The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-04
The Pacific Mail Steamship America
Destroyed by Fire in the Har-
Dor of Yokohama.
PASSENGERS AND CREW SAVED.
The Vessel and Cargo a Total
Loss.
100000 IN SPECIE SAFE.
Effect Of the News in Wall Street and on
Pacific Mail Stock

Just at the close Of business on Change yester }
day rumor prevailed that the large steamer
America, OF the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
plying between San Francisco and Japan an dChinav
was burned.
The widest excitement prevailed for some tlme,s
and the offices ofthe company as well as those 0fre-
ported to have received intelligence were beseged
with anxious inquirers. AT first 1t was thought.
that the rumor originated from some shrewd 0pe.
rator In the stock Of that company, but on inquiry
At the Office Of the corporation 9nr reporter ascer
tained that the rsppoft Was but too true :
The company received the following cable DC.
sDatoh about eslfpa's taFsg s99sk yesterday
America which left San Francisco August ar.
rived at Yokohama August "a, and was burned to-
e the
$4,000 still In treasure room and supposed to co.
safe. LANE.
The America was the best vessel and latest built
by that line. She was commanded by Captain Seth
Doane, native OF the Cape Cod region, and one Of
the ablest commanders Of the neet The ofncerst
Of the company give him very exalted reputation
and do not for one moment attribute to him any
blame Tor the accident. He was the oldest captal1
IN the service OF the line.
The Inflated steamer Is supposed to have had on
board about three hundred passengers and crew
Of Zone hundred.
AS none OF the vessels Of the Pacific Mail steam-,
ship Company are ever insured the loss Of this fine
ship will naturally fall upon them.
In the annual statement OF the company giving
an exhibit OF the assets and liabilities the steamer
America was put down In the former al
SLOT 942 o. which was doubt fair estimate Of
her value, inasmuch as she was one OF the largest
and stanches ships on that route, and there Is mo-
vessel the company own can replace her.
offoN t IF hfu Do iHO Nall okn
was to cause it to decline two per cent yesterday
Description q iI The America. +,
The America was splendid specimen Of naval
architecture, She was stdewhee steamer and
was built by Henry Steers OF Brooklyn, E. D., in
1ses-69, and her machinery was constructed by the
Novelty Iron Works Of this CITY, The dimensions
Of her hull were-length on DECK 1858 feet; breadth
ofbeam, 40 feet nches draught Of water, Is feet.
She was 4,454 tons burden, new measurement Tho
materials Of her hull live oak white oak, hack
matack and chestnut, which were fastened with
copper aud galvanized iron Of exquisite workman
ship. She was brig rugged; her cabins nd mess
rooms were on deck and her promenade deck ex.
tended her full length Her floors were all filed In
solid and she had three bulkheads. The motive
power OF the VESSEL was one vertical beam ehgiiS,
having diameter Of cylinder 9i LOB inches and a
stroke Of piston Ql twelve feet; the horse power
being 1890. Her water.wheels were forty-two feet
IL diameter And Of twelve feet face having guards
one-quarter width. The boilers were four in num-,
bor placed in a nest anidshps and having
six furnaces EACH At the time. of
her departure from New York the
security ana provisions against Dire were
very gooj there being an independent
boiler and apparatus to flood each deck and send
volume Of steam into the hold when necessary.
1t was then estimated that this could be accom-.
pshed in one minute and half, with seven to ten
streams. Besides these mechanical matters there
were Independent steam fire and blge pumps In
goodly number, and Of large capacity. In galleys
she was fully fitted for both steerage and cabin
passengers. The main saloon was 100 feet long,
and handsomely furnished. She had thirty ornate
stateroom, and steerage accommodation for 1.3ea
naasenpers