shut there was no escape from this boiler, so that the bursting pressure soon accumulated. A similar boiler attached to the same engine exploded in April, 1870, and is mentioned as No. 15 in the "records" of that year. No.8. S. Wales. January 15th. none injured Plain cylinder, 5 years old, 35ft. 6in. long, 4ft. 10in. diameter, ½ inch plates, 55 lbs. pressure. Some plates over the fire became red hot from the accumulation of scale some inches thick upon them and gave way, and the reaction of the issuing contents sent the boiler some distance and did much damage. No.9. Manchester. January 16th. 1 injured. Plain cylinder, flat ends, very old, 8ft. 4in. long, 3ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. The front plate was blown out, and the boiler was thrown backwards for some distance. The boiler was corroded until too weak to bear the ordinary pressure. No.10. Sunderland. January 17th. 1 killed, 1 injured. Marine. The steam expansion joint was placed between two opposite curves in the pipe, and one end drew out when first under pressure. No.11. Leslie. January 26th. 2 killed. Cornish, 10ft. long, 4ft. diameter. Tube 2ft. 4in. diameter, plates 5/16 inch, 40 lbs. pressure. Gave way at bottom where it rested on the brickwork, the plates being completely eaten away by external corrosion. No.12. Gateshead. (Fig. 5.) January 27th. none injured. domestic boiler Fig. 5. Domestic, 3ft. high, 2ft. wide, and 1ft. 1in. deep, 3/8 inch plates. The circulating pipes being frozen, the pressure accumulated, and rent the boiler open doing great damage. No.13. Bradford. (Fig. 6.) February 1st. 1 killed. plain cylinder boiler Fig. 6. Plain cylinder, 5 years old, flat ends, 7ft. 5in. long, 3ft. 4in. No.14. Dover. February 5th. 1 killed. Marine, 70 lbs. pressure. The boiler was not moved from its place, and the damage appeared to have been slight, but no particulars have been obtained. No.15. Newcastle. (Fig. 7.) Feb. 10th. none injured. chimney boiler Fig. 7. One of three, 3 years old. Chimney, 27ft. high, 5ft. diameter. Tube 2ft. 9in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 25 lbs. pressure. Collapsed about half-way up the tube from overheating through shortness of water. No.16. Birmingham. (Fig. 8.) February 15th. 3 injured. portable upright boiler Fig. 8. One of two, 1 year old. Portable upright, 6ft. high, 3ft. diameter, No.17. Stockton. March 8th. none injured. Locomotive. The connecting rod broke and pierced the boiler, allowing contents to issue violently. A similar case was mentioned as No. 27, July 21st, 1868, and others have occurred in previous years. No.18. Bradford. (Fig. 9.) March 9th. 1 killed, 1 injured. Lancashire boiler Fig. 9. One of six, 3 years old. Lancashire, 27ft. long, 7ft. diameter. Tubes 2ft. 8in. diameter, slightly oval, 7/16 inch plates, 60 lbs. pressure. The left hand tube collapsed downwards from overheating through shortness of water. The boiler was not moved, and little damage was done to premises. No.19. Glasgow. March 11th. 3 killed, 3 injured. Rag Boiler. The screws of the manlid were loosened before the steam was exhausted, and the issuing contents scalded those near. No.20. Wootton Bassett. (Fig. 10.) March 11th. 2 killed, 1 injured. one tube Cornish boiler Fig. 10. Cornish, 12ft. long, 4ft. 8in. diameter. Tube 2ft. 3in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 72 lbs. pressure. Tube collapsed downwards from overheating through shortness of water. This was the second time the tube had collapsed, although the boiler had only worked 18 months. No.21. Newcastle. (Fig. 11.) March 16th. 1 killed. plain cylinder boiler Fig. 11. Plain cylinder, flat ends, 16ft. long, 3ft. 6in. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 25 lbs. pressure. There being no stays to support the flat ends the varying pressure caused a slight movement backward and forward (sometimes called "drum-head" motion), which facilitated corrosion in certain lines of strain, and produced a "furrow" at the front near the bottom, which rent open. The boiler was not moved, and little damage was done to the premises. No.22. Brigg. (Fig. 12.) March 17th. 1 killed, 1 injured. plain cylinder boiler Fig. 12. One of five, 5 years old. Plain cylinder, 68ft. long, 4ft. 4in. No.23. S. Wales. (Fig. 13.) March 18th. none injured. Lancashire boiler Fig. 13. One of two, 36 years old. Lancashire, 30ft. long, 9ft. diameter. Tubes 3ft. diameter, ½ inch plates, 22 lbs. pressure. The boiler was rent into 3 pieces. Five rings of the back part were torn off and thrown to the rear. Four rings in the middle were opened out flat and fell across the other boiler, and the remaining part of the shell with the tubes were left on the seating. The boiler was old and much patched, and was corroded too thin to bear the usual pressure. No.24. Lynn. (Fig. 14.) March 23rd. 2 killed. Cornish boiler Fig. 14. Cornish, 10 years old, 7ft. 3in. long, 3ft. 2in. diameter. Tubes 1ft. 10in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 36 lbs. pressure. The tube ruptured at the last ring of plates, and was forced inwards, allowing No.25. Northwich. (Fig. 15.) May 3rd. 1 killed, 1 