Blast Furnace Explosion of 1904
North-Eastern Daily Gazette
4 July 1904
ESTON STEELWORKS
Explosion At A Recently Erected American Furnace
Seven Men Injured
About 9.30 this morning an accident of a most alarming and what afterwards proved to be of a most serious character, occurred at Messrs Bolckow, Vaughan and Co’s works at Grangetown. A number of men, under a foreman named John Dale had just come on duty at one of the new Bessemer steel furnaces – a portion of the new American plant.
Recently Laid Down
And which had only been in blast a fortnight – when, it is stated, without the least warning, an explosion took place. Pieces of hot bricks flew in all directions, and half a dozen men and the foreman, Dale, were very seriously injured in the majority of cases about the faces and arms. The full list of those injured is as follows –
List of the Injured
The names of the injured are as follows:-
John Dale (45), foreman, Sea View, Grangetown, married.
James Devalan (30), 15, Bessemer-street, Grangetown, married, four children.
William Horan (35), North-street, South Bank.
James Donegy (21) Stapleton-street, Grangetown.
Frank Lynn (32), Vaughan-street, Grangetown, (married)
John Appleby (38), Redcar, married.
McCormack (22), Grangetown.
Assistance was soon forthcoming, and with all haste the unfortunate men were placed in the ambulance van and conveyed on the branch railway to the firm’s Eston Hospital. Drs. Andrew and John Steele were soon in attendance. The works officials are very reticent about the exception of giving the information that the account has happened, refuse to give any further details.
Had Just Started Work
In the case of Frank Lynn, our representative learns that he only commenced his duties this morning, having come to Grangetown from Jarrow.
5 July 1904
THE ESTON EXPLOSION
Condition Of The Injured Workmen Today
Progressing Favourably
As inquiry was made this morning regarding the condition of the men who were injured in the explosion at Messrs Bolckow, Vaughan and Co’s Eston Works yesterday. The sufferers had passed as favourable a night as possible under the circumstances. The case of Jas. Devalan, 15 Bessemer-street, Grangetown is regarded as being by far the worst. He has lost the sight of both eyes. Devalan has been a widower fourteen months and has three little children, the eldest of whom is aged five years. The case of John Dale, of 8 Sea View-terrace, Grangetown is also very bad. He has lost the sight of one eye. Donahy is badly cut and rather severely burnt on the arms. Appleby has lost one eye and is badly burnt about the head. One of Lynn’s eyes will be saved, but fears are expressed as to the other.
A Narrow Escape
James McNicholas, of Milbank-street, South Bank, employed as a bricklayers’ labourer had just assisted in putting the bricks into the furnace. He then stepped aside, and the next minute the explosion occurred.
Probable Causes
All information as to the specific cause of the accident is resolutely declined by the works’ officials but in the unfortunate event of any of the injured dying the facts will, of course, be fully disclosed at the inquest. The accident is stated to be the most serious of its kind that has occurred at Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan and Co’s for the past sixteen years. Dale, the foreman, and his gang of men, had just taken their stand at the new Bessemer steel furnace laid down on American lines, when they were joined by Mr. John Evans, son of Mr. David Evans, the general manager, who has charge of this particular portion of the works. Mr. Evans was called away for a moment and had scarcely quitted the spot when the explosion took place. Practical men state that the probable cause would be the sudden contact of the molten metal with a large volume of water. Steam would thus be generated and an explosion would inevitably result. The presence of gas in the furnace is another theory, which is advanced by some authorities. The plant of course suffered very considerable damage. A great part of the bottom of the furnace was completely blown out and the structure will require relaying.
List of the Injured
The names of the injured are as follows:-
John Dale (45), foreman, 8, Sea View, Grangetown, (married).
James Devalan (30), 15 Bessemer-street, Grangetown, (widower), four children.
J. Garn (35), 164, North-street, South Bank.
James Donahy (24), 25, Bessemer-street, Grangetown.
Frank Lynn (32), of Jarrow, lodging at Vaughan-street, Grangetown, (married).
John Appleby (38), Redcar, (married).
James McCormack (22), 75, Laing-street, Grangetown.
An Eye Witness Account
According to James Maskill, mine filler, of 28 Stapleton-street, Grangetown, there were eight men working at the furnace at the time of the explosion. He was one of that number. He thinks the furnace had not been working right since Saturday. On Monday morning he and his mates were raking fire from underneath. Some iron had probably been left in the furnace, and as soon as it touched the cold, wet brickwork outside it flew off into their faces. Maskill is the only one who escaped serious injury.
The Noon Report
Our representative saw Dr. A.N. Steele at Grangetown at noon today. The doctor said the men were progressing as favourably as possible, but it was as yet impossible to say how many of the cases would ?? out. Dr. John Steele entered more into details. He said Dale is “pretty fair” this morning and can see with both eyes. Devalan is described as being in a very poor condition, and it is doubtful whether he will retain his eyesight. Donaghy’s state is encouraging, and the man whose name was first stated to be Horan, but who turns out to be James Garn, of 164, North-street, South Bank, is “going on nicely”. Lynn, Appleby and McCormack are all doing very well.
The Latest Report
We are informed this afternoon that all the patients are progressing favourably.
8 July 1904
ESTON EXPLOSION
How Last Monday’s Accident Occurred
Official Account
All the men injured by the explosion at the Cleveland Steel Works of Messrs Bolckow and Vaughan and Co., Ltd., on Monday, are doing well and it is now believed that not one of them will lose his sight.
Today a representative of the “Gazette” visited the Cleveland Steel Works, and was courteously supplied by Mr. John Evans and Mr. Thos. Davies, the manager of the furnaces, with the fullest information concerning the accident. The explosion occurred at the new hematite furnace, which has been constructed on the latest and most approved American principles and was started a few weeks ago. The material in the furnace slipped very heavily and blocked up the slag notch – the orifice through which the molten slag is run – with slag and iron. This obstruction had to be removed before the furnace could be got to work again and to do that the water had to be disconnected in order to remove the cooler. The twyer, the smaller cooler within the larger, was removed and so also had been the pipes, both inlet and outlet, connected with the water itself. It was, however, found impracticable to remove the cooler itself and it remained in the notch, the men proceeding to deal with the obstruction through it. Unhappily a little water must have remained in the cooler, and with so much slag and iron around, steam was generated. This would have passed away through the outlets quite harmlessly, but the outlets were unfortunately choked by the slag, and the cooler exploded. injuring all the seven men who were at the time engaged in the work of clearing the notch. The furnace itself was not damaged at all and work was resumed with it the same day.
Research: Jim White
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