New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-25

awakened almost the entire shipping com.
munlty, and it was so immediate that the
captain Of the ship + vangeline, lying ahead
OF the hsgerstowD, ran on deck just in time
to see the slightning strike his ships rig
ging, run along his rail, over the stern,
following the bObstays of the Hagerstown.
which are chain; from there into the hawse
pipes, out OF sight on the chain cables in
the hold of the vessel; and within five
minutes time smoke was seen issuing from
below. The ships bell was promptly
struck. The fire alarm was sounded,
and as soon as possible the fire
department was on hand, and working to
it's utmost to subdue the fire, although no
flames had as yet made their appearance
through the deck.
In the meantime daylight had come, and
with it the multitude of tugs, underwriters'
agents, sage advisers, ETC., all willing to
volunteer services and advice. But Cap
tain Call, the master of the ship, and the
head and front of the whole business, was
firm in his opinion that his valuable ship
and cargo could be saved, and that without
a salvage; and although frequently urged
by all but his brother sbipmasters to take
additional help outside of the fire depart
ment, he firmly refused, and with what sue
cess the following statement will show:
The fire being in the forward part of the
ship, all engines that could work were
placed in that vicinity, and they soon had
as much water in the ship as was thought
advisable. Ia the meantime, Mr.. John
Baker, the stevedore, had employed as
many gangs as could work, in breaking out
and discharging cotton from all parts of the
ship, and more especially forward, in the
vicinity of the fire. Many times, during
the day, the gangs forward were obliged to
suspend work. in consequence OF the dense
smoke; but gang after gang. relieved each
other, and as bale after bale was broken
out, water was introduced nearer the fire,
day, the last bale forward, in the upper
between decks was out and landed on the
wharf, almost in a light blaze.
The woodwork was soon extingnlshed,
and the last vestige Of fire that remained
was in the forward lower hold. The ship
was then promptly flooded to the between
decks by the aid of the tug boats Philip
and at 1880 A. M. on Thursday morning,
less than twenty four hours from the time
the Hagarstown was struck by lightning
and set on fire, the fire was wholly and
totally out, and cargo OF $500 bales OF
cotton saved in damaged condition, and as
fine ship as ever hOated sitting as
gracefully upon the water. to all outward
appearances, az though nothing had
happened-spars, rigging, sails and all
intact. In fact the damage to the ship be- |
low, and what deck had necessarily to
be cut away, can not exceed $4,000.
This is considered by all who witnessed |
it as being one Of the most successfully |
managed fires that has ever occurred |
among the shipping at this port. And too |
much praise can not be awarded to Captain |
Isaac Call, the commander of the Hagers-
town, who during all his trouble did not |
for a moment lose his self-contrOl, but di- |
rected the working of those on board his |
ship as only a thorough seaman can.
And to the fire department who struck |
the first and last blow to the flames. all |
credit should be given them through their |
Chief O'Connor, who never left the ships |
deck while there was danger Of her loss.
The HagerstOwn was a new ship just Oft |
the stocks, built in Richmond, Maine, owned |
principally by one man and uninsured. She |
was to have cleared for Havre on the day of |
the fire and would have carried 5000 bales |
of cotton.
The owner, Mr.. Hager, will arrive in this !
city on Tuesday and will doubtless proceed !
to repairing his ship at once.