One of three. Plain Cylinder, with plates arranged lengthways, 47ft. long, 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. It gave way at the seams over the fire, where the edges of the plates had been injured by injudicious and excessive repairing and caulking. The pieces were sent to great distances. The weakness of boilers with seams from end to end in continuous lines has often been pointed out. Eight of the exploded boilers this year, Nos. 5, 15, 20, 24, 44, 48, 50, and 59, and many others in former years were of the same objectionable construction. * * * * * The following, not being steam boilers, are not included in the list, but the details may be useful. * * * * * _Oldbury. March 10th. 4 killed._ [Illustration] Tar still, 10ft. high, 7ft. diameter, with round top and domed bottom, 3/8 inch plates, and not intended to work at any pressure. The vapour passing away became congealed, and stopped up the small exit pipe, and pressure accumulated sufficiently to burst the weak shaped vessel. The bottom came completely out and was left upon the fire, while the top ascended to a great height and fell a long distance away. The loss of life was owing to the material igniting and suffocating those who were thrown down by the explosion. _Greatbridge. December 29th. 2 killed._ [Illustration] Tar still, 12ft. high, 12ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, and not used at any pressure usually. The upper part separated from the bottom, rending in the angle iron all round. The angle iron near the outlet pipe was corroded nearly away, as shown in enlarged sketch, and the rivet heads were eaten completely off. It was supposed that the intense frost, during a long stoppage for holidays, had caused the worm to be stopped up and pressure to accumulate, as in the one previously described. But it is perhaps more probable that the vessel gave way because it was corroded so thin in so important a part as the angle iron. The explosion was very slight, the damage and loss of life being from the fierce fire which immediately succeeded it. _Darlington. August 26th. 2 injured._ Domestic. Rectangular, and made of wrought iron. The front blew out. It was said that all the communication pipes were shut, and therefore steam accumulated until the weakest part gave way. _Manchester. December 29th. 1 killed, 1 injured._ [Illustration] The sketch is to a much larger scale than the others. Domestic, 14in. wide, 11in. high, and about 10in. deep, made of cast iron 1/4 inch thick. It had close top and two circulating pipes to warm a bath about 10ft. above it. The supply cistern was about 17ft. above the boiler. The front was blown out into the kitchen. It was said that the pipes were frozen, and that steam pressure had thus accumulated.