Steam-Boiler at Lockrin Distillery. 149 
form, into an angular figure in the reverse direction ; the convex 
having now become the concave side. 
These circumstances strikingly shew the invincible power oi 
the agents employed in such apparatus, and point out the re- 
sponsibility which unavoidably attaches itself to the employ- 
ment of steam at a high pressure, in a manufactory, where 
numerous individuals, and much valuable property, are at 
stake. In this case, the greatest anxiety certainly existed on 
the part of the proprietors, to have recourse to every pro- 
per precaution ; vet an explosion took place, and two workmen 
who were in attendance on the boiler, lost their lives. One of the 
sufferers was found with his head cloven in two. The legs of 
the other man were severed from the body, and found in the 
boiler-house, while the body itself was discovered among the 
rubbish on the outside of the building. Among the surpris- 
ing circumstances, however, which attended this disaster, it may 
be noticed, that comparatively little damage was done, though 
the premises are every where composed of inflammable matters, 
and crowded with people at work, all of whom escaped without 
injury, excepting the two unfortunate individuals mentioned. 
The boiler, in the act of bursting, discharged a great quan- 
tity of steam in the air, part of which was condensed upon the 
upper walls of the adjoining buildings, which still appear as if 
they had been partially white-washed. A dreadful noise was 
also heard at a distance like a clap of thunder; though those 
engaged within the premisses do not appear to have been much 
alarmed by the noise of the explosion. It may be added, that 
the tremor produced by the concussion was distinctly felt at 
the distance of a mile from the Distillery. 
It is now, perhaps, impossible to ascertain with certainty how 
this accident happened ; but it deserves to be remarked, that the 
sides and top of the boiler were torn from the bottom horizontally, in 
the direction of one of the rows of rivet-holes, almost in as regu- 
lar a manner as if the separation had been made with a sharp 
instrument. We cannot help thinking, that this boiler was 
pierced with a superabundance of rivet-holes. For the plates, 
which were only 8 inches in breadth, were made to overlap 
each other 4 inches, and then rivetled in such a manner, 
that over the whole surface of the boiler only bands or com- 
