Kentish Gazette, 3 June, 1806.

DIED.

On Saturday morning, aged 15, Mr. S. Chaney son Mr. Chancy, of the "Chest Arms Tavern" Chatham; he was lately a midshipman on board the Agincourt.

Kentish Gazette, Friday 22 March 1811.

On the death of Mrs. Chany, of the "Chest Arms," Chatham.

Oh! Death, alas! from this defeat,

Thy vict'ry sure must be complete,

Where will they ravage stop? Oh say!

Or must pure nature fall a prey

Eternally! - unto thy spleen:

Or, Could'st thou not in pity screen

The gen'ral Friend to human kind?

Who scarse, I fear, have left behind

Her equal in such goodly things,

As from the purest virtue springs.

Behold her neighbours, one and all!

Who knew her worth, bewail her fall;

Behold the gloom! behold the tear!

Which ever doth, from sympathy appear;

Which ever doth, with truth impart,

The inmost language of the heart;

Which can but in this case appease,

And give the Soul it's wonted case;

Which mitigates the general grief,

And give to sorrow some relief:

For that the Tyrants, Death! did rend,

The tender Mother, Wife, and Friend!

From every tie, from children dear,

From relatives and friends sincere;

Who yet should be consol'd by this,

To think her Soul is now in bliss.

Chatham, March 16, 1811.

H.S.

Kentish Gazette, 4 August 1820.

DEATH.

Last week, after a long illness, Thomas, son of Mr. Chany, of the "Chest Arms Tavern," Chatham.

Kentish Gazette 14 January 1834.

DEATH.

Jan. 4. at Chatham, aged 70, Mr. Thomas Chanay, formerly of the "Chest Arms."

Kentish Gazette, 19 March 1844.

Intense interest has been manifested during the past week in the neighbourhood of Chatham, for the fate of a young man named Louis Isaacs, son of Mr. Isaac Isaacs, army and navy outfitter. It is feared he is drowned, but so much mystery hangs over his disappearance, now ten days since, that conjecture is exhausted. He merely left home, after business was over, for the purpose of taking a glass of ale with a friend at the "Chest Arms Tap," and was last seen at that house about five on the following morning, and said to be perfectly sober. His friend left him between twelve and one o’clock. A hat has been found in the river, which is supposed to be his. He was a young man of very excellent character, and of steady habits. Suspicion exists that he has not been fairly dealt with.

South Eastern Gazette, 8 November 1853.

DREADFUL EXPLOSION OF FIRE WORKS - TWO LIVES LOST.

A most distressing accident occurred in this neighbourhood last week, by which the lives of two persons, a female, aged 50, and a lad, aged 14, have been sacrificed, and two other persons frightfully injured. The sad event has caused the greatest gloom to be felt among all classes in this neighbourhood, from the position of the unfortunate sufferers. The scene of the accident was the back premises of the house and shop occupied by Mr. Henniker, gun-maker, carrying on his business in Hamond-place, High-street, Chatham. For several weeks past Mr. Henniker has been busily engaged in preparing a large quantity of fireworks for the approaching fifth of November, being assisted by his wife and three sons. On Wednesday afternoon last they were so engaged, Mrs. Henniker and her second son, Peter, aged 14, being at work together in the kitchen, in which there was a fire burning at the time, and William, the eldest son, aged 20, and the youngest son Albert, aged 10 years, being similarly employed in the washhouse adjoining, there being a communication between the two rooms. The servant had been at work in the kitchen, but had that moment left it when the explosion took place. Mr. Henniker also had just left the kitchen. About three o’clock the neighbourhood was alarmed by several loud reports, when it was discovered that from some unexplained cause the fireworks had exploded, almost completely destroying the washhouse and kitchen, and frightfully injuring those who had been engaged therein at work; Mrs. Henniker being found among the ruins, horribly burnt and scorched, and apparently dying; her clothes being still on fire. The eldest son William was also much burnt, and when found was endeavouring to tear off his shirt, which was burning. The second son, Peter, was greatly injured, and the youngest son appears to have escaped more fortunately. Mrs. Henniker was removed from the ruins, taken to the "Chest Arms" public-house opposite, and attended by Mr. H. Fayle, surgeon, but she died at twelve o'clock the same night. The second son, Peter, died on the following night, and William still lies in a precarious state, the accident having had such an effect upon him that he is at present in a state of great danger. On our visiting the scene of the accident a few minutes after the explosion, a dreadful sight presented itself. The yard was filled up with the debris of the premises destroyed, the hole of one side of the kitchen and washhouse having been blown out, and the roof partially torn away, so great was the force of the explosion. On the floor were scattered the empty cases of the exploded fireworks, every article in the rooms not destroyed being scorched and blackened. The effects of the explosion was apparent, a handsome eight-day clock, which stood in the kitchen, being battered in. Although the sacrifice of life and property has been so great, yet the wonder appears to be that it was not more so in a frightful degree, when it is stated that at the time of the explosion there were about 75lbs weight of gunpowder in the washhouse, which by a miracle did not explode, the eldest son having the presence of mind on the instant of the explosion occurring to hurl the barrels in which it was contained over the adjoining wall. Had this exploded we need hardly say that a portion of the street would have been laid in ruins, besides a corresponding destruction of life.

