New Orleans Republican., 1875-12-30
The New Orleans Fire Boat,

Hollingsworth Company have been building
for the Harb0r Protection Company of New
Orleans, has been completed. Being the
first of the kind ever built in this country,
and com mining as it does some new prin-
ciples of marine architecture, the entire
success which has attended the efforts of
the builders is worthy Of more than q pass
ing notice.
The design is one which has grown out of
the necessity of the times. The boat is
built wholly of iron, the intention being to
meet two serious defects which have pre-
sented themselves to the board of under
writer's of New Orleans, who constitute
the Harbor Protection Company. They are
at present the owners of a wooden fire boat,
which the Protector (the name of the new
steamerl will supersede. With their old
boat it is possible to suppress flames on
shipboard, but usually at 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 quantities
of sediment from the water Of the Missis-
sippi injure everything that it comes in con-
tact 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
imperiled lives. Only short time ago, by
the burning OF steamer laden with cotton
at New Orleans several lives were lost.
Water pumps, however, are not dis
carded The Protector has two heavy Blake
pumps which will throw six streams-four
from the bow and two aft. One of these
pumps has a capacity to lift 10000 gallons
per minute. Two thousand feet of hose are
provided which will withstand a pressure
of 450 pounds to the square foot, and force
a stream about $50 feet, One OF these
pumps has an inlet of eighteen inches
which is SO arranged that food of water
W ha furpn1 intp tho hold NJ pb; n,
for supplying water in large quantities OIL
shore TOR steam fire engines and for Other
purposes. The main reliance, however, il
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 eff
forts have heretofore been small, and never
directed 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
flame. Being over fifty per cent heavier
than air, the gas rapidly displaces the
oxygen, the vital element in combustion
and filing compartment very quickly
smothers out q fire. The capacity 10 gene.
rate this gas is very great in the Protector,
sufficient to fill compartment l00x20x20
in tfty-two minutes.
The apparatus is being made in Chica 90
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 introd uced. From
them 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 a vessels hold.
It's blue color is plainly visible to the naked
eye. Its presence may be tested in the Or
dinary way with lighted candle. To re-
move the gas after the flames are suppressed
it must be pumped out, and pump is pro-
vided for that purpose.
In her outward appearance the Protector
resembles a steamtug, being propeller.
but is much larger. She is l22 feet long. %
feet beam and u feet depth of hold. Her
capacity is l5s43 tons. Not only is her
hull and deck of iron, but the joiner work
is as well. This has rendered her construc-
tion somewhat tedious because of its nov
city, it being the first Job of the kind ever
undertaken by the Harlan g. Hollingsworth
Company, 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 substantial man
ner. Strength, however, has not marred
her beauty, as in model she is most symetri-
cal and in finish very neat and tasteful.
Upon her pilot house is placed the Goddess
of Liberty, with the scales of justice in her
left hand and drawn sword in the right.
This figure was made in Waltham, Massa-
chusetts, by Gushing & Sons. Owing to so
much iron work, some difficulty was expe-
rienced 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 States, it has been made to tend in
the proper direction. Captain T. +. Col
bourn, the commander of the Protector,
has been in Wilmington for several months
past experimenting her construction. He
pronounced the fire boat well built, and her
builders "the best in the world"
At ten o'clock tomorrow morning Cap
tain Colbourn proposes to sail for New Or
leans. To-day the steamer will drop down
to one of the wharves below Market street
bridge. The voyage will be made outside,
quarters being fitted up on
board the steamer for the officers and sea-
men, and enough coal having been put in
to last for seventeen days. In leaving VIII
mington Captain Colbourn will part with
many friends, whom his warm-hearted, gen.
erOus nature has made for him here, and
who will regret his departure. He desires
us to say to them all, as he can not to many
Of them, FAREWELL Wilmington (Dela-
,care) Commercial.