New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-04
DIS STROUS FIRE AT SEA.
BURNING OF THE STEAMER TENNESSEE.


FULL PARTICULARS BY PASSENGER.
| To the razor Of The Tribune
| SIR: On Tuesday evening the beautiful steamer
Tennessee Capt. o. Chichester Master left the wharf
| at Charleston for New York at o'clock D. m She
had more than 30 passengers, and large and valu-
able freight. Scores Of friends the wharf babe
| adieu cast of, and we passed Castle Pinck,
ney we could still the waving Of their bandker-
chiefs as their last farewell The prospect for
/ pleasant and quick voyage seemed better.
For days the weather had been most propitous, and
the Indicator on the dial Of the Captains barometer
pointed TO the pleasing prediction, "Set Fair
| OUR VESSEL
The Tennessee was one of two large and splendid
iron steamers built for the Government at Philadel-
phia during the last year Of the war; Both were
| subsequently purchased by the New-York and
Charleston Steamship Company and by them altered
for the merchant service. The Tennessee registered
100 tuns burden, and constructed with water
! tight compartments, which rendered il almost i'm
! possible for her to sink the result of accident.
Below decks, steam pipes extended from the boilers
to each part of the vessel that steam might be used
! in aid of the pumps to ward off peril Ly fire. Every
thing about the craft trim and neat, and mutual
friends sat down together on the hurricane deck and
gibly talked of jolly time, with the prospect of am
exemption frcm seasickness by reason of the placid
surface Of the ocean. The freight consisted mainly
of cotton though there rice and rosin, and
between decks there was slowed many wagon-loads
of green vegetables for the New-YoII market.
After supper many Of the passengers retained to
the deck and there remained until the light on Cape
Roman was OFF our port bow. One BY one they
retired 10 their staterOOms. Mine was situated
amidships Just abaft the wheels. The night I'M
comfortably warm. / courted sleep in vain. Nv
room mate was a son Of Gen. William Quincy, for
Int a "A
ton.
About 19l o'clock we were both aroused by tho
noise of seamcn rushing past our stateroom with
! rapid and heavy tread.
Get ont that hose lively, boysw We heard uttered
in a subdued tone, by an officer.
In a moment more, coils Of hose unrolled
along the deck. We sprang from our berths and
hurriedly put on our garments. passenger-the
first who had got forward whence the alarm came
passed by our door on his return.
What's the matter ~ eagerly asked young Cur
ney.
Il think she's caught-they getting ready 10
pump water down her hold" was the significant re-
ply.
In few minutes we were dressed and forward
| Other passengers to the number Of half dozen,
soon followed. From the movements we saw that
there was n fire in the forward-hod, but, after hasy
consultation, we determined not to arouse the other
passengers until we saw that the danger was near.
Two or three minutes before we were startled by
the noise outside Mr.. Kane, the second assisanteng
neer who was then on duty smelt smoke coming from
the direction ofthe reroom forward and he inquired
of the remen if there any waste burning therein.
As nothing was found, he passed around through
an alley-way that led fIom the fre-room 10
the forward hold, and on looking through small
aperture in the iron bulkhead he saw smoke and
flame beyond. II required but minute 10 turn the
steam into the hold, and inform Mr. Collins, the
second-mate who was officer of the deck. Then the
steam-pumps were set TO work, and Immediately
! four streams of water We're poured into the hold.
In the mean time Capt. Chichester, chief mate Beck
et and all of the officers and crew, had reached
! the deck
When the fire was discovered the Tennessee was
about thirty miles from shore about eastnorth-east
| from Cape Remain, and steaming up the coast IN a
general north-easterly direction. Capt Chichester
at once ordered her course changed to notb-north-
west to head her directly toward the land.
THE FIRE.
As soon as this was accomplished the upper and
! lower forward matches opened, and jumping
down upon the lower deck the officers and men could
see fire in the cotton slowed in the hold apparently
three or four bales forward Of the hatch. By this
time the hose had been connected with the hand
pump on deck and with eight stalwart seamen at the
brakes two additional streams of water were turned
! from the lower deck to the point where
the cotton was seen burning. But smoke and
steam came through the hatch in dense volumes
nearly sitting those who were holding the discharge
pipes below and soon they compelled 10 ascend
few minutes later, as looked below, brghtligh
| flashed from the lower hold, and Immediately after
the flames swept ont from under the lowerdeck. Men
| again Jumped down 10 the lower deck and made an
effort TO close the hatch but the heat So intense
| and the smoke so dense in volume that they were
driven above in an almost suifOcated condition
Sails had been unbent, and these were wet and
lowered over the open hatch, which was soon Sc
curely covered with half-dozen thicknesses Of
drenching sail-cloth. Then the upper hatch wac
closed, and through it hole was quickly cut with
an AK. through which two streams of water
turned upon the canvass below
THE ORDEAL OF SMOKE AND STEAM.
With the closing of the matches, smoke and steam
were forced through the bulkhead into the tire and
engine rooms. The heat was great and could barely
be endured but the smoke nearly blinded the eyes
of the engineers and remen and IN the course OF an
hour they were compelled to divide their force into
short relefs each one taking 5-minute turns below
in succession The volume of steam and smoke
gradually increased, and efforts made TO stop
the oriices in the bulkhead through which il came
In plugging MP one of them Mr.. Kane was overcome
with the intense heat and tainted. He was lifted
by others and taken to the upper deck, where, in
half an hour he had sufficiently recovered 10 resume
his dnties.
When the flames flashed up from the hold. as
have described the few passengers who were up
deemed il prudent to awaken the others. THIS was
ouietly accomplished, and though intense alarm
was felt vet the assurances gave OF safety when