The particulars of the accident will be best gathered from the evidence taken at THE INQUEST, which was held on Thursday evening, at the "Chest Arms" before T. Hills, Esq., and a highly respectable jury, of which Mr. T. Beveridge was foreman.

The jury having answered to their names, the Coroner said it was perhaps hardly necessary for him to state that the occasion which called them together was to enquire into the circumstances attending the death of poor Mrs. Henniker, and he was sure it was one to which they would give their serious attention. He would take that opportunity of mentioning, that at the time deceased met with her death, she, and the other persons so employed, were engaged in an unlawful act, and every person ought to be aware that by an Act passed in the reign of William the 3rd, it was illegal to manufacture, sell, or let off fireworks, and any one so engaged was liable to be indicted. He was aware that if any one had informed against Mr. Henniker it would have been pronounced an un-neighbourly act, but they now witnessed the consequences. He had been informed at the time of the explosion there were upwards of 75lbs. of gunpowder on the premises, and had that quantity caught fire no one knew what might have been the consequences, as in all probability many lives would have been destroyed, and the place blown to pieces. If any other parties had met their death, the persons employed in manufacturing the fireworks would have rendered themselves liable to be indicted for manslaughter, at the assizes. He hoped the present calamity would operate as a warning and put a stop to the manufacture of articles of this description.

Before the jury went to view the body, Mr. Fayle, the surgeon, hoped they would go with as little disturbance as possible, as the eldest son, who was dangerously ill, was not yet made aware of his mother’s death.

The jury then went to view the body, which presented a shocking spectacle, the whole of part, chest, neck, head, and back being scorched and blackened. On their return, the following evidence was taken:-

Mary Ann Cray deposed:— I have lived as a servant at the house ot deceased for the past ten months. On Wednesday afternoon, at about half-past two or a quarter to three o'clock, I was in the kitchen washing up the dishes. The kitchen joins the washhouse, and it is under the same roof. I had occasion to leave the kitchen to throw water into the yard, when I heard a loud report go off in the washhouse, and my mistress screaming. On seeing the smoke coming from the washhouse door, I ran out to the garden steps. The smoke filled the kitchen. At the time of the explosion I was in the yard and got under the garden steps, and being nearly suffocated with smoke I threw a towel over my face to keep the smoke from me. As soon as I was able to see anything, I saw William, the eldest son, tearing off his shirt, which was on fire, and I then saw Master Peter, the second son, all in a blaze. On looking about I saw my mistress (the deceased) lying at the passage door, and some men were throwing water over her. After that several persons came to render assistance. When I left the kitchen to throw away the water, Mrs. Henniker and Peter were there filling the cases with the composition, and William and Albert, the eldest and youngest sons, were together at work in the washhouse also making fireworks. When I was in the kitchen my mistress was putting on the touch-paper, and Peter filling the cases; William and Albert were also filling. There was a fire in the kitchen, and deceased was sitting at work very near it. A long piece of flat wood lay before the fire, on which were laid the empty cases drying. There was no fire in the washhouse. There were three tin cases in the kitchen containing the composition. I cannot say in what part the explosion took place, neither do I know the cause of it. There was a large quantity of gunpowder in the washhouse over the copper, in two small barrels, and a larger one; neither were quite full; they had some matting placed over them. I heard Albert tell William to take the powder down, which he did, and I saw him throw it over the wall.

The Coroner remarked that there was enough, powder there to blow all that part of the street down, and as much as the Sappers and Miners used at Tom-all-alone’s in blowing up their large stockades.

Examination continued:— My mistress had about four dozen squibs in her lap when the explosion took place. At that time she was putting the touch-paper on them. Peter was standing near the window filling. The squibs were rammed with a piece of iron wire covered with leather at the top.

