PETERSFIELD.
BURSTING OF A STEAM ENGINE.—On Friday a frightful accident, resulting in the loss of there lives, happened at White Mill Farm, near Overton, by the Bursting of a steam engine, belonging to Mr. Voakes, of Ramsdean, The engine was at work on Thursday, thrashing corn, when everything went on well, but on the next morning when the engine was getting up steam the boiler burst, the pieces of broken iron flying in all directions. The engine man and stoker were killed instantaneously. Another man, whose names was Gird, had his skull completely smashed, and has since died; a boy had his leg broken, and a man named Oldham had his ribs crushed, and his ankle fractured. Bird, Oldham, and the boy were at once conveyed to the county hospital, when Bird soon sank under his very serious injuries. No reason can be given for the accident nor can any blame or want of experience be attributed to the engine man, as he well knew his work, and had been with the engine some years. The body of Bird was taken to Overton on Saturday, and an inquest was held on the bodies on Monday.
Petersfield Express — 05 December 1865
ERRATUM.—Instead of Mr. Voakes, of Ramadan, in the late reported steam engine accident, it should have been Mr. French, of Longstock, to whom the engine belonged.