The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-30
THE NEW ORLEANS FIRE BOAT.
THE PROTECTOR COMPLETED.

THE PROTECTOR COMPLETED.
From the Wilmington (Del Commercial, o
the 23i inst we take the following interest
ing description of this boat, now on the way
to this port:
The new fire boat which the Harlan & Hol
lngsworth Company have been building fol-
the Harbor Protection Company of New Or
leans has been completed. Being the first Of
the kind ever built in this country, and com.
bining, as it does, some new principles OF ma
rine architecture, the entire success which
has attended the Efforts of the builders is
worthy of more than passing notice
The design is one which has grown out OF
the necessity of the times. The boat is
builded wholly of iron, the Intention being to
meet two serious defects which have pre-
scented themselves 70 the Board Of UnderWrit-
ers of New Orleans, who constitute the Har-
Dor Protection Company. They are at pres
ent the owner of a wooden fire-boat which the
Protector, the name of the new steamer, will
super.ede. With their old boat it is possible
TO suppress flames on ship-board, but usually
at a loss to the cargo of about fifty per cent
Its only means of defense is the capacity OF
the pumps, in the use of which great quanti-
ties of sediment from the water of the Mis-
sissippi injure everything that it comes In
contact with. To avoid the use of water alto
gether is one of the ends sought to be reached,
the other being the ability to 60 into the very
midst Of flame and rescue imperilled lives.
Only a short time ago by the burning OF a
steamer laden with cotton at New Orleans
several lives were lost.
Water pumps, however, are not discarded.
The Protector has two heavy Blake pumps
which will throw six streams-tour from the
bow ana two aft. One of these pumps has
capacity to lift 26,0 900 gallons per minute
Two thousand feet of hose are provided which
will withstand pressure of 45O pounds to the
SQUARE foot and force stream about $50
feet One of these pumps has an inlet OF
eighteen inches, which is so arranged that
food of water may be turned into the hold OF
a ship, or for supplying water in large quaint
ties on shore for steam fire engines and tor
other purposes. The main reliance, how
ever, is in the gas apparatus, which is entirely
novel,
The idea is taken from recent attempts
made in England to provide merchant ships
with carbonic acid gas for the preservation
of their cargoes in case Of fire. These Efforts
have heretofore been small, and never di-
rected as in the case of the Protector. They
have demonstrated the utility of the method.
however, and proven that gas is as powerful
as water in the suppression of fame. Being
over fifty per cent heavier than air, the gas
rapidly displaces the oxygen. the vital ele-
ment in combustion, and filling compart-
ment very quickly smothers out fire. The
capacity TO generate this gas is very great in
the Protector, sufficient to fill compartment
100x20x20 in fifty-two minutes.
The apparatus is being made in Chicago
by Babcock, 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 a gum hose made for the purpose will
lead to any desired part of burning ship,
and upon the application of the chemicals the
gas will sink in volumes into every nook and
Granny of vessels hold. Its blue color is
plainly visible to the naked eye. Its presence
may be tested ia the ordinary way with
lighted candle. To remove the gas after the
flames are suppressed it must be pumped out,
and pump is provided for this purpose.
In her outward appearance the Protector
resembles steam tug, being propeller, but is
much larger She is 122 feet long, 20 feet
beam and IL feet depth of hold Her capacity
is 15S. 43-100 tons. Not only is her hull and
deck of iron, but the joiner work is as well.
This has rendered her construction somewhat
tedious because of its novelty, it being the
first job of the kind ever undertaken by the
II. & Fl. Co., or IN the United States, but they
have succeeded admirably with it, and have
shown an ability to execute the iron Joiner
work with the same beauty and skill which
has entered into the construction of their iron
hulls. The entire steamer is put together in
the most ubstantial manner.
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 LIB
erty with the scales of justice in her left hand
and drawn sword in the right This figure
was made in Waltham, Mass, by Cushings 4
Sons. Owing to SO much iron work some
difficulty was experienced in adjusting the
compass but under the skillful Efforts of A. |
d. Frye, the well-known New York compass |
adjuster, and we believe the only one now
living in the United Sta es, it has been made |
to tend in the proper direction. Capt L. f. |
Couloourn, the commander of the Pre- tector, |
has been in Wilmington for several months
past experimenting her construction. He
pronounces the fire boat well butt and her
builders " the best in the world"
At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning Capt.
Coulbourn proposes to sail for New Orleans.
To-day the steamer will drop down to one of
the wharves below Market Street Bridge.
Those who desire to witness her departure
may do SO from the bridge in the morning.
The voyage will be made outside, comtorta-
BILE quarters being fitted up on board the
steamer for the officers and seamen, and
enough coal having been put in to last for
seventeen days.
No Accounting for Grant.