The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-13
THE RIVER BELLE.

Two witnesses were yesterday examined, at the
ONCE of the Local Inspectors OF Steamers No. %
Pine street, by Mr.. Simonson and Mr.. Mathews,
Local Inspectors, in regard to the loss OF the
steamer River Belle.
Alexander Montlezon, steward OF the late
steamer River Belle, testified as follows:--I was
asleep at the time OF the fire, and was called by
man named Markham; when called did not see
any fire; alter taking my child on the deck and
returning discovered the fire; the person calling
me reported the vessel on fire, but did not
say where IL was; the walters went ashore
when they pleased;. all were aboard at ten
O'Clock that night; there were no lamps used
In the rooms; the only lamp Is in the cabin;
the walters are not allowed to smoke In their
rooms In the stOrero0m on the starbOard side,
there was nothing except provisions kept; moth
ing OF any lnflammabe nature was Kept there;
Kerosene Oil was kept in the pantry on the port
side under the sink in a tin can have no knowl-
edge how this fire took place; have been steward
OF the River Belle since she was built; have
never known this boat to be on fire before at any
pump at work that night.
was on board the steamer the night on which She
burned; was called shortly before one A. M. by
one Of The dremen, q whom / asked what was the
asked him II he had called MIR. Clarke; he said he
had not; told him to call MIN; had hardly
time to get on deck before MIR. Clarke came
OUT OF his room; first went TO the fire.
room. but saw no fire; there was smoke there,
a ond oOenea Tie door leading s To the M
there was smoke there, but no Are; closed the
door and started to go aft, when met the man
who called me and asked him where the fire was;
he SAID 1t was ait; l went to the engine room and
took knob and opened the door ait the crank
and next to the bulKhead ana saw the fire COM
ing up along side the gallus frame went for
ward and got my clothes and put them on the
dock, ana when got back she was all In flames
aft: told one o. the men TO get length OF hose
and put In on the hydrant, which he did, but 1t
was too snort to do any good, and at that time
she was beyond the possibility OF saving; was
on deck apout ten O'CLOCK ana before l turned
in it was about halfpast ten O'Clock; I
went down in the treroom to try the
water gauges and tooker on both sides the bed
| plate. and everything was all right; went to
my room and wrote letter and went TO bed
| when turned IN there was no indication OF fire;
the boilers were covered with metal and had iree
circulation OF air around them; II there had been
| any fire there 1 would have seen IT.; there was
nothing OF an lnnammable nature slowed around
the boilers engine; think the fire took place
on the starboard side, aft the bulkhead; when
the fire 1t was coming up around the alter leg
OF the gaus frame, through the main deck: the
forward deck pump was at work; this was the
only one: this pump was manned BY the deck
hands; she mad ner iull complement OF nose on
board there was no night watch kept on the ves
sci, but one on the dock have been aboard since
June last; have never known her to take fire