New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-05-21
The Ship John Parker.

After being on fire, filed with water.
pumped out, towed to the city, discharged
and sold, the ship John PARKER is again IN
the hands of the original owners as good 80
new, or in as good condition as when she
left her wharf for Liverpool some two
months since.
The last blow of the mechanic was struck
yesterday, and, with the exception of the
necessary delay occasioned by settlements,
forms, etc, attendant upon all cases where
salvage comes in. this has been work of
unusual dispatch.
As was stated in the REPUBLIcAS at the
time of the fire. the deck beams, deck
frames and ceilings were quite badly
burned especially on the starboard side.
Bids were invited for the repairs. and. Of
course. the contract was given to the lowest
bidder. who proved to be the well-known
ship carpenter. cauiker and spar maker.
William Harmon. Esq. and although IN.
usual. but not at all impractible, the work
was done on this side of the river.
In tearing out the burned timber it was
found necessary to put in new deck frames.
and new decks from the main hatch to the
knigh, heads, large number of new top
timbers on the starboard side. several out
board planks and large portion of new
ceiling in the upper between decks. In ad.
dltion to this she was thoroughly cauiked
above water.
Captain Lemuel Brown. underwriters
agent for the New York companies. Great
Western. Orient, Individual Underwriters
and the American Lloyds. informed US that
this was the best and cheapest job of car.
penter work sthat he had seen done for
years; and, considering that it was done in
the short space of fifteen working days.
proved to him that work could be done as
well and as cheap in New Orleans as in
any other large commercial city in the
Union.
If our master mechanics would follow
the example set by Mr.. Harmon, and do
work at a reasonable fgure-which he does.
and makes it pay by his own personal super.
vision-the sound of the saw. broad a and
adze would be heard early and late. month
in and month out, where it is now almost
unknown, for with the exorbitant rate
charged in general for all repairs on ship
ping, masters are instructed by owners to
do no more than is absolutely necessary for
the safety of the ship at this port.
There are capable and enterprsing men
enough in and about New Orleans to break
down this monopoly. if those who are in
terested will only pa:ronize them: and as
ships are usually longer loading a cargo Of
cotton than almost any other. and the
weather usually fine in their freighting
season, the ship is given the beneii: Of a
longer and more continuous mechanical
days work here than in any Northern city.
The ship John Parker's misfortune was
heavy blow to the underwriters. but a great
blessing to the Iaborins classes. both of the
First and Fourth Districts-she having
loaded her first cargo in the Fourth District.
repaired and loaded the second in the First
District. there giving the residents in tie
vicinity an opportunity to make few ex.
ira dollars. This proves the old adage Of
what is ones loss is another's gain"
This ship is now loading. and in a few
days will sail again for Liverpool. pro-
nounced by the underwriters agents of
New York and New Orleans to be in per-
fec: condition. And as lightning seldom if
ever strikes twice in the same place. so can
we argue with fire. Those Of our friends who
have benefited or lost from the accident
to this ship. with the narrow escape that
she had, can rest assured that she was not
built to be burned.