The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-03-20
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser,
SATURDAY,. MARCH :,
NOTES OF TIE WEEK.

SuIr on Fmx-About eleven o'clock ON Thursday
night the anchor watch on b,arl the American ship
King Plip discovered smoke coming from her
matches, and Immediately raised an alarm. The
mate aud some Of the men went into her hold aud
found the fire among the duunage in the bows Of the
vessel, ON the siarboarl side, and finding the fire be-
yond their control sent a boa, to the l.. : ;, OssLpee,
lying near her, FOR assistanca. The Kiqs Philip lay
in the stream with a hawser 10 the new steamboat
wharf. ana with one anchor down. The Fire Depart
ment was On the wharf very soon after the alarm.
Hose was led on board from the engines, and from
the hydraut, through the Hose Cos. hose. The
Chief Engineer, c. L. Williams, went on board, where
he met the officer and men from the Ossipcs, and
found that the opinion prevailed that the ship should
be scuttled. Acting on this opinion the valuables
were taken out Of the cabin and removed TO the war
ship. Mr.. Williams Immediately cou~ntermandei all
orders 10 that effect, and issued orders 10 have her
hauled into the wharf, feeling confident Of the ability
of the Fire Department to save her if she could be
got where they could work to advantage. The great
est confusion prevailed On board, and assistance from
the shore was obtained to get the chain uushackled
and the vessel in to the dock, which she reached after
four o'clock. Many still believed that the ship
would burn up unless scutilel. Once ,pngsile the
wharf the iremen worked with a viii and water
was poured into her thick and fast, Il Though holes
cut in the deck, and openings through the bows.
For hours it seemed as though the freISsn must Toe
driven from their positions. Several tin{ Is fire could
lie seen through the bow seams, aud N heat and
smoke were sulocating. Between eigs and nine
o'clock Friday morning the fire was undT the control
Of the engines. One Z. them ceased pouring the
water in, taking a position directly alongside to as
sist in pumping the water out Of the ship, as She was/
careeuing from the large quantity Of later which
was between decks and in her hold. The Household
troops were marched down during the night TO relieve
the fremcn AT the brakes. We noticed a large num-
Der of volunteers at work, who deserve special thanks
for their disintercstel endeavOrs. The fire is supposed
To have been set by one of the foremost hands, who
has been arrested and confined in tine Station House.
At the hour of writing the amount of damage sus-
tanned is not known, but it is rumored that it is SO ex-
tcusiyc as to make it doubtful whether she will be
repaired. After a survey below, the wonder is that
she was saved. The lining, timbers and outside
planking are destroyed in some places. Wesaw bolts
a foot long pulled out by hand. Had the vessel been
scuttled rs ut first proposed she would have obstructed 7
the entrance 20 the harbOr until she could have been
raised again. The frmness and decision of the Chief
Engineer alone prevented the act Too much praise
,annot be awarded the members of the Fire Depart
ncnt for their untiring labors to save the ship. The
Philip is a fnc ship of llSS tons, owhSl by
Nicssrs. Glidden * Williams Of Boston.