The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-08-23
The Fire AnnihiIatOr on Vessels,

The Fire AnnihiIatOr ON Vessels.
AS there appers at present to be movement
on foot among ship owners, for introducing this
valuable invention on board vessels, we give the
following extracts from English papers, show
ing the evidence of utility that has been pro-
duced. There seems to be no doubt that this
is the most valuable invention of the age
The following is from the London Morning
Herald:
public demonstration of the efficacy of this
invention in extDguishing fires on board ships,
was made yesterday on board the Wear, yes.
sci of so tons burden moored off the Folly.
house, near the Foly-wal. The vessel was
filled with the following materials, in order to
test the power of the agent employed: One
dozen sugar-hogsheads saturated with sugar
one dozen turpentine barrels saturated with
rosin and turpentine; one dozen tar barrels.
and twenty sulphur bags, these being filled with
shavngs and other combustibles. The hold of
the vessel being thus filled, the signal was
given, and the whole mass of combus tibles was
set light to from the bottom of the fore part Of
the hold and it was allowed to burn with the
matches closed for several minutes. Mr. Phillips
sion of great body Of air, such burning mass
might continue for several hours on board
ship, and yet scarcely be perceived He then
supposed the case of a ship on fire under such
circumstances; he called TO the supposed crew
to clew up their sails, and in order to ascertain
the extent of the fire, Ia mode usually precisej,)
he had the patches opened-the rush of air in an
instant caused the flames to ascend with i'm
mense power, so much so that many of those
who were in the fore part of the vessel thought
it prudent TO make good their retreat by the lad
der, which was placed amid-ships The soon
lagration" was permitted TO rage for several
minutes after which, the word being given by
Mr. Phillips, his men brought the portable ma
chimes forward Each of these portable machines
is of about twenty horse power, that is 10 say,
that from the peculiarly of the invention, the
vapor from the nozzle or spout of each, was ad.
mtted Mt that ratio. Two of these were brought
in succession on the burning mass from the
mouth of the hatchway, and in three seconds
the vapor had extinguished the great body of
ii Q flame, leaving one or two small points where
flame was dscernable and in about two min
utes the vessel was almost clear of all smoke.
The inventor observed that. of course, in such
an emergency, the crew of ship would be EN-
ployed in extinguishing the smouldering frag.
ments by supplies of water. The marvellously
sudden disappearance of the flames elected loud
cheers from the gentlemen on board and from
those on shore, who were within twenty yards
of the vessel. 9Th January, 1851.
The London Tunes of January 9th, and the
Morning Post confirm the above.
The Morning Chronicle thus describes the
same experiment -
The machines were placed in the hands OF
common sailors, who, having placed them as
near as possible to the hold, whence flames were
shooting upwards, struck the pin by which the
charge was ignited and thus discharged the
vapor, which, according to promise, speedily ex.
tinguished the fire. Presence of mind is all
that would seem TO be required to work an en-
CINE, which, properly applied, must always be
successful. We congratulate Mr.. Phillips on
his invention machine, containing a chem
zeal preparation, which, whenever occasion de-
mands, will discharge, with the power OF steam,
a vapor in which fame cannot exist" jan
uary goth, 1851.
The London Sun saws
Flame was applied to the ship, and the fire
ragged fore and aft with great violence. The
vspor was again employed, and with similar
success. II is solacing to the feelings to con
template any means of protection against the
ing regarded only to the ordinary crew, but tn
imagine such calamity happening to an emf
grant ship, SUCH for instance, as the i'll fated
Ocean Monarch crowded with passengers, how
truly may this invention be termed invaluable
Ii is well known that on such occasions il is
found impracticabe TO apply water to the part
of the hold where the FIRE may be; but as the
principle of this invention Is the emission of n
humid vapor with prodigious force, it would
necessarily penetrate all the interstices between
the articles of the cargo, and not only efectually
save the ship, but preserve many hundred hu-
man beings from fate too horrid TO contem-
plate, and from which escape might otherwise
prove hopeless.
The following is from the London Shipping
Gazette of March % -
When the combustion was complete, and the
flames assembled high above the decks, two men,
each bearing No 3 machine by simply direct
ing the nozzle of the apparatus to the aperture,
succeeded in dispellilg every trace of burning in
far less time than it takes TO record the fact
and ne the vapor in this case descended TO do its
extraordinary work of annihilaiing the mighty
an,agonistc element, il was individually mani
fest TO every beholder, that il might with ease
and certainty be applied under every possible
contingency on shipboard, both life and property
being rescued from the awful danger, all but in
xtsntaneousy on the application.
The Gazette mentions large number Of the
nobility who we're among the spectators, and
adds; We bsIievc and hope that, from such mn
assemblsge, patronage, ms substantial as il IL
well deserved. will reward the inventors enter
prise. 22d March, 1851.
In conclusion, we add the certificates Of cap
tains IN the royal navy and merchant service Of