"To the Editor of the Newcastle Journal.

Sir, — By this explosion an unfortunate young man lost his life, for the boiler was rent into three pieces and driven 150 yards from the place. It very seldom happens that a clear elucidation of the immediate cause of these explosions is arrived at, but in this case it was discovered that the feed valves belonging to two of the boilers had been open at the same time, and as proof was given that two hours previous to the explosion all the five boilers were in a perfect working state, no ordinary boiling could have diminished the water to such a dangerous extent. There was, therefore, no room to doubt that, in consequence of the two valves being open, the water in the boiler which exploded had been primed or driven into the neighbouring boiler, and in consequence the former had become heated tip to redness, whilst it was also obvious that the engineer was at the time in the act of turning on water, which is a very common and natural course to take. I have, therefore, deduced from these examinations some instructions which I will endeavour to make public, as to the course which ought to be taken when a boiler is discovered to be in a dangerous state for want of water :—

1st. — Not to attempt to pull out the fire, because, whilst that is doing, the heat will be more intense, but to set open the fire door, and deaden the fire with green coals, if damp so much the better.

2d. — To close the pipe communications with the other boiler; but leave the damper open.

3d. — To set open the discharge steam valves; and not to introduce any water until all is cooled down.

If the proprietors of collieries and manufactories would cause these simple rules to be circulated amongst their operatives, it would tend to warn them what to do in so critical a moment, instead of being left to the natural but dangerous expedient of introducing water."