By a Juror:— Peter had only a little "stuff” before him in a dish. There were some lucifer matches on the kitchen mantel-piece.

By the Foreman:— Mr. Henniker only made fireworks about this time of the year, and had been engaged about the manufacture three weeks.

By another Juror:— The squibs when made were kept in a glass-case in the shop. I have not heard either William or Peter say how the accident happened.

By the Foreman:— I have seen one rocket made, which was sold the morning the accident occurred; my master mostly made squibs and white lights.

Frederick Rawlinson deposed:— I was in the "Trumpet" public-house, opposite, talking to Mr. Burford, at the time of the explosion. I saw several persons running down Hamond-hill, on which I went across to Mr. Henniker’s door. The smoke was then pouring out of the shop. I ran through the premises, and when I got into the back yard I saw two of the sons standing there, and all one side of the building blown away. The two sons, whose names I do not know, were standing one at the back and the other close to the water-butt. The hair on the head of one of them was quite erect; the other had his clothes on fire. I looked round and saw Mrs. Henniker lying down, partly in the kitchen and partly in the yard, under the window of the parlour. I saw no one else there. Deceased’s clothes were on fire. I commenced pulling them off, and called for a knife to cut them; it was two or three minutes before I could get one. The clothes were very much burnt. Deceased was insensible, and never spoke. She was so burnt, I asked Mr. Henniker if he knew who the deceased was? He said “It is my poor wife.” I should think the explosion originated in the washhouse, as there were so many sky-rockets and squibs lying about. I saw several persons handling about the powder, and I told them to throw it over the wall. I saw no flames; my eyes were very much affected. I obtained some water and poured over deceased, and then carried her over to the "Chest Arms," with the assistance of two persons.

By the jury:— Neither of the sons spoke to me as to how the explosion occurred.

Mr. Higginson Fayle, surgeon, of the firm of Bell and Fayle, deposed that he was sent for to see deceased immediately after the accident, and found her much burnt about various parts of the body. She died on Wednesday night from the results of the burns; her system was not able to recover the stock. Witness never heard deceased say how the accident was to be accounted for. She was sensible during her illness.

Mr. Reader, one of the jurors, said several of the squibs were blown into his parlour window.

Mr. Fayle said William, the eldest son, undoubtedly saved the adjoining premises. About 131bs. of power exploded. There were 751bs. in the back room in three canisters of 25lbs. each.

A juror remarked that he saw William Henniker throw the powder over the wall after he had his shirt torn off.

The Coroner said the jury had now heard the whole of the evidence they had to lay before them. He begged to call their attention once more to the 2nd and 3rd William the 4th, which, however, related to the metropolitan districts. There was also the Act of William the 3rd, to which he had before alluded. In 1847 two persons were charged before a grand jury in London under the provisions of that Act; true bills were returned against them, and the parties were afterwards convicted. He thought if it were generally known that persons were liable to be indicted it would put a stop to the careless manufacture of fireworks. He could not help adverting to the utter carelessness in which these things were generally done. If it were a lawful act a proper caution ought undoubtedly to be observed, still more so ought that to be the case when parties were engaged in an illegal act. If the deceased’s death had been occasioned by another person, the case would have assumed a very different aspect. He (the coroner) did not make these observations to cast any reflections on those that were gone, but he did hope the magistrates would take the matter up and direct their constables to prevent fireworks being sold and let off.

A gentleman in the room reminded the coroner that the county magistrates had given directions to the superintending-constables to issue notices of that description.

The Coroner said it was useless to issue notices, if they saw a prohibitory notice in one window, and in the next fireworks exposed for sale. Notices were of no use unless followed up.

The jury then consulted for a short time, after which they returned the following verdict “That the deceased met her death from the accidental explosion of the preparation of gunpowder used in the making of fireworks; and that the jury consider the practice of making and selling fireworks in dwelling-houses to be most reprehensible."

At the conclusion of the inquest the jury requested the coroner to embody his remarks in a letter and forward it to the county magistrates, and this the coroner promised to do.

Great commiseration is felt in these towns for the unfortunate sufferers by this calamity, as they are in greatly straightened circumstances. A subscription is being raised for their benefit, and our correspondent at Rochester, Mr. Warne, will be happy to take charge of any sums for them.

From the South Eastern Gazette, 6 December 1853.

DREADFUL EXPLOSION—TWO LIVES LOST.

On Friday night last, at about half-past nine o'clock, a violent explosion took place at the Gillingham gas works near St. Mary's barracks, Brompton, by which the lives of two men, named John Rensby Culyer and William Hall, have been sacrificed.

