The New York herald., 1867-04-07
The Causes Improper Construc.
tion and Fittings.
Remedial Measures Proposed to Avert
This Class Of Disasters.
List Of American Steam Vessels and
Their Condition.


property, direct attention to their construction and
equipment; and as but a few days have elapsed since
another steamer, together with her ssengers the
jory OF and valuable cargo, has been added
TO the long sacrificed by this the ocean, we
deem amss at this period to refer to the principal
causes OF these fearful fires board Of vessels
and to suggest what remedial should be re-
sorted to by constructors and officers to
them, adding thereto official record Of the fire rates
OF majority Of the American vessels now plying upon
our coast
BOILERS WITH EXTERNAL yuRSAcEs
like The ordinary cylindrical boilers in general use in
Southern and Western waters supported by stand
of IRON sides Of the furnaces the bottoms
OF the lower ues being constructed brckwork and
BEDS and in the construction OF this care
given to the general confinement OF the
fire and flame for the economy of fuel
than il is to guard the vessel from being
fred When bo,lers Of this description are
used land, it is mpracticable keep the brick
work and bedding permanently free from hssures
whereby fire sparks may pass and ignite any in.
fammaole material they may come in contact with. 1t
is much difficult keep this brckwork free from
assures when subjected the workings and concus.
sions OF a steam vessel
BOILERS WITH INTERNAL FURNACES,
similar to the marine boiiers in use, are, OF
them, constructed without water bottoms hence whom
by neglect in workmanship BY the effects OF rust an
opening exposed whereby fire sparks may pass out
as in the above referred to.
BofLERs THE FURNACES or WHICH WITH BLOW
AFFORD DRAFT.
In of this character the pressure OF within
furnaces ues &C. being greatly superior to the amos-
phere without any ssurc hole any part the exter
nal lace OF the furnace the ngs OF the legs Of tho boiler
TO its beds (whcu there water bottom) the fitting
~ eho pl,1lasr Svs-
smokepipe to the chimney, &c. become ready vent to
IRE sparks, which driven out with great velocity
when the blast is high and which, falling upon or ad
herring to any infammable material they may come in
contact with, the risk of ignition is incurred thereby
COVERING PROTECTION TO BOILERS
Very many OF the boilers OF and sound
steamers covered with felt; IL answers the
double purpose Of protecting the wood work them
from rc, and the economy of fuel Even until
period this very effective pecautlon agains. fire
scarcely thought Of among the and Of
this class Of steamers, while its in the going
service almost universal usefulness being recog
nizcd in restricting radiation OF heat the boiler to
the engine and adjacent parts OF the vessel and in
its great economy OF fuel this day there are many
OF who peruacousiy refuse to resort
70 this means of ehcctnR economy OF fuel comfort Of
passengers and crew. and OF reducing the risks OF fire.
simply because II involves mm date expenditure OF
money and again, because many engineers either
ERE TO- o. % s Of the a. means calculated 70
owners of their vessels the great proproy and necessity
OF this provision
As security against Orc from an oyerheated boiler,
covering OF felt Is Of the first and greatest importance
for the reason, that immediately upon its being burned,
the peculiar odor Of its combustion Is readily
cognized the engineer and his duty
know that tho felt around the hoilr burning, their
attention being forthwith drawn to the circumstance,
and II has from over aed boiler from fire
being communicated through hole assures, It
Is readily discovered and remedial measures resorod 10.
covERIxG AND PROTECTION WOODWORK aR uxp roItERs
In many of our river aud sound St amers, we do not
the woodwork contiguous to the boilers The negIec, OF
this essential point !, and has been general as almost
be clnsscd univ ersgi and the of fire
originating around boiler is restricted 10
but may arise from srea mher. Il Is difficult TO
account for the continual neglect proper precautions
The principal in which the woodwork adjacent 10
a boiler IL exposed 10 be ng tred are. viz
/. When the water in boicr mas been allowed to |
fall below the fues the shell aud steam oh mney, the
may be- become sufficiently heated by radiation
from the supe heated steam Within TO effect ignition Of
the woodwork Immediately exposed TO IT,
2. When water has been allowed TO fall below the
fues, just referred to, and the occurrence is dis
covered IL is customary immediate ely haul the fires
from OF The furnaces into The nreroom and when
tho woodwork Immediately over and around the fire.
properly protected IRE rs likely to communi
cate to IT, and disastrous tires from this cause have fre
luently occurred
When blowers are used the fire or sparks that may
be through assures in tho furnace DOORS ash
pits. ash doors fue hoies chimney connections &c
will readily ignite wood already a high temperature
and quite charred from having been beorc frequently
exposed to such temperature
cnINsEi AND ROOMS.
In single decked steamer when the boiler is below
and the steam chimney above Inc main deck or when
the boiler is on the main deck or upon the water
wheel guards, IL ia customary many to cover
tho chimney chimne,s- as the case may be, with a
wooden casing, set OF from Al bu, few nches, and in
other it with sheet iron jacket. which
in imperrec,ly made and almost always in
sufficiently fitted In steam vessels with two or moro
decks, the boiler being in the hod the steam chimney
and the base or the smoke p!re commonly ncosed
10 woodwork alone which in some cases II set at
proper distance from the chimney avoid the risks OF
its being fred by sparks the radiation Of
beat from III but the purpose of this space Is very ire
queny nega'ved by Its being used Tor the storage OF
This woodwork, however, is very seldom properly
protected and IN many sasss no protection % A. AZ + at
and In others lining OF Tin, zinc or iron, In which tho
laps OF the sheets are laid dcwnward as u they were
placed 10 shed rain water alng from above, instead
OF ere rising from beio@. Tho i'm aud even the
line unless very we'll nailed are too light and thor
the consequence is that when subjected the heat Of
the smoke pipe, they wrinkle and spring TO such de-
gree as not only admit sparks that rise up
rom below 20 pas b0swesn their laps under them
the wood but the sparks are liable 10 be arrested there
Uossd 70 Sra Of air which readily effects an Ignition Of
the wood and when this is discovered the presence OF
these sheets prevents the immeds.s appcson o. waer M
the fame has passed. through the on. or crew
Of the light woodwork aro ind the chimney and boi
ers, and the whole 10 In full combustion
In other csses this woodwork around the steam Chin
ncy placed cose 70 h precuding the proper circulation
to a'a hs u'1 wooS with any material or
wash u, and whom Arc In communicated 70 this work.
requires but an ius,sns or to BE- developed and be-
yond the control Of the usually found IN steam
yessots.
In FORMER years In the construction OF an engine for
vessel II was usual 10 attach ordinary fng pump
OF acspacy calculated FREQ The vessel from the drps
of water from the engine and boiler and from the ord
nary leaks Of the hull This also arranged as 10
be worked by hand when the engine wa not In opera
ton; and was also usual 70 TO the feed pump
Of the boilers an air vessel by which Il was made TO pro-
jcct water, and thus be used a nre engine and until
the introduction Of the steam rs and bRe
pump Ordinarily termed donkey, No other means we've
depended upon 10 free vessel from water or furnished
IL arrest Ere. Even by ignorance or ind rance
the operation Of the independent am nrp ana bgs
pump IN most negaiived In Its operation nv ts
being placed by engineers, engine builde~s m the
lower engine ROOM just above the skin OF tho vessel
where the event OF smoke Ore OF water space
u s unapproschabIe to operate H.
nis very common occurrence for the main deck