Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-12-30

y coMpLrTfoN-PoINrs IN ITs ooNsTRUcTIoN-A
NEW FEATURE In wII.MrNo TON IRON sHIP-BUILD-

| ITs coMPLrTIoN-PoINTs IN ITS CONTRADICTORY
NEW FEATURE In wu.MrNo TON IRON sHIP-BUILD-
ING.
The new fire boat which the Harlan 4 Bol-
| lngswortli Co. have been building for the Hsr-
Dor Protection Company Of New Orleans has
been completed. Being the first Of the kind
| ever built in this country, and combining ~ it
does some new principles Of marine architecture,
the entire success which has attended the efforts
of the builders is worthy of more than passing
notice.
The design is Que which has grown out Of the
necessity OF the times The bost 10 builded
wholly Off iron, the intention being to meet two
serious defects which have presented them
selves to the Board of Underwriters Of New Or
leans. who constitute the Harbor Protection Co.
They are at present the owner OF a wooden fire.
boat which the Protector, (the name of the new
steamer) will supersede. With their old boat It
is possible to suppress flames on ship. board,
but usually at loss to the cargo Of about fifty
per cent. It's only means Of defense is the ca
pacity Of the pumps, in the use OF which great
quantities Of sediment from the water of the
Mississippi injure everything that it comes III con-
tact with. To avoid the use Of water altogether
is one of the ends sought to be reached, the
other being the ability to go into the very
midst of flame and rescue imperilled lives. Only
short time ago by the burning OF steamer la
den with cotton at New Orleans several lives
were lost u.uH. ls4. n.Y.
Water pumps, however, are not discarded.
The Protector has two heavy Blake pumps
which will throw Elk streams--four from tho
bow and two aft. One of these pumps has . ca
pacity TO lift 26 600 gallons per minute. Two
thousand feet of hose are. provided which will
withstand pressure OF 450 pounds TO the
square foot and force q stream about $50 feet.
One of these pumps has All inlet OF eighteen
inches, which is SO arranged that . food Of wa
ter may be turned into the hold OF chip, or for
supplying water in large quantities on shore for
steam fire engines and for other purposes. The
MAN reliance, however, is i'll the gas apparatus,
which is entirely novel.
The idea is taken from recent attempts made
in England to provide merchant ships with car
bonic acid gas for the preservation OF their car
goes in case OF ire. These efforts have hereto
fore been small, and never directed a. In the
case of the Protector. They have demonstrated
the utility of the method. however. and proven
that gas ia as powerful W water in the suppress
sion OF flame. Being over fifty per cent.
heavier than air, the gas rapidly displaces the
oxygen, the vital element in combustion, and
filling compartment very quickly smothers ont
a fire. The capacity to generate this gas is very
great in the Protector, sufficient to fill COM
partment 1eOx2Ox20 in ffty.two minutes
The apparatus is being made In Chics-
go by Bsbcock, and consists Of three tanks,
which will be suspended in the after part OF the
vessel. These tanks will be shipped to New
Orleans and be there introduced. From them
gum hose made for the purpose will lead to
the application of the chemicals the gas will sink
in volumes into every nook and Granny Of . ven-
sells hold Its blue color is plainly visible to the
naked eye. It's presence may be tested in the
ordinary way with lighted candle. To remove
the gas after the flames are suppressed it must
be pumped out, and pump isprovided for this
purpose. ... ts.f...l . I....r.
In hor outward appearance the Protector resem-
bles steam ting, being propeller, but is much
larger. She is 1872 feet long, % feet beam and IL
feet depth of hold. Her capacity is 1868. .A3-10O
tons. b Not only is her hull and deck
Of iron, but the joiner work is al well. This
has rendered her construction somewhat ted
ious because of its novelty, it being the irst job
OF the kind ever undertaken by the H. Il II. Co,
or in the United States, but they have succeed
ed admirably with it. and have shown An ability
TO execute the iron joiner work with the same
beauty aud skill which has entered into the con-
struction OF their iron hulls. The entire steam
or is put together in the most substantial man-
ner. Strength, however, has not marred her
beauty, as in model she is most symmetrical and
in finish very neat and tasteful. Upon her pilot
house is placed the Goddess of Liberty with the
scales Of Justice w hsr aeft haoa and dE.wn
- 4 g .sa1 E =
3 81 sss- - zs, at q !s!!!a Q!
efforts OF A. d. Frye the weIl-known New York
| compass Adjuster. and we believe the only ono
now living in the United States, it has been
made to tend in the proper direction. Capt. IT,
| +. Coulbourn. the commander OF the Protector,
has been in Wilmington for several months past
| experimenting her construction. He pronoun-
ces the FIRE boat well built, and her builders "the
best in the world"