The New York herald., 1875-11-20
BURNING OF THE D. r. MARTIN.
THE FIRE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY
IN1.EAnI ARIRa-wurnE IT nnIc1NArrn-

THE FIRE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED DI
| INcENDIARIEs-wHERE IT ORIGINATED
SEARCHING INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE.
The steamer d. X. Martin belonging to the oppos
tion line Of Staten Island fcrryboats was yesterday
pumped out by the Coast wrccking Company and
towod of shore 10 their dock The damage done by
the rc has not yet been fully ascertaned but from all
appearances will be considerable so far at pres
ent be understood her hull has suffered the flames
having only consumed the Joiner work and scorched
the upper timbers. The hogs back has not in
ured but her machinery s said TO be badly hurt in
far that the cylinder has been cracked and warped
a considerable extent Her shaft is also cracked while
the boiler will have to be replaced by The
vessel insured to the extent of $40 900 in different
companies Her value is set down at $75, O00 She is
the property OF Mr.. Brdscyc and is by that gen
tleman independent of the Staten Island Ferry Com
pany, which, IL will be remembered, enjoined by
Judge Van Worst from operating their ferry after
its first inception in May last
The carried between this line and the old Van
derbilt line is fresh in recollection and the bitterness
with which the old company have sought TO drive its
competitor from tho field is also well known In
fact would SEEM from the inquiries made yesterday
in regard to the burning of the D. R. Martin that tho
disaster is looked upon an accident The actual
origin of the fire has not been definitely asccrained
but 1t is the intention, on the part OF those interested
in the new line, to make the most
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION
with view TO thoroughly determine whether the burn
ing the result Of accident the work Of an
diary. From the statements made yesterday by the
employees the boat, also by some two or three
passengers IL appears 10 be the impression that the fire
could scarcely have resulted from accident These
statements which were made In the hearing of the
HERALD reporter show that the FIRE was first discov-
cred the lower deck between the stairway and the
cooks Kitchen and that at the time IL rs noticed
the vessel being between Robins Reef light and the
old Quarantine landing, the smoke was rushing up
the staircase and emitted strong odor Of oil which
has led 10 the belief that evil disposed person
had dropped some combustble matter at the point
named for the express purpose OF firing the boat This
could easily have been done without attracting notice
by any one going from tho main to the upper deck.
The number OF passengers was exceedingly small IL
being the halfpast three O'Clock r. NJ. trip and the
suppositon is that some cotton waste, just ready
ignite thus thrown down. That tho fro did not
originate in the kitchen has been definitely deter
mined, for there was no lamp III there.
and the floor with iron The stovepipe is also
enclosed within outer pipe of iron leaving free air
passage of four inches clear AT the back OF the stove
too there is air chamber Of some nine inches
protected on the inner side by iron plates. The cook
at the time Of the fire was lying asleep the locker
| cabin. Mr.. Frank Smith, the collecting clerk on the
| Martin; Mr.. 2e Forrest, passenger, and several
Others all agrco to the peculiar smell of oil noticed
when the flames first broke out and it would be DIM
cult to understand how any oily matter could be in the
place referred TO- unless purposey placed there for IL
| is spot entirely away from the engine
II has also been ascertained beyond doubt that as
| was stated IN the HERALD yesterday, there
SLIGHTEST
among the passengers and that their Decentralization
from the burning boat conducted throughout with
the greatest order much to the credit OF the officers
There was, however considerable excitement among
the Staten Islanders the fact becoming known that
the Martin fire. The universal opinion 80 far
could be gathered, was that this another device
OF the enemy to drive the line from the Island
| Mr.. Pendlcton, the manager OF the now company,
states that u is the intention Of the OF the Mar
tin TO Immediately replace her by another boat and that
his agents are now actively seeking 10 charter steamer
for that purpose Indeed he expects, he said TO sec
4 another steamer on the line to-day.
SURVEY TO
The committee and surveyors Of the Board Of Fire
Underwriters will to-day proceed TO the Coast Wreck
ing Companys dock and make survey OF the vessel,
TO determine what the loss Is. Captain Sowleld the
commander Of the Martin has yet made report
but is expected TO do so to-day both 10 the United
States steamboat inspectors and TO the owner.
The two men who were scaldcd by the explosion oi
the steam pipe taken to the Smith Infrmary al
Tompknsville where they now remain. Their inju-
rios are of very painful nature but not necessa
rily considered dangerous.