New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-07
DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF THE JAMES
RAINES

On III ursday, April -, the James Baines, one of
the Black Ball line OF chpper-ships, belonging to
Messrs. James Baines & Co., was almost wholly de-
stroyed by fire in the Huskisson Dock; and to this
loss has be added that caused by the destruction of
or damage to very nearly the whole Of an Indian cargo
Of lutte, hnseed, rice and cow hides, part only OF which
had been discharged beside the destruction of the i'm
stores of the chip herself consisting OF spirits
wines, tobacco, sugar and dried fruit.
Ii was shorty before O'Clock in the morning that
the fire was discovered by the men who went board
to resume the work of dischsrging the cargo Smoke
was seen to issue through the matches at the after part
of the ship which, indicated that there was fire in
the main hod. The alarm was at once raised, and
every possible promptly brought into operation
for the extinction of the fire, which, however, had
gained too much hold to be materially checked, and
which, therefore, continued to burn throughout the
entire day, with varying vehemence.
During the morning engines arrived from the van
Gus fire stations, including that OF the West OF En-
gland Insurance Company; and while SIX jets We're
directed upon the ship from dock quay on the east
eide others brought to play on the west from
fats in the dock by that of the Cunard Company.
From the fist the fire gradually assumed more and
more serious aspect; and very early 1t was deemed
necessary TO scuule the chip, which even then was
aorouno so ~ 10 immerse much as possible of her
cargo The fire progressed; dense smoke issuing in
succe ssion from the main and fore holds the caoln
and stein windows, indicated the rapid combustion
the cargo during the forenoon, and 10 the afternoon
the flames burst forth along the whole vessel from
stem TO sterp and the decks and everything upon
them were gradually consumed. 10 the forenoon
the mdsts were source ol anAetl, 'HeU
fall b.ing anticipated; and in the afternoon this
happened, the masts falling with fearful crashes
upon the quay and n their descent destroying the
roofs of two sLeds At nine o'clock a, nigdt the inner
shell of the hull for nearly the whole length OF the
vessel rapidly burning the snss rising with fury
between the ribs which had connected the outer end
the inner hull, the intervening spaces beng to the
spectator like many fues; the iron bolts, released
by the flames were dropping one after another into
the hold, where, in the fore part Of the ship psrtcu
any the uppermost portion of the cargo was being
,ast consumed: The qusys were lined, Is they had
oesh during the day, with thousand Of spectators,
ahoihahy were the regrets expressed that 80 noble
snip should come 20 such fate. Yesterday the re-
mans % the noble vessel con 'inued 20 smodder and
tle!s j. mile o: her DOW above water.
Inc james Baines was built at Boston IN 1851, and
she was registered az tuns Her dimensions were
lergth 200 ieet, beam II feet and depth OF hold -
feet BY scuttpg her, 10 feet Of the hold become en-
veloped IN wser, 60 that feet remained .xp,sei 10
the flames This celebis clipper has performed the
following voyages: From Liverpool 10 MsIionrusi +,
G} days, returning ir 90 days; second voyage out -
dsys returning in % days, thi,d voyage Sa. - DAYS
returning in - dsys. These were al her Aast-.ian
yoysges. Op the Both Jaly, lsst year sac went -
p1ifsmc nh for tOocs, aid VI 10 90 49, -.
ssie0 ~ Jcat;A. Hence we re.a-t.d = L,,or