New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-11
NEW ORLEANS SATURDAY, OCTOBER
The Steamship Western Metropolis o.
Fire.

The Steamship Western Metropolis o.
Fire.
Abou. Eve o'clock cn Thursday evening, as
! the captain and officers OF the steamship
| alarm Of fire was given, and almost inIhe'
| dia,ely Names were discovered issuing from
| the open space in the inidship house. where
stands the gallows frame and walking
| beam OF the engine. All hands being ac
work in and abou. :he ship, it was but a
moment before they were using every
! means III their power 20 subdue the flames;
! and almos: Immediately the fire tug Tyler
| on the rive. side and the engines or the
! levee were doing some handsome work in
| their line. In tact, so quick and effective
! were their efforts tina: the flames were sub.
! dued in a few moments, and the fire entirely
| extinguished at p. NJ. 1t being dark. the
smoke dense. and the confusion grea:-as
| is aIways the case after the fire is outfit
| was impossible TO ascertain the exten. of
! the damage until morning. In the mean
| time rumor had the figures high up in the
| thousands: but upon q close examination
! yesterday the damage TO the ship was esti-
mated at about $4,000, and to the cargo
| about $500.
The fire originated abou: the engine
| room, in the upper betweendecks. above
which. on the main deck. is the nidship
house. containing the kitchen. mess room.
| lamp room and officers quarters. The fire
bo3 1,,n pfy SaAf fnr nd 6,
| in this house. and found its way there
through the space which the gallows frame
| and walking beam occupy-not through tho
deck. The frame OF the ship is unipiured,
not even deck beam being burned bad
| enough to need its removal.
The underwriters and the local inspect
| ors were promptly ON hand Yesterday
! morning. and after close survey pro-
nounced the chip perfectly seaworthy; con-
| sequently, there viii Dc little or no deten-
| ton. Friday and Saturday being the heavi-
! est days for outward bound freight. the
| ship fortunately had small portion OF her
| cargo on board. and the fact that the fire
| was all in the upper between decks, and tho
cargo all below accounts for the dams &c to
! it being 90 elight.
! During the fire Captain Quick's coolness
| and decision saved the joiner work and
| decks many = scar from the axes in the
! hands Of those who doubtless meant well,
but displayed poor Judgment. The fire had
! not assumed serious proportions enough to
make it necessary TO destroy to save"
| and in this respect alone he more than did
| his duty by his owners. A few unnecessary
hacks were made in che woodwork with
| axes, some distance from the fire. no doub:
by some one tha: felt the importance OF do
ing something.
We rejoice with all others interested, and
especially the travelling friends Of Captain
Quick. the Western Metropolis and the
! Merchants Line. that the damage TO this
fine chip is SO slight, for it would indeed
have been discouraging TO the managers o:
the line had she burned altogether. as this
is her second trip after being rebuilt at a
cost of nearly $4,000. She was over three
! months in New York. during which time
her hull was thoroughly Oyerhauled,
| strengthened. braced. sheathed and retsst-
ened. Her boilers were femodeied and
raised, 80 that no par. Of them can escape
the eye Of the mechanic. while from the
kelson 20 the deck no money or pains have
been spared to make this . first class ship
The saloon and its fittings are magnificent
in the extreme for after viewing them
once al, Others fail 70 produce the same de-
sire for sea travel. IN The forward part OF
the social ball, as you slip in from the deck,
are two staterooms tha: excel in elegence
anything ever seen on shipboard by the
eldest traveller. They are perfee: miniature
bedrooms. fitted with bureaus. sofas, wash
| stands, etc. of the most costly and unique
designs. Then below, ell the stateroons are
elegantly fitted up with double lower
| berths. iaInask curtains. velve: carpets.
and all modern styles o. furniture. Ihe
main saloon is twice the width of thai OF
any other chip tina: come. to this port, and
light, airy and cheerful. II has never been
our pleasure TO witness more luxurious or
complete passenger accommodations and
had We los. the Western Metropolis by fire.
it would have Ion. been regretted by our
community az large. and especially the
| csastWise traveller.