injured. marine boiler Fig. 15. Marine, 7 years old, 9ft. 2in. long, 6ft. 1in. diameter. Furnace tube 2ft. diameter, and 3 inch small tubes, 3/8 inch plates, 81 lbs. pressure. There were two bands as clips round the outside of boiler. Gave way at a seam where some new bottom plates had been inserted, and where the old plate was so thinned by internal corrosion as to be unable to bear the usual pressure. A small plate was blown out and shattered into three pieces, and the boiler was turned end for end. No.26. Barnstaple. May 9th. 1 killed. Revolving Rag boiler of plain cylindrical shape, with three filling holes. The steam was supplied from other boilers. The central lid was unscrewed, without trying, by a small hole for the purpose, whether there was any pressure, and the lid came off, and the contents issued and scalded the attendant. No.27. Leamington. (Fig. 16.) May 18th. 1 killed, 2 injured. portable multitubular boiler Fig. 16. Portable multitubular, 9 years old, 8ft. 6in. long, 2ft. 6in. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. The safety valve was fastened down by a nail (A) between the lever and the cover, and in consequence the pressure accumulated to more than the boiler could bear, and it was rent into many pieces, which were widely scattered. safety valve fastened down by a nail No.28. May 20th. none injured. Portable vertical, of peculiar construction, with return down flue tubes, 6ft. high, 4ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 35 lbs. pressure. The shell was torn off, the bottom having given way through weakness, from want of proper stays, from the crown of the fire box to top of the boiler. No.29. Hull. (Fig. 17.) May 22nd. 3 killed, 1 injured. Lancashire boiler Fig. 17. Lancashire, 22ft. 6in. long, 7ft. 6in. diameter. Tubes 2ft. 10in. No.30. Bath. May 25th. 1 killed, 1 injured. Revolving Rag boiler of plain cylindrical shape, but revolving on trunnions, in the opposite direction to No. 26, 12ft. high, 6ft. diameter, 9/16 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. The steam was supplied from another boiler. The cover at one end was insecurely fastened and was blown off. No.31. Oakengates. (Fig. 18.) June 6th. none injured. balloon boiler Fig. 18. One of two, 20 years old. Balloon, 14ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 6 lbs. pressure. The pressure was allowed to far exceed the proper height during a temporary stoppage of the engine, and the bottom was rent off, and the top thrown some distance, but very little damage was done. No.32. Wellingbro'. (Fig. 19.) June 17th. 1 killed, 2 injured. Cornish boiler Fig. 19. Cornish, 28ft. long, 6ft. diameter. Tube 3ft. diameter, 3/8 inch No.33. Tunstal (Fig. 20.) June 28th. 8 killed 20 injured Cornish boiler Fig. 20. Cornish, 43ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter, 7/16 inch plates. Tube 3ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed sideways from end to end through weakness, being without strengthening hoops, and with continuous longitudinal seams. The back end and part of the tube were thrown to the rear, and the rest of the boiler was thrown to the front, and separated into several fragments. No.34. Glasgow. July 9th. 3 killed. The lid of a steam valve was being removed while under pressure, and the steam escaped and scalded those near. No.35. Rotherham. (Fig. 21.) July 11th. none injured. Cornish boiler Fig. 21. Cornish, 10 years old, 7ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 3ft. 3in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 45 lbs. pressure. Gave way where much No.36. July 17th. none injured. Cornish, 16 years old, 12ft. long, 4ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 48 lbs. pressure. Gave way at the bottom and rent open, a belt of plates being blown away to some distance. The bottom had been extensively corroded, by the boiler being left exposed to wet for many years before it was set at this place, rendering it unfit to bear the usual pressure. No.37. Cumnock. (Fig. 22.) July 28th. 1 injured. one of five plain cylinder boilers Fig. 22. One of five, about 20 years old. Plain cylinder, 20ft. long, 4ft. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 45 lbs. pressure. The boiler had been much patched and altered, and was in very poor condition, and unfit to bear safely the ordinary pressure. Rupture commenced near the feed pipe, and ran along one side and then round each end, both of which were liberated and thrown far away, the barrel of the boiler spreading out on to the neighbouring boilers, one of which was much injured. No.38. Shields. (Fig. 23.) August 1st. 1 killed, 7 injured. multitubular boiler pieces were much scattered Fig. 23. Multitubular, 10 years old, 7ft. long, 3ft. 6in. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure, but valve loaded to 80 lbs. Rupture commenced at the unguarded manhole, and the shell was rent into No.39. Wakefield. August 3rd. 1 killed, 1 injured. One of five. Rag boiler, 5 lbs. pressure from the exhaust steam of an engine. The manhole was of very large size and insecurely fastened, and was blown off. No.40. Cornwall. (Fig. 24.) August 17th. 2 killed. one tube Cornish boiler Fig. 24. Cornish, 30ft. long, 6ft. 3in. diameter. Tube 4ft. 3in. diameter, 18 lbs. pressure. Ruptured near brickwork at the bottom where much corroded externally, and one ring of plates was rent open. The boiler was displaced, and the premises were greatly damaged. No.41. Shields. August 26th. none injured. Chemical pan, 12ft. long, 5ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates. The end was blown off, the rivets not being strong enough for the pressure of 35 lbs. as supplied from the boilers. No.42. Blackburn. (Fig. 25.) August 29th. 1 killed, 2 injured. Lancashire boiler Fig. 25. Lancashire, 26ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tubes 2ft. 9in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 60 lbs. pressure. The left hand tube collapsed from overheating through shortness of water, and the contents issued violently and scalded those near. No.43. Hereford. August. 2 injured. Chemical boiler, Plain cylinder, 12ft. 6in. high, 4ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, with cast-iron hemispherical ends with manhole in each. The pressure of 34 lbs. was obtained from another boiler. The bottom end gave way where the casting was defective, a piece was blown out, and the reaction of the issuing contents projected the boiler through the roof, through which it again descended and did much damage. No.44. Cardiff. (Fig. 26.) September 1st. 2 killed, 2 injured. marine multitubular boiler Fig. 26. Marine. Multitubular, 6ft. long, 6ft. diameter, 60 lbs. pressure. The under side of fire box gave way at the front rivets, the heads of which were corroded, and a tongue of plate was torn upwards, allowing the contents to issue so violently, that those near were carried overboard and drowned. No.45. Gresley. (Fig. 27.) September 2nd. 7 injured. one of six plain cylinder boilers Fig. 27. One of six, 2 years old. Plain cylinder, 40ft. long, 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. This case was peculiar, as the back part of the boiler was found a long way to the front, and the front end in the rear. An accumulation of scale caused pocket to form, and a hole to burn through the bottom over the grate, allowing the contents to issue so violently that the boiler was sent over end for end, when the front end was knocked off and thrown to the rear, and the contents then issuing more violently, the reaction sent the rest of the boiler in one piece a great distance to the front, where it fell, and was crushed nearly flat and broken into several fragments. No.46. Cornwall. (Fig. 28.) September 16th. 4 injured. one tube Cornish boiler Fig. 28. One of two, 18 years old. Cornish, 32ft. 9in. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 4ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 45 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed from end to end, dropping together like an old sack, and cracking at the edges. A small piece at the front end was blown out. The cause was supposed to be shortness of water as No.47. Hull. (Fig. 29.) September 22nd. 2 injured. Vertical with corrugated construction Fig. 29. Vertical, with fire box of peculiar corrugated construction, 7ft. 6in. high, 3ft. diameter, 50 lbs. pressure. Gave way round the bottom of fire box where much corroded and rent open, and the reaction of the issuing contents carried the whole boiler to a considerable distance. The pressure gauge had been removed, and the safety valve did not act freely, and the pressure accumulated to more than the boiler could bear. No.48. Grindleton. (Fig. 30.) September 26th. 1 killed. Lancashire boiler Fig. 30. Lancashire, 3 years old, 20ft. long, 7ft. diameter. Tube 2ft. 2in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 60 lbs. pressure. The boiler gave way at the second ring of plates from the back end, at the side where externally corroded to a knife edge, by brickwork made damp by being next the side of a hill. The rents extended round the boiler, No.49. Bradford. October 9th. none injured. One of three. Portable, multitubular, 8ft. long, 2ft. 6in. diameter, 80 lbs. pressure. There was no safety valve, dependence being placed on that of the boiler to which it was connected. Steam was got up without opening the connecting steam cock, and the consequent excessive pressure forced off the front end. No.50. Tipton. October 17th. none injured. One of twenty, 22 years old. One tube worked by two furnaces, 36ft. long, 6ft. 3in. diameter. Tube from end to left side 2ft. 8in. diameter, ½ inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed from overheating through shortness of water, and cracked at the edges and allowed the contents to escape without any violence. No.51. Bury. October 21st. 2 killed, 1 injured. A wall fell upon and broke the steam pipes, and the escaping steam scalded those near. No.52. October 25th. 2 injured. Chemical boiler. Plain cylinder, 9ft. 3in. long, 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates. The back end was blown out, and the boiler moved forward a few yards, and the premises were much injured. The outlet pipes were choked up, and more pressure accumulated than it was capable of bearing. No.53. Chesterfield. (Fig. 31.) October 25th. none injured. plain cylinder boiler Fig. 31. Plain cylinder, 6ft. 6in. long, 2ft. 2in. