CHRONICLE. 
depended upon to be as correct a 
statement as could be ascertained, 
in the midst of a scene equally 
confused and distressing. It ap- 
pears that a new process has late- 
ly been discovered for the quick 
refinement of sugar by means of 
steam; and Messrs. Constadt, 
under the direction of Mr. Hague 
the engineer, had constructed a 
new steam boiler, worked by 
what is called a pressure engine 
of about six horse power, the 
boiler holding about 2,000 gallons. 
To this was attached all the ne- 
cessary apparatus of tubes, valves, 
&c. and the engineer had deter- 
mined upon trying the effect of: 
the whole yesterday morning. 
The fire was accordingly laid, and 
the engine put into play. At 10 
o’clock, Mr. Constadt expressed 
his fears that the boiler would be 
over-heated, and the valves be- 
come over loaded with steam ; 
and, in consequence, he and Mr. 
Hague went to inspect it more 
closely. Scarcely, however, had 
they reached the works, when a 
general explosion took place, car- 
rying, in the awful crash, utter 
destruction to the concern, and 
closing in theheap of ruins, the 
bodies of more than twenty per- 
sons. By three o’clock in the 
afternoon, nine of these unhappy 
beings were dragged from the 
ruins, dreadfully lacerated, and 
conveyed to the London hospital, 
where the utmost attention was 
paid to them, and every thing was 
ane which surgical skill and 
umanity could suggest for their 
succour or consolation. At a late 
hour in the evening, fivedead bo- 
dies were also taken from the 
ruins; among these was the son 
of Mr. Spear, one of the partners 
91 
of the house. The remainder of 
the sufferers were workmen em- 
ployed in the concern, many of 
whom have left large families. 
The friends and relativesof these 
persons were assembled round 
the premises, and by their cries 
and lamentations rendered the 
scene truly heart-rending. 
Not a vestige of this extensive 
establishment was left standing, 
and the party-wall of the adjoin- 
ing warehouse was completely 
destroyed, while the interior still 
threatens destruction. This is 
also a sugar bakehouse belonging 
tothe same firm, but conducted 
on a muchsmaller scale than that 
which had been destroyed. The 
latter was about 70 feet in height 
and 50 in depth, and the loss sus- 
tained by the sufferers, indepen- 
dent of so many valuable lives, 
is estimated at 25,0007. About 
six o’clock the voice of a man cal- 
ling for help, was heard in the 
under floor of the building, but 
it was feared he would perish be- 
fore the ruins which covered him 
were removed. The personal es- 
cape of Messrs. Constadt and 
Hague is truly miraculous. 
List of the persons carried to the 
London hospital,with an account 
of their condition. 
1. Sarah Kirk, the servant of 
the house, much burnt and bruis- 
ed, ext. 24. 
2. J. J. Mallian a Frenchman 
zt. 27, lacerated head and face, 
fractured nose, burnt arms and 
face. 
3. Louis Lottermin, Hanove- 
rian, lacerated scalp, contused 
knee and ancle. 
4, Thomas Little, Stepney, 
fractured thigh and contused 
face. 
