The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-17
WHY STEAMERS ARE LOST.

lOSS, uuu Judt uO eSS uHdu Cu6 IOulOerlQ& OF CQo
latest addition to the line the steamship Amerlque,
greatly excited all classes OF our citizens and
led to the very general inquiry as to the cause OF
the frequency OF such disasters, particularly in
vessels that have been heightened, as were both
the Europe and Amerique. In order to obtain an
expression OF authority upon this subject and that
OF improperly fitting vessels intended for ocean
navigation, which is toooiten the case, HERALD
reporter called upon Mr.. Charles Fl. Has
well, ex-Engineer.n-Ch Chief United states Navy,
surveyor OF steamers for the Board
OF Underwriters, and member OF the In
stitution Of Naval Architects, OF England,
to ask his opinion upon these points, now so
seriously pondered by the travelling public.
MIR. Haswell was found to be very busy, but, the
cause OF the visit being explained, the following
conversation took place. which must be looked
upon as Of the most important character, mas
much as 1t tersely points out how easily,
In the opinion Of Mr.. Haswel the Europe
might have been saved; the serious injury
the lengthening process innicts upon iron
steamers while at the same time he directs at
tentlon to the habitual criminal neglect OF
builders and owners In their stubborn persist
ence OF locating donkey pumps in the lower holds
instead OF on the main decks OF steam vessels:-
THE EUROPE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED
REPoRTER-In the first place, Mr.. Haswell have
you considered the case OF the laundering Of the
Europei
Mr.. HAswELL-I have.
! REPoRTER-What, then. Is your opinion upon this
point
Mr.. HAswELL-The laundering OF the Europe Is
the most lnexplicable occurrence Of that nature
that has ever been submitted to me- A steam
vessel, with two full-powered condensing engines
and seven water-tight bulkheads leaks in her bot
TOR I'M m Ono n ha 6ro tn
such very moderate extent that she is kept on
her course across the Atlantic in a storm; and,
although but a short distance from port, and yet
before the fires are reached by tine water, and
before the engine room is invaded to an extent
that would arrest the operation of her donkey
pump, this vessel is abandoned, when, had an
opening been made in the bulkhead between the
engine and fire rooms it is safe to assert.
naSs ksp s aSa ons s' ene night woss
being relieved OF water, that the operation
Of the donkey pump alone would have enabled her
the operation OF her bilge injectors would have
wholly freed her in half an hour or less; or be it
that her bilge injectors II in operation viii not
the bige iniectors Of the Europe operating even
the year, was fully $50 gallons per minute.
REPoRrER-Thus, you think that had the engi-
donkey pump to worE and operating her DSe in
jectors that vessel could have been easily saved
While Mr.: Haswel, in answer to this question,
was unwilling to place the blame on individual
shoulders, he said the whole affair twas the most
puerlle thing that ever came to his notice.
TIGHTENING IRON STEAMERS wRAKENs THEM.
REPoRTER-As you well know. Mr. Haswel, the
Vile du Havre. Europe and Amerique were length
ened vessels; and as there is much controversy
in your opinion. weaken herr
Mr.. HAswELL-It is generally assumed that an
iron steamer can be heightened and made as
strong as before, or even stronger. Both OF these
positions are erroneous II The vessel has age and
and keelson, from within the point Of the new
junction, are doubled for very considerable and
differing distances, for the reason that the stress
OF the sea upon the hull, instead Of being diIused
through the entire length OF the vessel, will be
abruptly arrested at the junction between the old
to concentrate the stress OF the sea there and in
jurt0usy bear upon It,
WHERE DONKEY PUMPS SHOULD BE LOCATED
REPORTER-What is your opining about the lOca-
ton OF donkey pumps In steamersS
Mr.. HAswELL-The location OF donkey pumps in
the lower hold OF steamers Ii the most objection
able feature OF steam navigation that is now pre-
sented. When this pump Is located in the lower
hold Of vessel IT is subjected TO nutility from the
several cases Of IRE, steam or water leak OF
boiler unless there Is bulkhead interposing be-
tween It and the fire room), leak 10 the hull tine
which, when operating so near the skin OF the ves
sci, any temporary arrest OF their operation IN
wolves their submers0n by the tnnOwIng water
and their consequent arrest. So opposed to
proper regard TO the lives OF passengers and the
transportation OF mercnanulSe ID this practce tnaL
/ do not consider even steam ferryb0at properly
equipped unless fitted with a donkey pump, and
that located upon her main deck.
REPORTER-ls this Objectionable feature, the loca-
ton OF the donkey pump IN the lower hold, to be
noticed in many ocean steamers :
Mr.. HASwELL-Al Of them, with but few ex-
ceptions. The Vile du Havre, Europe and the
Amerique were so improperly fitted.
REPORTER-Have You not taken action In this
matter Of donkey pumpsY
Mr.. HAswELI-Yes. have for twenty-One years
essayed to render their proper location obligatory
upon constructors OF steam vessels, and IN several
individual cases / have succeeded; TINS when
brought the matter before the attention OF the
American Steamship Company, OF Boston, they ad-
vIsed themselves and removed these pumps then
In the Erie and Ontario, to the main deck.
RRPORTER-What Is your prospect OF erecting
general change in thiss
Mr.. HAswELL-I am wholly confident OF ultimate
success. have submitted the matter on several
occasions to the marine underwriters Of this
country, to bureau In the Treasury Department
at washington having charge OF amending she
Steamboat law, to the underwriters OF London
and Liverpool and to the Institution OF Naval
Architects OF England OF which am q member;
and after about six more nrst-class steamers 1000
more lives and $6.000000 OF property have been
lost, hope that the subject win be duly considered
If the Arctic had had donkey engine and boiler
on her main deck the Collins line might yet have
been In existence, and II that OF the Europe had
been operated tshe having d donkey boiler on
her main deck she might now have been ct her
pier IN this city.