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 80 to 100 lbs. pressure. The manhole was weak and unguarded No.54. Northwich. October 28th. 1 killed, 1 injured. Chemical. The cover was unscrewed before the pressure was off, and the contents blew out violently and scalded those near. No.55. Bowling. (Fig. 32.) October 30th. 1 killed, 1 injured. marine boiler Fig. 32. One of two, 17 years old. Marine, 12ft. 7in. long, 6ft. 3in. diameter. Tube 4ft. wide, 2ft. 9in. high, 16 lbs. pressure. The tube was much weakened by corrosion and screw-patching and collapsed upwards, with the slightly increased pressure of a temporary stoppage of the engine. No.56. Bilston. October. none injured. Chemical, 9ft. long, slightly oval, 4ft. greatest diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 2 lbs. pressure. Although not at work, it is supposed that a gas was gently passing off through a small pipe, 30ft. long, to a receiver which was under repair, and that this gas being accidentally lighted, communicated through the pipe with that in the boiler and exploded it. One end was blown off, the rupture passing completely round through the solid plate. No.57. Newcastle. (Fig. 33.) November 5th. none injured. Cornish boiler Fig. 33. Cornish, 25ft. long, about 6ft. diameter. Tube 3ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. Tube collapsed from overheating through shortness of water. No.58. Gravesend. (Fig. 34.) November 8th. 2 killed. marine boiler Fig. 34. One of two. Marine, 16ft. 6in. long, 8ft. 4in. diameter. Tube of irregular shape, about 2ft. 10in. high, 3/8 inch plates, 27 lbs. No.59. Bilston. (Fig. 35.) November 12th. none injured. One of four. Cornish, about 20 years old, 26ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. Tube 3ft. 9in. diameter had been made in two parts, joined in the centre by a narrow plate 3/8 inch thick, and it collapsed at this joint, so that the top met the bottom, and thus so retarded the issue of the contents after being set in motion, that a shock was produced, which blew out an end and half the tube in opposite directions. The shell was left resting in its seat, and little damage was done to premises. The tube had much the appearance of collapse from shortness of water, but the most probable cause was that it was too weak without strengthening hoops to bear the ordinary pressure with safety. No.60. Diss. (Fig. 36.) November 11th. 2 killed. portable multitubular boiler Fig. 36. Portable, multitubular, about 10 years old, 8ft. 3in. long, 2ft. 7in. No.61. Rotherham. November 18th. 1 killed. The screws of a manhole were loosened while the pressure remained in the boiler, and the lid was blown off. No.62. Newcastle. November 25th. 1 killed. One of twelve. Chimney, 28ft. high, 6ft. diameter. Tube 2ft. 5in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 25 lbs. pressure. The blow pipe was left open while some men were inside repairing, and the steam and water from the blow-off of another boiler in the same pipe was forced in upon them. No.63. Cradley. December 8th. 1 injured. Locomotive, 11ft. long, 3ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 95 lbs. pressure. The pressure amounted to about 134 lbs. during a temporary effort to get up a steep curved incline, and the fire box was forced inwards and the outside shell outwards, and the stays drawn, but little other damage was done. No.64. Middlesbro'. (Fig. 37.) December 13th. 1 injured. locomotive Fig. 37. Locomotive, 18ft. 6in. long, 4ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 120 lbs. pressure. Gave way under bottom of barrel where "furrowed" by No.65. Westbromwich. (Fig. 38.) December 28th. 1 injured. balloon boiler Fig. 38. One of five, 23 years old. Balloon, 16ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 5 lbs. pressure. It ruptured at the back where the plates in contact with brickwork were reduced by external corrosion, and the bottom was forced down upon the grate, and the top rolled over on to its side. The boiler was not being used, although connected with the other at work. The strain upon the bottom was increased by the boiler being over full and nearly to the brim. Those near were drenched with nearly cold water from it when it upset. No.66. Glasgow. (Fig. 39.) December 30th. 11 killed, 30 injured. portable upright boiler Fig. 39. Portable upright, about 8 years old, 11ft. 4in. high, 4ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 100 lbs. pressure. The internal portion gave way R. Broomhall, Printer, Stourbridge. The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain. Transcriber's note: In the Conclusions section, several figures are placed out of order as in the original. Several (apparently) missing punctuation marks have been added. The word ‘guage’ appears several times. It has been changed to ‘gauge’ in each location. Page numbers for the annual reports have been added.
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