It appears that the Messrs. Rickon have been engaged for several months past in erecting extensive gas works near the river Medway, at Gillingham. The works had been proceeded with all possible despatch, and at the time of the explosion were in so forward a state that a supply of gas would have been ready by the next night. During the whole of Friday evening the workmen were engaged, under the immediate superintendence of Mr. Rickon, in charging the gasometer, a large quantity of gas having been admitted. A loud noise attracting the attention of the men, it was at once suspected that there was something wrong, and Culyer, the engineer, accompanied by Hall, ascended to the top of the gasometer to discover what was amiss, foolishly taking a light with them. Mr. Rickson advised Culyer not to go that evening, but he appeared not to have attended to the directions given. On the two men reaching the top the escape of gas must have come in contact with the flame, for immediately after a loud explosion took place, bursting the top of the gasometer, which was lifted some height, and tearing of three of the new pillars or “guide lines."

The body of Culyer was found in the tank of the gasometer, frightfully disfigured, and quite dead. The body of Hall had not been discovered on Sunday evening, but it was supposed to be lying beneath the gasometer. At the time of the explosion there were several persons in and about the premises, none of whom were hurt. It is a rather singular circumstance that one of the persons who has met with his death was the individual who got Mrs. Henniker out of the ruins at the recent fatal explosion of fireworks, at Chatham, and carried her across the street to the "Chest Arms."

Owing to this untoward accident it will be some time before the works are in a fit state to supply the parish of Gillingham with gas.

THE INQUEST

The inquest was held yesterday (Monday) morning, at the "Green Dragon" on the bodies of the unfortunate men. John Ormsby Culyer and John Richard Hall, who were killed by the explosion.

Mr. Shindler, solicitor, attended to watch the proceedings for the Messrs. Rickon.

The Coroner and jury having viewed the bodies which lay at the the gas-house, the following evidence was taken.

Mr. Weeks, surgeon, at Brompton, deposed that he was called on Friday night to the gas-works. The body of Culver was then lying near the retort-house and quite dead. The body had been taken out of the gasometer tank, having been thrown in by the force of the explosion Witness made an external examination, and discovered a severe bruise on the right side of the head. The cause of death was from drowning, the blow on the head having no doubt stunned him.

John James Rickson, the manager at the works, deposed that they had been forcing gas into the holder all day on Friday, having commenced at 4 o’clock. About 9 o’clock in the evening, witness was sitting in the retort-house, telling a workman what to do, when the deceased (Culyer) came in; witness had not seen him since Monday afternoon. The deceased was in very high spirits. Witness at this time was congratulating the workman that the third charge just driven in would forca the crown of the holder out. Two charges, each of 49lbs. of coal, had been driven in, the mixture causing what was known as "choke damp." Deceased called for a candle, went out with Hall, and ascending to the top of the holder, on his return said that everything was going on right. As far as witness could judge Culyer was perfectly sober. When deceased arrived at the top of the holder, Hall turned the tap of the standpipe, to which he applied a light, when there appeared a beautiful blue flame about the size of a pea. When Colyer went to the top witness felt a peculiar sense of dread come over him. Deceased put out the flame and returned to the retort-house. On finding that the burner in the retort-house would not burn, they proceeded to the top of the holder a second, and subsequently a third time, on each occasion taking the lighted candle with them, trying the same experiment. On the third occasion witness saw Culver apply the light as before, and for a few seconds no flame appeared from the pipe, but witness saw the light of the candle as if drawn into the pipe. The gas holder then rose bodily, and when it was not able to resist the force, the explosion took place. The holder was rent asunder, and the men went down into it. Culyer’s body was taken out, quite dead, a few minutes afterwards, but Hall's was not discovered till Sunday night.

Henry Beaumont, one of the workmen in the retort-house, hearing the explosion, ran out. Heard Culyer struggle in the water and groan two or three times, when taken out he was quite dead.

Mr. Pope was also examined, who proved assisting to get Culyer’s body out of the water.

The jury, after a few remarks from the coroner, returned a verdict, “That the deceased John Ormsby Culyer was killed by an explosion at the gas works, but whether drowned or suffocated by gas there was not sufficient evidence to show.

Southeastern Gazette, 27 September 1853.

Death.

Sept. 18, at Ordnance-place, Chatham, Mrs. Mary Chany, aged 61 years, much regretted, relict of the late Mr. Thomas Chany, formerly of the "Chest Arms Tavern," Chatham, and the "Lord Nelson," Ordnance-place.