New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-16
WY STEAM VESSELS BURN
,mnroper Construction Of Steam
Vessels
THE NEGLECT OF SECURITY.
Remedial Measures Proposed.

The late disastrous and fatal fires that have
acen,iy occurred upon steam vessels ocain direct AZ
,snt,ou 10 their construction and equipment and US
M o,ortouste loss of stoan vessels by fire is greater
IN this country than with any other nation we deem IL
not ams az this period to refer to the causes OF H. tna
We NAV call tie attention of all interested In this I'M
rortant matter to the following recital OF the pTihcip
,.os cf these fearful fires and what remedial meas
s .bouId be re.orted TO BY the constructors, owners
ami officers Of steam vessels to remove them.
sra1rcr OF SECURITY AND PROVISIONS AGAINST
fRI.
BoILgEs.
R,iier, .,iA Frternal FurnGce'. Ike the ordinary
cylindrical boiler in general use in Southern and
weste,n waters sre supported by standards oion the
sides of the furnaces aud the bottoms o! the lower hues
heins constructed with brick work and mortar-beds
and in the construction Of this work care is given more
10 the general confinement Of the fire and flame for
iAe economy of fuel than it is 10 guard the vessel from
bepg fired. When boilers Of this description are
used. even on land it is mpTactca5e to keep the
brckwork and BEDDING permanently tree from hssnies
whereby fire or sparks may pass ont and ignite any
infammable material they may come ia contact With
It's much more difficult to keep this brickwork free
from assures when is subjected TO the workings and
conclusions Of steam vessel
Bos-s ritk Internal Farnaess similar 10 the marine
boilers row in use. almost universally constructed
without water bottoms hence. when the fittings OF the
legs TO the beds Of the boiler imperfect, either by
neglect in the workmanship by tue effects of rust
al opening is exposed whereby fire OF sparks may
pass out. as in the above referred to.
Boilers TIC Furnace. Of shioA F.;sd nth Bleeers
10 Afford artificial Dra-In of this character
the pressure Of all within the furnace fue &c. be-
ing greatly superior 10 the atmosphere without any
assure hole in any part OF the external face of the
furnace the fittings Of the legs Of the boiler 10 its bed
when there 10 water bottom. the hitting OF the
IsnhOle plate and the fitting of the snokeppe TO the
chimney. &c. becomes ready vent to FIRE sparks
which driven out with great velocity when the blast
is high and which falling upon adhcrug TO any in.
fammabe material they may come in contact with, the
risk ofts ignition is incu red thereby.
Coverings and Protection 10 Boilers.-Vefy many Of
the boiler of our River nnd Sound steamers are
cred with felt; 1t the double purpose Of pro
lectng the wood work around them from fire. and in
the economy of fuel Even until very recent period
tbis very effective precaution against fire was scarcely
thought Of among the runners of this class Of steamers
while its in the seagoing service was almost uni
versa its usefulness being recognized in restricting
adjacent parts of the vessel aud in its economy Of fuel
at this day there many owners Of steamers who
pertnaosusy refuse resort 10 this of eectng
economy of fuel comfort Of passengers and crew, AMI
0ireducing the risks OF fire. simply because it involves
an immediate expenditure Of money, and because very
many engineers are either indifferent of or ignorant of
the calculated toave life property and fuel they
do not urge upon the owners Of their vessels the great
nj m t,s ,fxia
AS security against fire from over heated boiler
covering of iet is of the first and greatest Importance
for the reason, that Immediately upon its being
burned the peculiar odor of its combustion Us readily
recognized; the engineer and his assistants on duty
at once know that the felt around the boer is burn
ing their attention being forthwith drawn 10 the
circumstance; and if has arisen from over heated
boiler. from fire being communicated through hole
or assures it is readily discovered and remedial
measures resorted to.
Covering and Protection Woodoork drosnd Boiler,
In our River and Sound steamers We do not often
meet with any covering protection from heat or
fire to the woodwork contiguous 20 tue boilers. The
neglect Of this essential point is and las beea 20 gen
eIa IA almost TO be cassed universal, and as the
occurrence OF fire. originating around boiler. is not
restricted 10 cause bat may rise from great
number. 1t is difficult TO account for the continual
neglect of proper precautions. The principal
cases in which the woodwork around boiler is
exposed TO being fred are; !. When the water In a
boiler has been allowed 10 fall below the ues the shell
and steam chimney. the may he. become suii.
GENTLY heated by radiation from the super heated steam
within to effect ignition Of the woodwork Immediately
exposed 10 IT, q when water has been allowed to fall
below tie ues just referred TO- and the occurrence
Discovered. is customary immediately 10 haul the
hres from out of the furnaces into the fre.room and
when the woodwork Immediately and around the
trercom is not properly protected fire is likely to
Communicate TO IT, and fires from this have fire.
llently occurred. 3. Wien blowers used the fire
sparks that may he blown out through assures in
he furnaoe-doors, ash.pits ashdoors. fue holes,
chimney connections. &c. will readily ignite wood
hTeady at high temperature and quite charred from
sying been before frequently exposed 10 such tenn
rraiure.
Chimney Jokes and RDoms.-In single-decked steam
u.s. when the boiler is booy and the steam chimney is
Rove The main deck. when the boiler is the main
sst or upon the wheel guards, il il customary in
Many cases 10 cover tie chimney chimneys as the
we may be- with wooden casing set OF from 1t but
Ahv inches, and in others cover /, with sheerOn
l eeket ia most cases mperfectly lie and almost
aSsls insuficiently fitted. In steam vessels with
VOC "a IRE decks. the boiler being in the hold tie
'ssm chimney and the base Of the suokepipe are com
way ilciosed in woodwork alone. which in some
~eSh ~ at proper distance from the chimney 10
Oiu the risk OF its being fired by spnrks the con
'n0eh radiation Of hea, from bat tie purpose Of this
%Seh very frequently negatiyed by its being used
| W Storage Of old swabs, buckets. bYooms, &c.
A" Foodwork. however IL very seldom properly
%"ee'ed' and in many cases no protection at
" Is attempted; in some coat Of whtewash