Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-06-21
Correspondence of the Albany Evening Journal
Steamboat Fire COMPANIES.
THEIR OPERATION ON LAKE cHAMPLAIy-A WIFE
COMPANY, AND A sAFE THoROUGHFAEE.

steamboat Fire Companies
THEIR OPERATION ON LAKE cHAMPLAIS-A wItE
COMPANY, AND A sAFE THoROUGHFAEE.
RoUsE1 POINT, N Y, May %. 1872.
/ The ChAmpsin Transportation Comp any, ,
chartered by the State Of Vermont, October 2G.
| 1926 presided over by Col. Legr2nd B. Cannon,
who hsve built nearly hslf-S-dozen frst-class
steamers, and now control the magnificent Line
boats on the lake, have won enviable reputa-
tion, ina,much 81 the history Of this company
for period Of fOrty-fye years develops the fact
that not the life of single passenger h.s been
lost By accident through neglec, or csrelessness
Of officers or employees on board their steamers;
a remarkable success due to the compsny's per-
feet appointments, its careful choice o efficient
superiors and subordinstss, the thorough disci-
plne and good management OF their crews and
vessels, and last, but not least to the existence of
enrolled and completely equipped FIRE companies
on board eSch steamer Or this l.st feature
this Vermont company unquestionsbly hsn the
honor Of being the par NJ ; 4 sys;em heretofore
new on our inls ID waters. and which the lsss
Of Congress since one year ago prescribed fo-
general use on all United S'Rtes steimers where
ever found Recognizing their responsibility as
common carriers, and the obligations resting
upon them ss such, to do all in their power for
the protection Of life sgainst fire and other dan
gerous emergencies, Col Cannon, upon his ele-
yation TO the presiieucy in 1864, instituted and,
several years later, put in practicz! operation
the system Of which we write.
Ii is known that tire laws Of Congress deiiue
and make obligatory certain numerous agencies
and appliances for TIE sate,y OF vessel. il c-sas
of emergency, snl Tor
TIE PRorECT;oS OF IIFe
and property on board lissnsel sni sui ret 10
Official sinsTection but these lAaE nave f5r
many years been deficient IN that tley were 81
lent as to tie use Of these agencies Il cannot
be supposed that green hands would know how
to use skiItully constructed scientific implements
For ms Snce, each steamer is required to have on
bord two good double acting IKE pump1 worked
by hand, and one such pump worked by steam
= certain number Of metallic life bosts g. mzny
hundred feet Of hose, together with water buck
els, axes, water barrels ready lei. So many
life preseryerf several life rsfts, ere ez'ingu,-l-
err, pine bosris, &c All iles. With steam
regiItering gauges, mSriac drags, los wafer
alarm. indicators, e,c, prescribed By law, sIe
found On these tteamers. Bu' Of what use is
the plow and the sword % him VINO kaovs not
how 10 handle thsml Wast avail. machines
without men Who are Giscii lined and drilled in
their u'e Il il We. known tia; a lack of or
der sal sy .tein-t.c US. ot td;uss in case Il fre
AMI wreck eutsils confusion a1i panic, in which
the hes; of agencies sre either i1clicenly AMI
useless.y operated OF perhtps uissQpied valid
able time is wasted and anarchy with dire re-
sult= follow 4 consideration of JhsFe things
lea to the Adoption '7 tie G. l. Company Of
drilled
FiEL DEPARTMENT oRGAsiz3-Is
which went into operation On su the line tol.s
in the season Of l-57. ard wi,h Tsre Eleitv o.
the ts.e.y o.. the travelling community, has beea
kept mp each season. since that t.re. amt has
met with universal communication The U1iti
States Supervising Inspector Of this dstric. IT,
porte 20 this line IS conforming more fully with
the laws Of Congress relating 70 completeness o.
outfit, iif,'Pliue, snd Management Of itss.esri-
e-s for preserving lie. tlan any other lire with
in bis district, sad this company have p-.diei
By their hbc1s. expenditure NOS ouly D. being
NngulArly exempt from accident flr many years,
but slso by beiug sbe 10 obtain specially low
rates Of Insurance. And were the lines on other
waters to adopt the rules and system OF this
Vermont company. there would De fewer dep'1--
sb,e disasters to record. sni : greater serss OF
Eecu.ity on the part OF ,le mu.utules Who tr.v-
el on tteAmtoI.s.
