Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-05

company have received intelligence that their
famous and most valuable Steamer-the Ameri-
ca-waS totally destroyed by fire on the Path
ult., while lying in the port OF Yokohama,
Japan. According to the cable kilograms from
Hong Kong, via India and England, the steam
or was burned TO the waters edge and is con-
sequently a total loss, including her cargo,
which consisted largely Of specie. As the tele
gram gave no details, of course considerable
doubt existed at first as to the trnth of the re-
port, but the company are certain the steamer
was burned, as the intelligence came from their
own agent
II would seem almost incredible to believe that
the America could have been destroyed by fire
under ordinary circumstances, for there are no
vessels in the world fitted with so many APP
proved appliances for the eXtngushment of fire
as are the Pacific Mail company'S steamers, and
we venture TO say that no one at all conversant
with these vessels believes the report. In every
compartment on each deck there is a series of
steam Jets, which can be opened and the COM
partment saturated with wet steam, provided al
ways steam is on the main boilers, and then
there is a donkey boiler capable of furnishing
steam for the same purpose when the fires are
out under the main boilers.
The America was one of the largest paddle
wheel steamers in the world, and was valued by
the company at 81 OF ,942 %, o1 about $40, 900
less than the Great Republic or Japan both of
which, although trife smaller IN tonnage,
were built subsequent TO the America. This
magnificent steamer was built in 1S6S-69 by
Henry Steers, at Greenpont, Long Island and.
was 4454 tons register, and Of the following
dimensons Length, 1853 feet; beam of hull,
40 feet; depth of hold, 81 feet; draft of water,
IS feet. She was built in the most thorough
manner, double planked and neither pains or
expense was spared 10 make her second 10 no
wooden vessel in the world. Her machinery
was built at the Novelty iron works. and was of
a superior type, She had beam engine, with
105-inch cylinder and twelve feet stroke of pis-
ton, the engine working up to 5000 nominal
horse power.
When completed the ship attracted more than
usual attention, and was at once attached to the
Pacific, and became the pioneer of the trans
Pacific branch of the line In due time she was
followed by the Japan, Great Republic and the
China. The America, like her sister ships, had
wide guards extending fore and aft giving her
an area Of over an acre of deck room. The din
ing saloon was on the main deck, fanked by
double rows of state rooms on either side, while
the hurricane deck was tiled with state rooms,
giving her accommodations for from 300 to 500
tirst-class passengers, and large amount of
space for native passengers.
Every precaution has always been taken BY
the management of this line to prevent disaster
by fire, and to this end, in every state room, a
notice is put up which forbids smoking in the
cabins or state rooms.
Open lights are nos allowed in any part of the
vessels. All lights were extnguished in the
SdiOObo ~ lO9 M anu Ill Tue STATE rooms AT
II O'Clock p NJ. In prominent parts of the ships
fire bill is posted, which reads in substance as
follows;
"Fre alarm sigpal-Coptnued ringing of the
large ships bell. The officer in charge will
when fire is discovered, stop the ship, lower ali
wind sails, and turn the ventilators from the
wind. The first officer, with the port watch
will immediately repair to the place Of fire. The
second officer, with the starhOard watch in
charge of quartermaster, will repair TO the
promenade deck and take charge of the boats
The third officer will take his station in the
pilot house. The cadet officer will join the Sec
ond officer, and the boatswain will join the chief
officer; also the carpenter. The quartermaster
on watch will remain in the pilot house,
The quartermasters off watch will act as mes.
sengers TO the captain. The purSer, surgeon
and baggagemaster are detailed to mingle
among the passengers to allay excitement and
prevent confusion. The freight CLERK and store
keeper will remove all inf1smmabe materials in
their charge nom the vicinity of the fire, and
prepare 10 throw the same overheard when or
dered to do so. The chief engineers station is in
the engine room, with the assistant engineer on
watch remaining with his men at their duties
as under ordinary circumstances; the senior en-.
gineer OIL watch with his men at the steam
pumps; the Junior engineer off watch with his
men at the forward seam-pumps; the chief
steward in charge of the saloon department
With one half Of HE men OF each after guard
patch-house with the axes from the hurricane
deck, and there receive their orders; the steer.
age steward, with his men, to remain in the steer
age; the saloon watchmen TO close at once all
the port and deck lights; those in the steerage
10 do the same. The saloon cooks with their
assistants man The Buckets on the starboard
side, and the Storage cooks on the port side
The deck boys at the force pumps on the after
guards. The deck stOre-keeper is in charge of
the storeroom and magazine. The senior porter
is stationed at the axe rack on the hurricane
deck. The barber and captains servants are
assistant messengers. As soon as all hand are
stationed the heads OF departments report to the
captain at the pilot-hoUse Officers OF each de-
partment must arm themselves that thew NAV
be prepared Tor any emergency. Immediately
upon the alarm Of fire, the hose on ca h depart.
ment must be stretched out; the stop valves TO
be opened only by the first officer. Passengers
are particularly requested to remain as quiet as
possible in order that these regulations may be
strictly carried our, and the cause of alarm re-
moved as soon as possible"
Such, in brief, are the fire regulations of all of
the steamers Of the Pacific Mail steamship
company, and TO perfect both the officers and
crew in the details, as well as to amiliarize the
passengers with the routine Of fire alarm, II is a
frequent practice TO raise false alarm, and in
this way the passengers are shown with what
perfect case and nice discipline such q body of
men are handled. With such rules, and such
men 10 enforce them as the company employ il
seems mystery how the America could have
Deen destroyed by fire, unless there was laden
III her cargo some material that neither steam
or water would quench
10 give an idea of the efficacy of the steam
nre eYtngplshers on all Of the steamers OF this
line, we have only 10 refer to an incident which
occurred on board of one OF their steamers moi
long since, at Aspinwall. The cargo was being
discharged at night, and the men were in Inc
lower hold at work discharging wbiskey. Ono
Of the casks fell opt Of the slings, aud in strik
ing the keelson, burst. Some Of the inAamma.
BILE liquid took fire from a lantern, aud III an in
slant the lower hold was in sheet of flames.
The men fed for their lives up the hatchwav,
the fire alarm was sounded, and in less than two
minutes the steam jets were doing their duty,
and even before the matches could be put on the
wet steam was checking the flames. Less than
five minutes Of steaming made il safe TO take of
the matches, and as soon MS the steam disap-
peared the men returned to their work, as il
nothing had happened. Other instances have
occurred of like character when the steam lets
have proven equally efIlcacious.