The cause of the explosion was shortness of water, and as the glass gauge was set unusually low, the man in charge may have been deceived. The oval shape of the fireplace, and the laminated iron, as shown in the fracture, rendered the tube peculiarly liable to collapse. _No. 27. Durham. May 26th. 1 killed._ Plain Cylinder Boiler, 34ft. long, 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 45 lbs., fitted with two 5-inch safety valves, and 2 floats. The boiler was torn in two pieces, that were thrown to a considerable distance. The first rent had taken place immediately over the fire. The cause of the explosion was the weakening of the shell by frequent repair over the fire, rendered necessary by the deposit from the muddy water preventing proper contact of the water with the plates. _No. 28. Durham. May 27th. 1 killed._ Plain Cylinder Boiler, 32ft. long, 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 35 lbs., fitted with two safety valves, two floats, and two alarm whistles. The boiler was lifted from its seat, and one end was separated and thrown to a considerable distance. The cause of the explosion was weakening of the shell from repair a few days before, and perhaps over pressure, as the gauge was found some time after, and indicated that the pressure had at some time exceeded 80 lbs. _No. 29. Redruth. May 28th. 1 killed, 4 injured._ One Tube Cornish, 30ft. 8in. long, 6ft. 8in. diameter, tube, 4ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 40 lbs. The tube collapsed, and rent, and the issuing steam and water scalded those near, as it was too weak to bear the ordinary working pressure. _No. 30. Leicester. (Fig. 17.) May 31st. 1 killed, 1 injured._ [Illustration: _Fig. 17._] Plain Cylinder Boiler, with dished ends, and only 4ft. 2in. long, and 2ft. 6in. diameter, 1/4 inch plates. It was most inefficiently mounted, the safety valve was only 1-5/8-inch diameter, and of such faulty construction, that it would not open under a pressure of 162 lbs. There was no steam gauge or float, and the gauge cocks were defective. There was no means of putting water in the boiler when there was a pressure of steam. The manhole was very large for so small a boiler. Four rents started from the manhole and continued along the top of the boiler and round the end seams. A tongue-shaped strip of the top plate was attached to the back end plate; two strips about a foot wide on either side were blown away. The boiler had been turned nearly round in its flight, and fell with the back about 12 feet from the original position of the front. The boiler was worked until it was nearly dry, and, during a temporary stoppage of the engine, an accumulation of steam caused a greater pressure than the boiler could bear. _No. 31. Newcastle. June 7th. none injured._ Marine Boiler in a Tug Boat.