The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-22
Spontaneous Combustion.

Il
remarkable incident has taken place in the steamer
Mississippi to which Commodore Perry refers in the fol-
lowing letter addressed to the Navy Department
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP MISSISSIPPI, !
Anton Lizardo, July 4, lS47.
" srR-I have to apprise you Of somewhat remark
able incident which has occurred in this ship.
"The COAL in the waist bunkers, took fire the night
before last by spontaneous and has contn
ued to show evidences of ignon but by the excellent
discipline and conduct of the officers and men of the
ship it has been easily suppressed though it will be
cessary to remove it all from the ship
have the honor to be- your most obedent servant,
NJ G. PERRY
Commanding Home Squadron.
To the Hon JOHN Y. Mason,
!" Secretary of the Navy, Washington City D. c."
We add the following interesting and graphic descrip
ton Of ithis incident from the Mobile Register Of the
18th inst. We understand, from intelligent officer Of
the Navy Department that spontaneous combustion is
no stranger to the English coal and that the most e
cient remedy for those to shift the coal fire.
quenty in the bunkers and to introduce pipes
into the body Of the coa-the steam promptly aba!ing
has been proposed by English engineer and approved
by the admiralty.
[From the Mobile Register, July l3)
FIRE ON BOARD THE u. s. STEAM FRrsArr MrssY-
srpI.-The United States brig Washington Lieutenant
Commanding $. p Lee eight days from Anton Lzardo,
arrived of Mobile Point yesterday morning. bound
Pensacola Lieut. Rogers of the navy bearer of des-
patches to Washington who came passenger in the
Washington, placed board pilot boat outside
the bar, and reached here last evening
We are indebted to Lieut. Rogers for the information
that, the morning before the Washington sailed the
steamer Vixen arrived from Tabasco bringing intei-
that shortly after Commodore Perry left
Commander Bgelow who had been left in charge of
post went about six miles from the town and attacked
and put to rout largely superior force of the Mexi-
with the loss of two killed and six eight
wounded
The Mexican loss not ascertaned. Lieut.. Rogers I'M
derstood the Mexicans were commanded by Colonel
Garcia and that they numbered five six hun
dred Commander Bigelows command consisted of
| some three hundred sailors and marines. Commodore
Perry was preparing to sail for Tabasco Nothing later
had been heard from General Scott and there was n
at Vera Cruz The Raritan and the Potomac (the
former from Tabasco and the latter from Vera CRUZ
had sailed for Norfolk
There were lying at Anton Lizarao the steamships
Mississippi and Vixen and the ships Albany, German
town, Jonn Adams and Decatur. The health Of the
squadron good. The Washington left Anton Liar.
do on the evening Of the 4th instant.
We are indebted also to Lieut. Rogers for the follow
Ing account OF fire board the steamship Mississippi
On the night Of the I'd July about 10 O'Clock shortly
after the officers and crew of the Mississippi had turned
in an alarm was heard from the engine room one
OF the engineers calling earnestly to bring
buckets Of water The order had shortly before been
given to have steam at daylight the fires had Just
been kndled Smoke at the same time seen to rise
from the neighborhood of the steam chimney and A
smell OF burning pine wood was perceptibe throughout
the ship
The commodore Immediately gave the order to beat
to quarters and proceeded with Lieut.. Com. Sidney
smith Lee TO the engine ROOM to ascertain the scene
and of the FIRE The officers and crew p,omptlv
repaired by divisions to their stations for extingus
ing the IRE. Preparations at made for food
ing the magazine and lines Of formed to pass wa
ter In buckets from the gangway and port to the deck
above the boilers from which the smoke was Issuing
The getting up OF steam was accelerated to
the powerful aid Of the engine in pumping water when Il
might be needed, and thus make fire fight fire The
pumps and fire engine which a day or two before had
BEEN with their hose examined and found in order
quickly rgged and streams Of water poured In the d.
recton OF the smoke II the conjecture of the eng-
neers that the felt above the boilers was on fire. and
ignting the deck above It, The deck above the boilers
was promptly scutted and the water directed through
the holes thus made
The smoke and smell of turpentinc still continued to
increase In the rendering the atmosphere
almost too sunocating for endurance Meantime the
uncertainty that existed to the and location Of
the hre evidently not at the point which smoke
and smell proceeded occasioncd the officers visit
every part OF the ship and feel carefully with the hand
for the place Of greatest heat.
This discovered to be In the sarboard coal
bunker amidships the inner side Of which heated
Intensely as was In less degree the woodwork In mme'
date contact with It, About the same time, lifting
the plates over the manhoes in the par deck by order
OF the COMMUNICATIVE, from the first had conJestured
That the coat bunker the real OF the FIRE
smoke was found to issue from the manholc In the star
board waist nearest the part OF the coabunker which
was found to be heated below
Streams Of water from buckets and hose were at once