The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-05
THE u srRAM FLEET OF BOSTON.


lisbaiag Ia lr-~-~-r>,-r---~>-"-~~-~--~ feiLW
CeseinusA lnvessigasions Regarding Fittings
Of vessels-Locatien Of Store and Tool
Roems-Cnpeains and Ensineers-Thcir Re-
sDennble Relationships United states In.
specters "Juse Once" M0re-Vesscls Visited.
The recital IN the HERALD OF previous dates re-
garding the condition Of the apparatus designed to
save life and the measures OF protection resorted to
to prevent and arrest nre on board the several steam
ships and steamboats, In the port OF New YORK called
the attention OF the great travelling public to such
lamentable deficiency In many Of these vessels that
fuller, more explicit consideration OF this important
subject, has been continuously craved. Reflection,
with the facts fully before them, has given
place to alarm that vessels with stanch and finely
modelled huls plying upon ocean, lake, sound and
river, with regulations for safety and speed, and
under the direction OF known officers. shouldsin
many instances be crimnaly neglectfu In their pro.
visions for the preservation OF life in OF fire
other disaster Fully, and Is thought effectively has
been demonstrated Of the utter useessness Of boats
slowed a0f on vessels; OF their utter inefciency to
safely carry 1.-THE Of the terror-sricken and fren
zed passengers in many vessels In cases OF accident
or aar OF the character OF life preservers and their
announcement and at times inaccessible positions; Of
buckets hose, axes, &C., all IN such shameless dsre
gard OF the laws OF the United states relative to
regulation OF the steam fleet OF the land, too
often rendered farce by incompetent or negligent
inspectors Further, 1t has been clearly noted what
the "Steamb0at act of 1897 means when it Is point
eddy ordered that the men upon whom the public
rightly rely, that i'll fitted vessels shall not be per-
mtted to pass their surveillance without condemna-
tion must ''examine and see that suitable and safe
provisions are made throughout such vessel to guard
against loss and danger from Hre;' and 1t mas
been shown also how inefficiently at times
they have performed responsible duties IL has
been suggested during the discussion of this sub.
ject how religiously should be the mode In which
inspectors carried out the just quoted section re-
gardng fire, an element in TOO many instances the
worst terror of the ocean.
There was such lack OF discrimination observ-
able in numberless cases of inspection that it sug
gested incompetency and unfathfulness, to say
nothing worse. Thus it was why, In addition to the
negatived by their location, &C.. 1T was noted what
the law suggested ana what 1t required 10 fully fit
the 'N public were informed that in the con. .
structiOn OF boilers with internal furnaces or the
ordinary marine boiler, they should primarily
have water bottoms to guard against the commune
cation OF fire or sparks through insecure openings,
such AZ furnaces, ash pits doors smoke pipe joints,
ash doors, &C.; that boilers with external furnaces
similar to many in use should be supported by iron
standards alone, and that the sheet or plate iron
which encloses the work about them should be -ac-
curaely ftted that it Is criminal in ITS nature TO
use blowers under any circumstances to ad dranght,
andtf the public was fully aware of The risk OF lie
incurred in their patronage OF vessels thus lifted tile
abandonment Of them would be universal. II was
further and at length noted that the lnsecur-
ana in mapv Instances its total neglect,
so crlmDally apparent. after socalled thorough
inspection by literally sdlarled officials thai 1t were
almost In the nature of miracle that death and DESC
lation did not more frequently enSue by the burning
OF passenger vessels. II has also been referred to
that pumps of an independent nature steam. fire
reDpateuy
capacity; and nnaiy In this repetition OF facts made
clear on the subject matter have been demonstrated
the great economy, the effective precautiOn and one
recognized by competent engineers OF ieting boilers.