Passengers on TIE Vermont. the A3isoal-cs.
AMI the United States will Observe printed r.lt
of the entire crew with rules Eni regulations
couspicuolsly posted in various p2rts q the
vessel. There ruler are the law for S,l on hoard
10 case Of danger. Among others, be sill read
this, viz;
90 When the crew are called to quarters. pes
seurers viI please remain IA The para ci ;le
vessel they may be n A. the time"
On further enquiry Ae il tod tds' this ls.st.s
sNa -H.
Boat Companies to their daily drill And this is
the method On each steamer the entire b3dy Z
officers sul crew constitute g regular organized
comusry, tcpsrstel intosix divisions, as follows,
No. ]. StLrbosrl Life Bost, men No ..
Port Life Boat, 8 men NJ g. Forward Pumr.
G men 10. 4, Afier Pump, men No : Ea-
gjneers CcrFs. Who work the donkey. men :
No. g.. Reserved Corps @. men Each Iyi-
sion las its captain ard al The divisions sre
under the umAni Of the cspfsia Of the tos,.
vho has the gene.sl charge. Ia emergency tte
chief engineer is 90 he at the engine tho as.is.-
ant engineer 10 charge Of the sirsm pump. sul
the steward in charge q the Reserved Ca-7s.
lie prescrvtrs, buckets, sxes, Sc.
AT a GIVEN SIGNAL
By the en- .ineer. which is sharp. quick 5's.t oi
the steam whistle which in turn is immediately
answered BY The Coug sounded By the Grst
mste, thirty or forty men spring to quarters IN
the frTsJd deck .snl form st olce into a squsre.
With the captain in the centre. who giye- each
separate division order. for irstsat acton There
u no time l1et. Esch nan knows his rlacc.
The msue1vres proceed mctholicsily. Ia tren.
~ seconds every one is - bis p1at the life boa,s
are lowerel sui manned, the steam aud hand
pumps are sc, Igo.ng, the $50 feet Of bose &,
hnA 0 all lff . f,-f-.
heavy hose reaches the upper deck ani con-
mauis every part Of the vessel, and from stem
to stern il is swept with streams of water The
80 lie preseryers sud two lie RATS are IN
spected 20 zee if they are In order. the ffty-cue
buckets stand ready Glei, toe > eco fee; Of u;ne
boards are in a position for ufc three Of H,h-
cocks Fire EStingu.shers are really 10 hand.
uo'hing IS found rusty or ou; Of order. b-ssu.s
IL il daily examined, the drill goes on ike clock
work. men Sre iuiiistet into tue proper usa of
esch mschiue. every toul works with 4 qil frr
the sp.cc Of quarter Of An hou- j1-t - If thC
vessel was
CS FIEE or sIsEING
These drills are performed ouce dnriar ec3h
round trip, and sometimes daily, and while .y.
ing IN port both watches are turned cri fr th.,
discipline once e.ch week, strict Obedience aui 8
brave discharge Of duty being demanded OF
every oEc. IA a consequence, each person be-
comes familiar with the machines, there ls sl iu
tcl.igent use OF the government sppliaace1, lich
as Tessure CT safety IL unurp,sssi. Ore
cannot help feeling sense Of fecurfy while
ridiag in these wei regulated steamers. no; else
where felt nor otherwise sttsinei than by tli-
admirable system The nsarest approach 70 th;i
system Of the Company is embraced in Aitiol,
y Of the " Act Of Congress relating to Steam
bosts,' approved Fe5rusry -, 1871 (pp. 49,
~ and which is mobilization Of the system
adopted FIVE years ago by Col Cannon. Will,
this law is anquesiion.b,Y a move IN the riehl