The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-20
Spontaneous COrnbust ion.
a remarkable incident has taken place in The steame
Ississppl, to which Commodore Perry refers in the
lowing letter addressed to the Navy Department:

Y"SIR nave 10 apprise you OF somewhat BILE
kodent which has occurred in this ship.
The col in the waist buukcrs, took fire the night be-
i last by spontaneous combustion, and has continued
low evidences of gniton bur, by the excellent discipline
conduct oil the officers and men OF the ship has been
4y suppressed though it will be necessary 10 remove
4 from tho ship.
have the honor to be, your most obedent servant
an. c. PERRY,
accommodating Home Squadron
/" To the Hon. JOHN Y Mason,
| Secretary of the Navy, Washington city, d. c."
We add the following interesting and graphic descrp-
lon of this incident from the Mobile Register" of the
th inst. We understand, from intelligent officer OF
le Navy Department, that spontaneous combustion isno
kangcr to the English COAL and that the most efficient
medy for those cases is to shift the coal frequent
in the bunkers, and TO introduce steamppes into the
bly, OF the coal-he steam promptly abating the heat
BID extinguishing the flame. This expedient has been
opposed by an English engineer, and approved by the
$miralty.
From the Mobile Register July 49,
hire board United States Steam frIgato Mlssis-
slppi.
The United States brig Washington, Lieut.. Command
be s. p. Lee, eight days from Anton Lizardo, arrived off
3obiIe Point Yesterday morning. bound for Pensacola
eut Rogers, of the navy, bearer OF dispatches 10
Washington, who came passenger in the Washington
placed board pilot boat outside the bar, and
cached here last evening.
We are indebted to Lieut. Rogers for the information
bat on the morning before the Washington sailed, the
eamer Vixen arrived from Tabasco, bringing inteli-
ence that shortly after Com. Perry left Tabasco, Com
bander bgeow, who had been left in charge of that
|os, went about sx miles from the town. and attacked
Ind put to rout largely superior force of the Mexicans
Ei,h the loss OF two killed and some six or eight
Wounded.
The Mexican loss not ascerained. Lieut. Rogers UNI
Ferstood the Mexicans were commanded by Colonel
acle and that they numbered some five or six hundred
tomr Blgelow's command consisted of three hun
Pred sailors and marines Commodore Perry was prepar,
pg TO sail for Tabasco Nothing later had been heard
rom Gen Scott, and there was no news at Vera Cruz
phe Raritan and the Potomac he former from Tabasco
nd the latter from Vera CRUZ had sailed for Norfolk
There were lying at Anton Lizardo the steamships
Mississippi and Vixen and the ships Albany, German
own, John Adams, and Decatur The health of the
quadron was good The Washington left Anton Liar
10 on the evening of the lth instant.
We are indebted also TO Lieut. Rogers for the following
ccount of fire on board the steamship Mississippi
On the night of The I'd July about 10 O'Clock, shortly az
the officers and the Mississippi had turned in
IN alarm heard from the engneroon from Of the
Engineers, calling earnestly tie remen to bring buckets
# water The order had shortly before been given have
team at daylight, and the fires had just been kindled
smoke Ut the same time rise from the neigh
,orood of steam chimney and smell OF burning pine
wood was perceptibc throughout the ship.
The commodore immediately gave the order to beat to
quarters and proceeded with Lieut. Com Sidney Smith
zee TO the TO ascertain the scene and cause of
he fire. The officers and promptly repaired, by d.
son to their stations for extinguishing the fire Pepa-
atoms made for flooding The magazine, aud
of men formed pass water in buckets from the gang
way AMI port to the deck above the boilers from which The
moke was issuing
The getting up of steam accelerated to command
he powerful at OF tie engine in pumping water when it
pumps and fire engine, which day before had
,een, with their hose examined and found in order,
lhsky rugged, and streams Of water poured i'll the Girec
ion OF the smoke 1t the conjecture of the engi
eers that the i, above the boilers was fire, and
gnilng the deck above it, Tile deck above the boilers
vas promptly scuued, and the water directed through the
roles thus made.
The smoke aud smell of rpenne still continued to IN
easc in the engine oom rendering the atmosphere al
most too suilocang Tor endurance. Meantime the UNI
lie, evidently no, at the point from which the smoke and
mel proceeded, occasoned the officers TO visit every
of the ship, and feel carefully with the hand for the
iacc OF greatest heat
This last was discovered be in the sarboard coal
bunker, aniidships, the inner side OF which was heated
Intensely in less degree the woodwork in imme
late with it. About the time, lifting the
hates the manholes in the spar deck, by order ofte
from the first, had conecucd that the
bunker the real of the resmoke found
from the nanole in the starboard waist nearest
he part OF the coabunker which found to be heated
below.
Streams of water from buckets and hoses
,ou ed down through the manlole and through scutte
the deck above the point of greatest heat, aud the
uocatng smoke heat and odor in the engine room We're
1t was now known that the fire could have been occasion
d by other than spontaneous combustion IN the
ol bunker The slide OF the shoot below on the opening
which the coal rishes into the fire room,
ally closed; and no possibility existed OF e having been
communicated by ldesyning person, had
here been such in the ship
The GOAL bunker being thoroughly Hooded the heat and
moke had far disappeared that at IL o'clock the retreat
beat and one watch left to remove the heated coal,
md provide for the safety OF The ship When the coal was
II discharged, beam which ran through 1t was found
haired the depth of half ncb having the appearance
having been exposed not merely to an Intense heat
liaes; and the deck above it likewise chared in
he manner for space OF ten feet
On the following night growing heat discovered in
he arboard ndship bunker, and in the adjoining wood
work. One watch OF the turned oui, and the
nova of the coal commenced getting the COAL the
ar of it reached where the process OF Ignition was
ong Lumps OF coal taken ont sufficiently hot to
painful to the touch, and particles had the appearance
# cnders The presence of sulphur in unusual quantities
n this coal, was apparent to the sight and smell.
Nothing could be liner than the display OF order, and dis
pne and high moral courage exhibited by every man ana
time the heat and smoke the engine-room were per
epby increasing, in defiance of the efforts made to arrest
progress of the fire. which expected every moment
o break in flames still more unconquerabc.
Yet in this ship loaded with powder and shells filled and
uzcd nothing was seen but ORDER subordination, and
Universal effort OF each PERFORM with zeal, ms allotted
uty. There was noisc confusion no unnecessary
riders. Those that necessary were given with calm
less, and in the ordinary tone OF command 49,
Though several foreign vessesowar were near the MIS-
lsspp and the beat quarters the rapid and resounding
toke OF the pumps, and the smoke Issuing from the en-
neoon must have been perceptbe TO the surrounding
hpping, yet evident the capacity OF the ship, Tor
he at least take OF hese that the comp
nent paid her of rendering otler OF assistance,
hough assistance would have doubtless been cheeriuy
endered had the emergency grown more critical
The officers and OF the Mississippi have frequently
If late been under the fire of the enemy: but the cmpo-
ure with which they performed their duty bears
'ason to the moral sublmy of their bearing in the pres
,nce OF this far appalling enemy.
This conposure pecally neritorious in the Com
nodore and his acting captain, who, having in other re-
sides bear the awful responsibility the service and
country the threatened loss by fire OF the second and last
'i those magnificent steamers which, though butt seven
ears ngo have since in any county been surpassed II
hey have been equaled.
This notice published with the motive of putting those
who sail steamers on their guard against of the dan
them