George Alfred

and his brother

Ernest Henry Hudgell

A boiler explosion occurred on Saturday at the residence of THOMAS HUDGELL, cutlery traveller, Morecombe.
The house was completely wrecked, two children were fatally injured, and two others were hurt.

George Alfred Hudgell aged 5

and Ernest Henry Hudgell aged 4

The Morecambe Times

Wednesday February 18th 1895

The Frost

Disastrous Boiler Explosion at the West End

     Between twelve and one o'clock on Saturday afternoon a kitchen boiler exploded at the west end of the town, with disastrous effect.

     The house is a small one in Westminster Road, occupied by Mr. Thos. Wm. Hudgell, cutlery dealer, and his family.

     Mr Hudgell was away on a business journey to Scotland, leaving his wife and six children at home.  Mrs Hudgell was engaged in preparing dinner and baking, previous to which she is said to have made inquiries as to whether it would be safe to light the kitchen fire.

     Being reassured on that point she made up a good fire, and after kneading the dough left it on the hearth and went into the adjoining scullery, leaving five children whose ages ranged from fifteen to two years, sitting around the fire.

     A few minutes afterwards a terrible report shook the building and in an instant the interior of the kitchen was converted into a mass of wreckage.

     The doors and windows were shattered by the explosion one of the former falling upon Mrs Hudgell, who on making her way into the kitchen was horrified to find it full of steam and smouldering ashes, and the children buried among the debris.

     Fortunately the eldest, a son, was not much hurt, and he at once set to work to extricate his brothers and sisters, in which task he was quickly assisted by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood who had been aroused by the noise of the explosion.

     As the children were rescued they were carried into a neighbouring house and valuable aid was rendered by Mr. Roberts and Police constable Jackson, who were quickly on the scene.

     The three youngest were found to be shockingly injured as to necessitate removal to the Lancaster Infirmary, George Alfred aged six, having his right thigh broken and badly cut and scalded at the back of the head Ernest Alfred aged four, brain penetrated by a portion of the broken boiler, under which he was lying and Maud Lily, aged two, severely scalded across the shoulders and back.

     The case of Ernest was at once seem to be almost a hopeless one, his brain protruding from the scull and he died immediately on admission to the Infirmary. The eldest of three George Alfred was also in a critical condition, and although four medical men were in attendance, no hope was held out of this recovery, and he expired about half past ten on the Sunday morning.  The youngest girls injuries were not so serious, although some apprehension is felt as the result of the shock to the system.

     The damage to the house was very considerable, the walls and ceiling being greatly damaged and the kitchen furniture smashed to pieces. The distress of the mother was very pitiful and elicited the utmost sympathy.

     The inquest was held in the Lancaster Infirmary on Monday afternoon before Mr. Holden, coroner.

     Mrs Hudgell said in her evidence that her husbands name was Thomas William Hudgell. He was a cutlery traveller and was on business in Scotland.

     The bereaved George Alfred and Ernest Edward were two of her sons the former five and the other three years of age.

     It was the first winter they had been in the house which belonged to Mr Pharaoh.

    On Saturday last she was in the back kitchen about half past twelve o'clock and the children were in the middle kitchen, 5 boys were there at the time, four of whom were injured three severely, whilst the eldest - a boy of about 15 years of age was uninjured.

     She was just going into the room when the explosion occurred.  She could see nothing at the moment for soot and steam, and had to feel where the children were.  They were screaming.

     Dr Roberts was sent for and two of the children were taken to Lancaster Infirmary in a cab.  The little boy, Ernest Edward was just alive when they got there but she thought he was unconscious.  They were both under the care of the doctor.

     Albert Thomas Hudgell gave evidence and said that when the steam had cleared away they found the oven blown to pieces and walls of the room badly broken.  The last time any fire was in the grate was on Friday.

     Mr Pharaoh was asked on Thursday if the boiler was safe, and he replied that it would be safe so long as there was water at the slopstone.

  (A stone slab or table under a tap).

     The landlord maintained that he stated 'as long as there was hot water' but the lad George Albert, who asked him said he made use of the word 'cold water'.  Although no fire had been put in the kitchen after 9 o'clock on Friday morning, a large fire was kindled about 8 o'clock on Saturday and was kept going till noon when the explosion occurred.

     Mr Gunstan Lancaster, said that he had examined the kitchen range.  The boiler would hold from two to three gallons of water and is filled automatically with towns water without a supply cistern.  The only outlet for the exhaust steam is through the tap over the slopstone by which the hot water is drawn.  There are over 30 yards of pipe between the slopstone and the boiler in which the water could freeze.

     The explosion took place in the boiler, which was constructed of cast iron. Had it been of wrought iron or even copper  the danger would have been minimised. If the pipes froze in this class of boiler - which was extensively used in Morecambe - nothing could prevent  an explosion. Had a safety valve costing about 7s. been put between the two unions at the top of the back of the boiler the risk of explosion would have been minimised. He condemned the class of boiler, however because as he said, if the towns water was turned off for any length of time the boiler would get empty and when the water was tuned on it might cause and explosion.

     Mr. C. M. Pharoah deposed to being the owner of the house in question, which had been built  about twelve months. There were seven others adjoining, all fitted with similar ranges which were supplied by Mr Wilson, Midland Buildings, Bradford. He knew of several others in Morecambe on the same principle and in working order. He had often been asked whether the boiler was safe, and always replied that it was so long as they could get hot water, and when they could not to put out the fire.

      The House Surgeon at the Infirmary also gave evidence as to receiving the children and the nature of the wounds from which they died. He also said that he would not have sent them all that distance without dressing their wounds.

      The jury returned a verdict of 'Accidental Death' there being no criminal negligent on the part of anyone.