This recapitulation OF the numerous causes OF fire
on board steam vessels and Of the imperfect means To
prevent arrest them shown at The same time
IL essentially necessary, that the public may not for
get to great extent the inadequate provisions too
frequently noted to guard against IRE on board steam
vessels that they may lay ut the doors OF those re-
sponsIble the evidently growing evil TO combine
cheapness and insecurity In the building ana run
ming Of such. II is the more necessary TO bsar
these facts in remembrance. masmach as the
points that will be adyerted 10 in this article have the
closest relation to preceding ones.
STORE AND TOOL ROOMS.
The setting apart for the purpose Of storing oils.
paints. turpentine loose hemp, cotton waste cotton
WICK, packing stufis matches &C., certain rooms in
sufficiently protected is prolific source OF fire on
the custom now observed would still be reprehen-
sibe, but the careessness OF the who visit the
rooms tfus appropriated is OF such nature that ar.
ticleS like the above are ottimes scattered around
and exposed to lie gnlted by the upsetting or
falling down or one of the lamps used. In steam
vessels with more than one deck, the
boiler or boilers being in the hold, IL Is by
no means rare To find portion OF the space
over, alongside OF or immediately adjacent To them
allotted n storeroom for the engine department,
the reason advanced for such suicidal action Deing,
that as the space Is unsiled by it, ngh temperature
for ordinary purposes II Is not objectionable on that
account as an engineers storeroom; and again, IL s
asserted that, beilg extremely convenient 10 the
CINE ROOM the proprety OF the location is confirmed.
1he result Of such ignorance and foolhardiness Is,
that npon the occurrence of upsetting olcan or
the orcaIng oil Nessel containing turpentine or
paint oil, the sides or tops OF the boilers beneath
may he flooded with elements of combustion which
usually effect the destruction OF the vessel. This
practice deserves the strongest condemnation:
and when the inspectors Of the United States
make their examinations of steam vessels II
were better II they had more in mind sections seven
ana eight of the act of 1897 referring The crcu-
stances under which certain dangerous articles
be carried.
from the nrerooms or boilers, and all inia,nIuabe,
explosive and conbustbic materials, - oils, paints.
lallow, urpcntne. ac., should be Kept in tanks of
metal, these 10 be securely fastened. Wip,ng sturs
yarn, &c should he kept ~ roOn essentially sepa-
rated rom TIE iooirooms or workshop, and ~
location should he such that IL coud I've easily
reached ia the event OF rc. Its location should also
be of that nature IA 10 receive sucien light from
without during the day, setting aside the use OF
artificial hight, except Nv night when IL slioud be
illuminated by liked light without she ROOM. she'd
ding ITS rays Nithin-thc course adopted on board
men-of-war To light magazines
LIGHTS
In tins particular there Is great neglect the
p3tl Oh must that ART cihpoAcu on Hoiiu steani-
boats, thcre " great 'nattenton-negtigenc
ratlerOn the part ri some inspectors TO that IN
THIS requirement steam vessels should be apprO-
priately and safely lifted. Engine rooms generally
have sufficient light without the vi hand lamps,
out fire rooms rarely have In both pi these rooms.
and elsewhere In vessels. the lights should he made
Of construction peculiar In character aud placed
that they will give abundance OF light 10 ever,
ton OF the rooms. Thus another risk. not an an
common one OF setting fire To- vessel by the
upsettlng OF a laiup will be avoided II IL some
what iuexpcabe that increased attention ~ no,
given TO this by Inspectors generally.
CAPTAINS.
The steam fleet OF the ports of tlIis country con-
tains many captains ranking above those OF any
other country IN discrimination and courage, bun
they are often found otherwise and seemingly too
ignorant for positions OF such responsible nature
while others seem thonghtlese; AMI although fully
approaching the delicate nature OF their duties, the
unrng zeal tn satisfactorily discharge them, sound
judgment with them seeuls wanting. The improvt
dence OF many IL 50 notorious that even those the
indiiferently posted on marine matters are
pissed thai they continue 20 have charge OF Veesels