The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-30
FIRE At eROT0H, CONNECTICUT.
The Railroad Depot and the Steamer
Commonwealth Totally Destroyed.
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Thirty Empty and Six Loaded Cars
Buraed In tho Depot.
The Entire Freight ON the Conn
mOnwealth Consumed.
ONE MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS LOSS
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DESCRIPTION OF CHE VESSEL.
- ks. &c.


ne bessasful ed ecmmodioas si4ewheci steamer
Commonwealth Captain J. W. Williams. burncd ~
rotDu Goaascscut h&ir past O'Clock on Friday
u,orning, Sad Win prove total loss. Tho Common
wealth left New York on last Thursday afternoou with
full comptescAs OF passsngcrs and valuable freight
snd lay u her wharf IN Groton when the Ore
broke out in the depot, but was heavily laden
that she could not DO moved ii time to her The
vessel belonged 70 the Stonngton line and valued at
half million Of dollars, but insured for only eighty
thousand The following telegraphc dispatches werc
received In this city early yesterday forenoon and w,
explain The particulars Of tho disastrous conagration
FIRST DESPATCH.
NEw LONDON, Conn, Dec. 90. 1856.
The freight and passenger depot at Groton de
siroycd by are at haIf-past O'Clock this morning,
involving the entire destruction Of the fine steamer
Commonwealth, Captain Williams with full cargo of
freight for Boston, and thirty laden with
freight
The bow Of the Commonwealth caugh, fire from tho
flames OF the depot All tho efforts TO tow her of proved
fluitless on account of The low tide.
The loss Is about million Ave hundred thousand
dollars
SECOND DESPATCH.
PRoviDEScx, Dec. 20, 1885,
Gre broke out In the railroad depot at Groton at
about ono O'Clock this morning which destroyed the
building and thirty loag empty cars and SIX loaded ones
Tho flames spread rapidly TO the steamboat Common
wealth. just arrived from New York, which heavily
loaded with feigh, and grounded at tho wharf that
she could not moved She burned TO the water
edge Nothing was saved
The flames spread 80 rapidly and furiously that the
men on board the steamer barely escaped with their
lives
The fire broke out in sleeping room in the depot,
where there had been no Gre used.
The total loss will not fall short Of million and half
Of dollars The boat itself valued at half million
THE STEAMER.
The steamboat Commonwealth was built In the spring
of 1854, by Lawrence Foulkes OF williamsburg and
was in every respect first class vessel She orgi
nay intended for the Norwich New London Steam.
boat Company, but was purchased after running tour
years this route, by the S.onington line. on
which she piled regularly til Thursday last. She
was principally constructed Of oak and chestnut and
was staunch and superior going vessel and in size
build nish ornament and extent Of accommodation for
the travelling public second TO none OF tho many
magnificent steamers plying the Sound. Her main
deck three hundred and thirty feet long, with forty
two and half feet breadth Of beam and fourteen feet
depth Of hold she registered two Thousand TONS
copper and iron fastened and bad draUght Of I've
feet Her forward deck completely enclosed, 20
that her deck passengers, well the sailors,
werc as surely protected and comfortably To-
Gated rs they were placed inside. The
joiner work. which excellent executed, de-
signed by Mr. Alexander Hawkins and executed by
Mcssrs Reed Tice and Hamilton oil OF whom have since
died Elegant staierooms neatly hted up, extended in
a double tier all round the steamer and numbered one
hundred and ATTY; besides which she provided with
Ample and convenient starways led TO all parts Of the
hurricane deck and these furnished with strong
balustrades, which we're capable Of sustaining IN.
mense pressure.
The state room hall was probably thelnost noticeable
feature Of this beautiful vessel Ii richly carpeied
well ventilated and lighted and ornamcnted in the
highest style OF steamboat art All the saloons were
brilliantly lighted with gas and heated with steam and
altogether she was one Of the hsndsomest boats ever
built in this country. An immense sclfenslaning
dome, constructed entirely new principle
lowered above the main saloon, and had a most mas
nihcent effect Every precautioD was taken "a
guard against fire, and powerful IRE engines
were 20 arranged to used different parts the
the time should circumstances require
IT, At one eId Of the main saloon placed the
or the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts and the
bridal chambers upholstered and furnished in IN,
most gorgeous possible Behind each berth i
the ladies' cabin were airy staterooms. 20 arranged
that each could, whenever desired, b,
used exclusively by the Indies in the cabin; o
The sta,erooms could be disconnected AMI used b!
gentlemen, who would q. the same time b.
entirely separated from the ladies' apartments tn
steamer together with her machinery, cost two hundre
and forty thousand doss but could be built 70 de-
far short OF six hundred thousand dollars
uox u,achiuerv waa ta,i N fhe Moroap Iron worke
and was Of the most superior make The dimensions
the engine wcrc-scventy-si six incn cylinder and twelv
feet stroke OF piston. The wheels thirty feet II
diameter and measured ten feet six inches their face
New boilers placed In her in 1862 and the enr
vessel underwent thorough survey in 1862.
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK TO TAKE nKR PLACE.
short time since the superb steamer Plymouth Roc
sent 10 the dry dock for The purpose Of having
repairs made 70 her hull, which will be completed 10
few days She will then take the place OF the Common
wealth and make the regular trips In view Of this fact
sho description Of this noble vessel will not bs deeme
amis.
Tho Plymouth Rock was built In the latter part q
May, 1854, BY Mr. Jeremiah simonson for the sonial
ton line The Dimensions Of the vessel folIows
Length on ldeck three hundred and forty-nys fesl
breadth Of beam seventy -four feet; depth Of hold
thirtsoa feet She has two saloon decks shove th
main deck, each nine feet high, and fitted up sunpsu
ously with al tho modern improvementa Her epFine
were built q The Ailsirs Works, and are sp'end'
specimens Of workmanship. This splendid sissmer r
b. worthy in every respect Of taking the Place o. Va
Commonwealth - she % one Of the stAncnss vesse'
anoat She Ia built Of the best material apfh put 70
sehsr In the strongest msnne. Her cabin ana saloons
arc furnished In tho most elaborate ste, ana she
noted for We great beauty and sreng Of her eonaruc
tion.
rnr DEPOT AT sRoros.
The rlroad depot u erotos Connections, was verJ
large, commodious structure and vas composed entirely
Of wood II was three hundred and Any feet long
seventy i've feet broad and stood back from the end Of
the wharf abc orr hundred feeA There were covered
eangways leadips from the boss 70 tho depot undel
which freight ~as often stored. The IRE spread with
sreat rapdity along this portion Of the depot
and sei Gre 10 the steamer Commonwealth before she
could be moved There was q double track fos carl