The Times 27 October 1870

EXPLOSION AT THE EWELL POWDER FACTORY.

An accident, unfortunately attended with a loss of life, occurred yesterday morning at Mr. Sharpe’s powder-mills at Ewell, in what is known as the corning-mill. Two men who worked in the building, named Osborn and Mitchell, were so seriously injured that the former only survived an hour, and the latter is not expected to recover. From the utter destruction of the building and all around the wonder is that both men were not killed on the spot. Dr. Daniel, of Epsom, and Dr. Barnes, of Ewell, were quickly on the spot, and rendered every assistance. These mills have been for some years free from any serious accident, and are believed to be the oldest powder factories in the kingdom.

The Times, 29 October 1870

THE POWDER EXPLOSION AT EWELL

An inquest was held yesterday (Friday) at the Queen Adelaide Inn, Ewell, before Mr W. Carter, coroner for the district, on the bodies of Layton Osborn and Raymond Mitchell, the two men who died from the injuries received by the explosion of powder at the mills of Messrs. Sharpe and Co., Ewell, on Wednesday last.

The following jury were sworn: - Messrs George Stone (foreman), Chairman, Shaw, Baker, Swanson, Cracknell, Monger, Eccles, Bradford, Woodward, Edgcumbe, Killick, Morris, and Winter. The body of Osborn was lying in the engine-house belonging to the works, while Mitchell was conveyed to his home, and succumbed about 11p.m. on Thursday.

After viewing the bodies, the first witness called was James Wagstaff, who deposed, - I am sergeant of police at Epsom. On Wednesday last I was on duty there, heard an explosion in the direction of Ewell Powder mills, saw the smoke arise, and immediately drove over. I found the deceased Layton Osborn in a shed on the premises. He was then alive but terribly injured - his right arm blown off, left leg shattered, and burnt all over his body. He was sensible but made no allusion to the cause of accident. The explosion occurred about 11 o’clock, and deceased died in my presence at quarter-past 2 same day.

W. Mitchell, sworn - I am a powder maker in the employ of Mr. J. Carr Sharpe, and work in the dust house. Knew both deceased well; one of them is my brother. They were both powder makers in the same employ as myself. Raymond Mitchell, my brother, died at his own home in my presence last night at 11p.m. I saw both of them about a quarter of an hour before the explosion. They have worked for Mr. Carr Sharpe 10 or 11 years, and were perfectly sober and in good health at the time of the accident. I asked my brother if he could tell me the cause of explosion. He said he could not. He was removing an empty barrel for the Corning house and Osborn was cracking down the cake; all at once it went off.

W. Clement Daniel, sworn - I am a surgeon in practice residing at Epsom. On Wednesday last I was in the village of Ewell, heard the explosion, and hastened to the powder mills. Osborn I knew previously, and he was the first of the deceased I saw. He was charred all over, the right arm blown off near the shoulder, his left leg was shattered at the thigh and ankle, and his spine fractured. He was sensible; did not speak in my hearing as to cause of explosion. I never expected he could survive. I did all that was possible to alleviate his sufferings. He lived about three hours, and died from the injuries received. I saw Mitchell in a shed; he was burnt nearly all over the body, and had a deep wound inside the left thigh, which appeared to have been caused by a jagged piece of wood. It was 4in. long and very deep among the muscles; the femoral artery was uninjured; he had also a scalp wound over the left eye. I saw him twice during the day (Wednesday) and once yesterday. He seemed more cheerful the last time I saw him, but his breathing had become worse. I did not think he could recover, and he died last night. There can be no doubt his death resulted from the injuries received at the explosion of the mill.

At this stage the Coroner suggested that for the purpose of examining Benjamin Osborn, who is lying very ill at the Adelaide Inn, the proceedings be adjourned to Thursday next. Benjamin Osborn is the man who conveyed the powder to the corning-house for the purpose of being granulated, and was blown from the boat into the stream. He is brother to the deceased Layton Osborn, and is expected to recover, although it was deemed advisable not to excite him by an examination.

The Times, 5 November 1870

THE EXPLOSION AT EWELL POWDER MILLS.

The inquest on the bodies of Leighton Osborne and Raymond Mitchell, killed by the explosion of the corning-house on the 26th ult., was reopened on Thursday before Mr Carter, coroner for the district, at Queen Adelaide Inn, Ewell at 3 o’clock.

The first witness called was David Trebett, an engine driver, residing on the premises called Ewell Powder Mills. He knew both deceased; they were employed as powdermakers. On the day of the explosion he was at his duties, and about 12 o’clock he heard the explosion. He ran out of the engine-house towards the corning-house, which was almost entirely demolished. The asphalt that covered the roof was smouldering with fire. The first man he saw was Benjamin Osborne on the bank. He had crawled out of the steam into which he was thrown. He spoke to him; he was sensible, and to witness’s inquiries said he was much hurt. He was also slightly burnt. Leighton Osborne, his brother, was lying by the building where the explosion occurred. He was satisfied all reasonable and proper precaution was taken to prevent accident. Benjamin Osborne had his slippers on - the usual ones supplied to the men by the firm. Leighton Osborne had his on. When the men came to their work before going to the mills their clothes were changed for a different suit.

Frederick Freeman, a powdermaker, working in the press-house, said that on the morning of the explosion he went with Benjamin Osborne to the press-house and assisted him to load the boat which conveyed the powder to the corning-house. The cakes were placed in barrels, which are made of wood entirely, and are open at the top. Each barrel is supposed to hold lcwt. The boats are flat-bottomed, and would hold, if filled, about 20 barrels. On the morning in question nine barrels were taken away to be corned by Benjamin Osborne, and it was the first quantity removed from the press. About half-an-hour after the boat had left the press-house the explosion occurred in the corning-house. The barrels are rolled on their bottom edge from the press-house to the boat, from the boat into the Corning house the barrels are placed in a wooden scale, and raised by means of a rope working through a wooden pully.

Benjamin Osborne was perfectly sober, and attended to his work properly. He could give no opinion as the cause of explosion. James Cheeseman, a powdermaker, was employed on the premises when the explosion occurred, working in the manager’s garden. He ran to the corning-house and saw the two deceased. Leighton Osborne was lying close to the pond, Mitchell was standing by the water wheel that drives the machinery in the corning-house. He went to Osborne first, threw water over him, his clothes being on fire. Osborne was then removed to an old building. He was sensible and said, “No fault - no blame;” that is every word he said to witness. He could not explain the cause of the explosion.

George Dunnett, foreman to Mr. Sharpe, proprietor of the mills, was engaged on the works at the time of the explosion. He was Mitchell after it occurred, he was sensible and told witness voluntarily the rollers were going and the cake cracking down when it went, off. He asked Mitchell if anything gave way, and he replied “No.” He could not explain the cause of the explosion. The Coroner said there could be no doubt that the unfortunate occurrence was the result of accident, and not brought about by malice or carelessness in the management of the works.

The examination of Benjamin Osborne his wife was afraid would excite him to such an extent that his recovery would be retarded, but if they wished he would adjourn the inquest until he was stronger. The jury intimated there was not the slightest necessity, especially as he was in the boat outside the house when the explosion occurred within.

The room was then cleared, and in a few minutes the jury found that the deceased Leighton Osborne and Raymond Mitchell were accidentally killed by an explosion of powder at the Ewell Mills, and they were perfectly satisfied from the evidence that Mr. J. Carr Sharpe and his manager did all in their power by good management to prevent such unfortunate occurrences. The plant and machinery at these mills are of a duplicate nature, so that the works are not stopped owing to this explosion. The jury presented their ??? fees to the suffering families.