Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-09-27

pears, but they
RorrED WITH THE PEACHES.
Even had they been sound they wonld scarcely
have brought moro than half as much Us in our
own markets, FOR pears, excellent quality, were
plentiful and cheap III liverpool and London,
1t will be remembered that the steamer sailed
on the 26th of August with fifteen tons of ice
in the refrigerator. which Mr.. Bate insisted was
amply euitcient and even said that a smaller
amount would carry the peaches safely over. AT
the time of starting the temperature in the re-
frigerator was only down to 66. but fell to 81 at
g As the same night. On the 9th it had sunk to
81, and at A, M. on tho 25th to -. This was the
lowest point touched during the whole voyage.
AT II NJ. on the 30th, the mercury had risen to
81 degrees, and at ~ p. NJ. to SO degrees, the
tendency being still upward. At noon on the
3lst 1t indicated 81 degrees.
OPENING THE EEFaro orator.
A consultation was then had with the ships
officers and it was concluded to open tile refrig-
orator, which was done at p NJ. The steamer
was then off tho Banks OF New Fouudland, in u
fog which was allowed to partially subsda be-
fore the hatchos were removed In order to get
Mt the refrigerator, which was in the centre Of
the compartment, Immediately under tho galley
where the cooking i'd done for the seamen, some
fifty or sixty crates of peaches had to be re-
moved and ut this tina the fruit was in line
coudtion-dry, firm, and with no indications OF
decay except an occasional speck from bruise.
and the yellow varieties. The refrigerator was
found TO be bare of ice, perfeoly dry, aud with
no indication that ice had ever been put into it.
PUTTING IN MORE ICE
C,pt. Morrison then furnished ten tons Of ice
from the ships storcs which WAS put into the
refrigerator, tho fruit returned INTO its proper
place, except one crato or Reeves Favorlte
which was stored i'll the ehps ice-room, the
matches scaled down ut 10, one hour and a
quarter after the compartment was opened, and
tile fan started. The mercury then stood at Sc.
1t was found that tie more rapid the revolution
OF the fan the greater the friction of the atos-
phere and the more rapid the consumption Of
ice Consequently the speed was reduced ono
half aud subsequently the fan stopped altogeth-
or On September LIST the mercury averaged "a
AL day, but on the 2nd, at p III it Lad risen To
5G When 1t was
CONCLUDED THE ICE WAS GONE.
Tie temperature clntinu ID to rise, and on
the night of the 81 it had reached 80 degrees ;
on the 4th, at 7 A. NJ. it stood at 60, at z. NJ
Mt G3, at r. NJ. 81, and at s A. M. on the 9th at
TO- when the blower WAS disconnected. All day
long Oh the 5th the temperature remained at
about the same figure, but at A. NJ. on the 9Th
the tendency was still upward the mercury then
marking "A. AT A. NJ. on tho 9TH the steamer
anchored in the Mersey in front of Liverpool.
Five hours later it was attempted to ascertain
the Temperature in the refrigerator, but the
fermentation and decomposition of the fruit had
produced mist which had settled on the glass
30 thlcLly that the Thermometer could not be
seem The fau was then eet in motion, the
moisture dispeled from the glass, and the mer-
cury was found to be. standing at 90 while the
temperature was only G5 in the open air.
AwAI1INa THE SHIP.
The approach of the ship had been telegrai ihed
from Brow Head, and early on the morning of
her anchorage in the Merscy large number OF
people had gathered on the piers to watch the
landing of the fruit. Dealers put out from the
shore in tugs and boarded the ship, but were dis
mayed to lind that the peaches were all rotten.
GA communication of tins intelligence to land
tue crowds Dispersed. Dealers had come down
from London 10 make purchases, and it was
stated that mn agent OF the Queen had been dis
patched to Liverpool to LOOK after supplies for
the Royal family.
DISPOSITION or THE PEAcHEs
AIS A. NJ. on the 7th, the matches were re-
moved and the refrigerator opened. \ torrible
eight and smell greeted tile eyes and nostrils.
The peaches had all spoiled, save an occasional
sound one which was found III the centre Of the
crates. and we've soft mushy and sour. They had
settled down in the crates about two and a half
iuohes, being pressed into each other. Fermen-
tation had gone on for couple OF days at least,
and the gases and vapors from the decaying
fruit filed the compartment with an atmosphere
which sat the brain TO reelinS upon entering IT,
One stevedore u strong, bury lrshmen, wac
overcome BY IL and had tn be removed. Tho
peaches were III good conditiOn Tor dlst,ilhtoh
and Mr.. Lockward undertook to sell them for
this purpose hut could find no purchasers. Ho
finally was compelled to give them away, with
the crates to procure removal from the wliafves
where they had to be landed, it sbeing unlawful
to throw them into the river. What finally be-
came of the fruit ID not known.
PEACHES THAT DID 90 SAFELY OVER.
The crats OF Rieys's Favorite which was
stored away in the ships Zee room was examined
after 1t had boen therein about twehty-tonr
hours and was found to show si6ns of decay. 1t
WAS then removed the best of tho fruit wrapped
in paper, amounting to probably half-bushel
aud put back in the ice room These were not
disturbed again uut,l the arrival out, when
tho wrappers were rem oyei and the peaches
found to be in excellent condition.
pnoBABILIrIEs ABOUT PRICES.
Itis believed that had the peaches been car
riel safely over. ths growers would hsve been
disappointed in tile prices obtained. Dealers in
Liverpool vino had opportunity for knowing the
probable prces which the fruit wonld have
| brought say that they would not have exceeded
! a. 80 per crate Ill our money. Their reasons foi
| 40 believing were the quantity OF peaches theii
| in market from the Continent--ine, large frnit,
larger thau our own, but tastsess. Besides. at
that time 10 many of the.nobihty we're ont OF the