The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-02-05

cnains in cold weather would be more like
ly to break. If there had been chains o
hoard the Lexington, ] do not think W.
should have been more likely Ia reach III
shore. never had any spprehensions a
the Lexingtos's taking fire, nor did cou
slider her any more likely to take fire tina,
any other boat.
] EIsHrH DAY.
( Frederick Hampstead called.-Liyss il
Brooklyn in Front street. near jackson an
an ensineer-have been acting in that cspseit
seven or eight years in several boats was en-
gineer Of the David Brown. which run betwee,
here and Charleston. We burnt coal on boar
Of that boat with natural draft We had o,
blowers. We burnt anthracite coal; her fur
nzces we're not made in the same manner a
that on board OF the Lexington. The Davic
Brown had three furnaces, they we're cut up i.
the front Of the boilers, and the legs we're dow
below the fire bars there was a choek Of cas-
iron put in front Of the furnace door to keer
the coal from coming out; il was four iuche,
square. and about Is or 10 incl hes long. con
sidered the David Browns fittings for the fur
pace as safer than those of the Lexington
The reason ,hink them safer is because the,
did not use any blowers. ! consider blower,
as dangerous, unless they are put up sufficient
If the sheet iron and bridge work is strong
enough it is uoi dangerous. Have been an en-.
aineer on board the Lexington one trip, that
was the trip but one before she was lost.
was afraid of .ire, because my brother told me
thst the boat had been on FIRE the trip before
he told me to look out for fire along side OF
the boilers, and ! should be troubled with the
blowers. There were two blowers, both Of the
n m fhsy aft ths siz 6.1
by Mr.. Secor Understand they put on new
pulley before she went the last trip. which
made the blowers make more revolutions. /
heard my brother give the order for them.
When was 10 her we had good deal Of diff
Guilty with The blowers. and my brother told
me they were also Troublesome to him, aud
had been ever since they had used them. The
wood was slowed along side OF the boiler, and
was on fire several times during the trip was
in her. When the blowers was in full opera
ton, the Goals in small pieces would come out
of the furnace doors il they were open, and il
was them that set the wood on fire. | have
heard my brother say he considered her = dan.
gerous boat. and cautioned ME before I went
up to look out for fire said he could not
stand II long. the work was SO hard. ] con.
slider the more revolutions the blowers make
the more danger there is Of FIRE. The reason
went in her the trip which did. was because
my brother was sick. The brick work on the
corner Of the bridge wall fell down several
lines as my brother told me Iconsidersd the
blower was The cause Of their falling down;
hink il was the wind. for when the furnace is
uli OF coal the wind must go somew here, aud it
oreed the wall out. ] did not sleep any all,
light because Of my BROKERS' caution there
vas no difficulty in extinguishine the fire
here was tank in front Of the boiler. which
would hold five or six pals Of water. which wa,
placed there for that purpose. and also to cool
'f the slice bar which they clear the clinksrs
with.
would consider myself safe on board Of the
boat after the blowers was altered. provided +
vas then to keep good look out. The boiler
't the David Brown was built expressly for
burning coal; she was never on fire never
heard Of q boat whose boiler was made for
burning coal on fire. Should consider the
boiler on board tho Lexington was a. safe as
my other, after her alterations for burning
'oal, with the exception Of the blower. On
'ur return trip we did not use the blower, be.
ause the wheel was broke. We had from 10
o l2 inches, aud up 10 81 inches steam com
ny do~" without the blower. | don't think
o much steam can .. snade with a blower AZ
without: the reason Of II, thiok, - ee.au.e
I blows the heat clear through into the smoke
,ips. have seen the blaze out Of the top OF
smoke pipe or feet high. Have seen the
moke pipe red hot to within about Q Zee, OF
he promenade deck. The chimney was red
lot most Of the time on the trip was in her.
lave never had any difficulty with any Of the
ompany; don't know any Of them except
apt. Comstock.-Was last 10 the employ of
fr Secor. When went on board there was
joiner at work on board asked my brother
hat he was doing there, and my brother said |
ne boat had been on fire and he was repairing |
10 damage; he was repairing the casing OF
ne steam chimney on the lsrboard side, down !
n TO the boiler hatch. There were two en- ,
'neers 10 the boat. and they generally take
atch aud watch. +. Hampstead.
Charles b. Smith, called.-Lives in Nor
ich, Connecticut, was a fireman on board Of /.
ie Lexington, on the 18th OF January. The
rst time heard the alarm Of fire, was about
bout half past O'Clock 10 the evening. | !
as 10 my room asleep, on the guard; there
as rhan cane in aud told me the boat was
n fire; his name was Henry Reed, he was a
oal HEAVIER, he did say where the fire was.
ut said the boat was all on fire. got out Of
~ birth, the door OF The room was open, di-
sctly opposite the steam chimney, aud 1 saw
le promenade deck and part OF the casing
round the chimney on hre-hsve seen and
onversed with some OF the owners aud pro-
rieton OF the company; they rendered me
'ch assistance as nesdsd they dId Dot ASK a
'e what l should probably testify upon tins
'ry-went Immediately into the crank rsom
ID put on the hose, opened the cocks aud
isd TO got to the end Of the hose, to play on
'e ire, but the fire and smoke prevented me.
he hose was lyins slongsIde of the boIshead,
ongside OF the arr pump. went ait OF the '
iait TO get breath, then i tired 10 get tbs 8
'ckeis down that hung over the shaft, which :
e lire prevented me from dong then | ~eut
with the intention OF geti,ug in,o the boat
hen got ait saw Captain ChIlds standing
The rsil BY the crane OF the boat on the :
'reoard side, and heard him sing cut for the
ngineer The Engineer answered, the Cap
"a asked him II ne could stop the sngIus he
pied 1t was impossible, a. the FIRE prevented, q
q tnen got to where Captain Childs stood a
d sa~ the bow tackle Of the bvst cut away. u
IN the boat tuII of passenpeu-ths bovx Of