File:Scene of the Recent Steamboat Explosion, Bristol ILN-1850-0727-0011.jpg

English: Scene of the Recent Steamboat Explosion, Bristol. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 27 July 1850.

Read the ILN
STEAM-BOAT EXPLOSION AT BRISTOL. GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

One of the small river steam-boats plying up all down the floating harbour front the stone bridge' near Small-street, to the lock at the bottom of the sea banks near Cumberland Basin, Bristol, blew up on Monday evening, causing great loss of life. The vessel was called the ‘’Red Rover’’, and was an iron boat. About half-past eight o'clock P.M., she had landed her down cargo, and was at the Hotwell's Wharf, taking on board passengers for the trip up to the city, when, as soon as a number of persons (about fifty) had on board, and -some others were in the act of following, her boiler suddenly exploded, with a terrific noise, and the vessel was almost instantly torn to pieces. The scene which followed was of the most horrifying description. The fragments, by the force of the explosion, were thrown to great distances, and did damage to the roof, of the houses and sheds upon which they fell. The bodies of many of the passengers were blown into the air; two or three of them, in a frightfully mutilated state, fell upon the wharf; some sunk with the cabin of the vessel; while others were seen in the water struggling terribly fur existence. Fortunately, a large wherry slip is located close to the spot where the accident occurred and as there were many available boats, and their crews manned them with the most praiseworthy speed, they were successful in picking up many persons and saving them from death. Had it not been for this circumstance, and had the explosion occurred subsequently to the vessel leaving; the wharf, at least a score more persons would have been sacrificed. Among the bodies recovered was that of the engineer of the vessel, William Nicholls, who was shockingly mutilated, as, indeed, were a great many of the sufferers. One poor fellow had his leg turn off at the thigh: another had his foot torn off; while many received fractures of the legs, arms, or skull. Two gentlemen named Langdon, father and son, and a gentleman named Weston, who had just returned from visiting the wife of the latter, at Portshead, were all much injured. A servant girl in charge of some children was nearly killed, and one of her charge's was drowned. Two little girls named Jefferies, who were enjoying a kind of holiday, were Likewise killed. The following is as near as possible a correct list of the killed and injured: Killed -Samuel Jefferies, a workman at the Bristol Pottery; West, musician, St. James's street; Charles Keating, ditto, Berkely-place; William Neill, engineer, Alfred-street; Harriett Venn, a child; two children of - Jefferies, Clifton; and three men, unknown.

Severely injured-William Bailey, Dings, fractured legs; William Puddy, the captain, ditto; William Brewer, tobacconist, Hill-street, ditto; Franci Lucas, Thrissell-street, ditto ; Mary Ann Darston, Frogmore-street, ditto ; Ellen Hodge, St. George's, fractured hip; Thomas White, accountant, Montpelier, fractured legs ; David Lewis, fireman, Anchor-lane, severely scalded; A. Langdon, severe injuries of the head and fractured leg;--Langdon, ditto; Maria Haynes, Blackfriars, injuries of the head; Wm. Cooper, Montague-street, musician, ditto. and much scalded; Samuel Edwards, Pipe-lane, scalded legs; Eliza Felford, senior severely scalded. Eliza Felford, junior, ditto; Thos. Venn, Maryport-street, ditto ; Charlotte Eliza Hodge, St. George's, ditto; Martha Hemmings, Maryport street, ditto.