The New York herald., 1872-12-21
BURNED ON THE BEACH.
Destraction OF the Steamboat Andrew
Fletcher at Quarantinc-She is Con-
sumcd to the Waters Edge-LOss
about A22.OOO.

Oestructfom OF the Steamboat Andrew
Fletcher at Quaranttnc-She is Con.
sumcd TO the Waters Edge-Loss
about o22,OOO.
About one O'Clock yesterday morning the steam
boat Andrew Fletcher belonging to the Quaran
time Department, was discovered to be on fire, and
Notwithstanding the efforts made to check the
names she burned to the waters edge, and will
prove almost a total loss. During Thursday after
noon the Fletcher had been down the bay as far as
Holman Island with several officials to inspect the
progress made on the new buildings there In course
Of construction, but had returned and been at
her dock fully eight hours, and 'laid up''
for the night with s'banked'' fires. AT the usual
hour the crew, with the exception OF those on
watch, 'turned in" but were aroused about half
East twelve O'Clock for the purpose OF putting on
additional mooring lines to protect the boat more
securely from the wind, then steadily increasing
nom the northeast and approaching gale. This
work commenced, when the officer IN charge deter
mined to take the
FLETCHER TO THE BASIN
Just above, that being much safer mO0ring
der the circumstances than her dock. AT this
moment one OF the hands smeed smoke and at
Bnce went below in the lire room, and then in the
lamp compartment, endeavoring to ascertain its
origin. There he could not nnd anything burning,
when, ueBg somewhat guided by the smoke, which
then cONd be scen he removed one OF the slides to
the openings around the steam chest, when out
rushed asyOiuIne OF fame which caused the pru-
dent but ycareful hand TO Deat hasty retreat. An
alarm w.ss instantly given and vigorous Efforts
TO CHECK THE FIRE.
but the Elit upper works burned SO rapidly that
nothing CO Nld -be done to control 1t. The tug Fen
ton also oG the Quarantine Department, inimcdI-
atey ran oLv her hose and put stream on the
the dock TO preyent its ignition. The steam yacht
Herald arrived after and also assisted, but
impression could be made upon the names which
- f.nv nrtfn nf In in Nnt
The lines holdiNI the Fletcher to the Fcnton were
burned when tke former was driven by the force of
tle wipd on .theabeach between the Staten Island
ferry decks, in Tront OF the Quarantine grounds,
where she lemakned ana the
waGS or DESTRUCTION
was soon co uiplete. The quarantine dock wss on
fire at ono tIHe, tpnt was soon extlnguished, and
much anxiety was.teh for the safety Of the Jerry
docks bIt by thes prompt action OF the Health
Officer and tht.>welsdirected and vigorous efforts
0fthe men III hts department, the fire was confined
stated Efforts Nwerc Also made TO scuttle the
Fletcher, buryhe=tre burned away the upper works
70 rapidly thar the htnl raised out OF the water,
being lghl:neo' by-thlIu faster than the could
cut throughtfhe copper
feet in length 25 feet eaB feet inches depth OF
hold and OF ieo ttns nuTaen. Her engine was Of
repair She was fitted with new boiler two
years ego The 10. - sus tanned
is ABOUT TWEEN rf-fwo THOUSAND DOLLARS.
1t Is well here 10 remark that the engines on
staten Island arrit ed at Quarantine some time
saved and there asa, arrived the Staten Island
ferryboat Niddetown, but netAer could be Of any
service.
No steama oat in tin, harbor win be missed so
much as the Fletcher.t she was neat craft and
.livedn Just Il ing eEoA'h to hoist the whip over
eyery boat OF her chaTScter hereabouts, for she
could and has 81 own shern to them all, without
her officers eve intending TO race with them.
OF ms. ssengers coming into this port
during the seven years she has been in Quarantine
service had become
WELL AoagAIHrEp WITH HER
and will remember Ler, while tens OF thousands
who have attended the Yacht Club regattas in the
harbor Will now cali her 10 miad being one OF
the first at the Lightstp OH Sandy Hook to witness
the racing boats turning that beacon, while her
appearance upon such occasions. with her bunting
ia rich profusion fore apN aft made her more con-
spicuous than the majority OF the accompanying |
steamboats,.
Upon Inspection OF her engine and boiler so far |
as practicable, yesterday afternoon, II was the I
opinion that they may be sSyed, but the hull is
utterly worthless.