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reiterating the fact alluded to on a former report, that this accident could be prevented
if the children's clothes were dipped in a solution of alum—an article which is cheap
and of easy application. The death of a man from the fall of shears imperfectly secured,
is mentioned with a view of inducing more care in the erection of such machinery.
The melancholy fact of three men in the prime of life (aged 32, 22, & 26 years)
being suffocated by noxious gas, while engaged in destroying an old sewer in this
district, requires to be more specially alluded to.
Complaints having been repeatedly made during the spring and summer months
by several inhabitants of the Whitechapel Road, of an intolerable nuisance, highly
prejudicial to health, from sewer-water making its way into the basement of their
houses, it was resolved by the Board that the sewer should be destroyed, as it was
unfit for use, it being, in fact, an elongated cesspool.
The destruction of the sewer was accordingly proceeded with, and the drainage
of the several houses which had been connected with the old sewer, was carried into
the deep sewer in the middle of the road.
The men, who unfortunately lost their lives in this work, had very nearly completed
one of the junctions, and had worked at it until breakfast time without injury.
Upon their return in about half-an-hour, one of them removed a piece of board which
had been placed upon the orifice of the connecting pipe, which was at the bottom of
a large square opening several feet deep, when the gas which was emitted from the
sewer, caused his instant death. The others lost their lives in attempting to help
their unfortunate comrade.
The coroner, in summing up the evidence which was given at the inquest, said,
"That nobody was to blame for the occurrence, and that so far as human prudence
could be exercised, it was gratifying to find that precautions had been taken, and
that the accident was solely attributable to the want of care on the part of the men."
I have been thus particular in alluding to this case, because some persons
attributed blame to the Board and its officers for opening so foul a sewer during the
hot weather, when diarrhoea was very prevalent.
Before, however, the work was commenced, the question of opening the sewer
at that particular time, was maturely considered; and, as the complaints of nuisance
were so numerous, and sickness being likely to prevail amongst the inhabitants living
along the course of the sewer, which was in a very dilapidated condition, and could
not be repaired, it was very properly deemed advisable to proceed with the work.
As the remaining portion of this sewer extends into the districts of Bethnal
Green and Mile End Old Town, and is in as bad and foul a condition as that which
was along the Road-side, Whitechapel, the vestries of these districts will probably
think it expedient to destroy and fill it up at once, before complaints of nuisance are
made, and before the warm weather re-commences.
From the fact of so many lives having been lost within the last few years from
the mephitic vapours generated within the sewers, Dr. Letheby and other scientific
gentlemen have been requested to investigate the whole subject in connection with