Explosion of an Engine^ Boiler. 303 



t>ur,varioas manufactures, that was not attended with more or 

 less risque in its infancy. Steam engines, and steam of high pres- 

 sure, may be, and are, used by men of science and intelligence 

 with as perfect safety as any of the other powers of Nature that 

 have been made subservient to the wants or to the convenience 

 and comfort of man. 



Smce the foregoing particulars were sent to the printer, we 

 have been furnished with others which should be made known to 

 the public, that the blame may fall where it ought, 



Diggins, who was before a common labourer, was first em- 

 ployed to attend a steam engine in the brewhouse of Alderman 

 Patteson of Norwich. In Mr. Patteon's service he was so ob- 

 stmate and fool-hardy that his employer often reproved him 

 and was obliged to interfere and to make him rake out the fire.-! 

 His master was absolutely afraid at last to go into the premises. 



When he left this employ, whether dismissed for obstinacy' 

 or tired of the reprobfs of his prudent master, we know not, h© 

 was engaged as engine-man to the Hope steam packet-boat. We 

 have been informed by Mr. V^'atts, a respectable engineer of 

 Norwich, that while in that boat he has frequently detected him 

 urging the steam to 120 pounds the inch— how much higher he 

 may have urged it at times no person can tell. 



From the Hope he went to the Telegraph, and while he at- 

 tended that vessel he went on precisely in the same mad man- 

 ner ; and when the mischief occurred was actually trying a race 

 against a rival packet which had got the start of the teleo-raph 

 determined either to pass her or force the Telegraph iiUo her 

 wake— In fact, in place of steam of 60 pounds, as has been sup- 



^r ', oA lu^ "'"^^ ^'■*'"' '^'•'' '^"°'''" ^^^^^ ^^ ^'"'"g have had steam 

 ol 120 lbs. or probably much higher. 



The approaching explosion was intimated by a leak at the 

 joining of the cast-iron end— The man, alarmed bv the effects of 

 his own folly, lost his recollection, and was attempting none can 

 tell what, and had got on the top of the boiler when it exploded. 



The boder was so defective in construction, that the only won- 

 der IS that it did not explode long before ; for it was more com- 

 mon with him to have steam at from 100 to 120 than even at 

 70 lbs. per inch. 



The mischief occurred precisely in the same way as many of 

 tlie numerous accidents (as they are called) which befall staee 

 coaches when foolish drivers urge their horses to an undue speed. 

 /VVhat person in his senscs-who that is competent even to 

 give an opmion—who that aims only at what is direct, proper, 

 atjd laudable, would contend that such a case as this should be 

 made a groundwork for alarm ?^a prctex? for putting down the 



