Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-10-06
A FRANCISCO.
Particulars OF she nurning or ths
sseamer Constitution The story
or she Captain.
l.rrc,.L ~ rue BOLD NIL AL ..wr.l

BAN FnAScIsco, October Cat . P. N.
yesterday the fro on the steamer Constitu.
ton wal finally subdued. On entering
port sho was at once run to Mission bay.
tho passengers and baggage being taken
OF on tugs. Several tugs then surrounded
her and about twenty streams were put
into the cabin and hold. Six holes wero
cut In the port side Of tho hold. under tho
cabin floor. and streams Of water poured
In, and hvo holes were cut IN the star.
I board side and water injected into that
quarter. The state-rooms were Hooded for
two feet and holes bored through tho floor,
leaving tho water TO drain down on where
the hrs was supposed to be. As the pas
sengers wore leaving tho steamer the
flames burst ont for the 1rst time, coming
up tho ventilators and skylights. Streams
oil water were soon thrown down these
outlets and tho flames subducd. II was
impossible 10 penetrate the lower portion
Of the vessel. a. the hops. OF which there
were 227 bales on board. were on fire and
emitted . donse. suffocating smoke. Now
and again q blaze could boz seen from
above, but nothing TO indicate the exact
location Of tho fire. Chief Scanned arrived
ON board Of lf:30 o'clock. At u o'clock
the steamer had listed 10 the stsrboard and
was gradually getting TO that side. At
1l:l5 . consultation was held between
Chief Seaman and the officers OF the com.
pany and the vessel, when II was deter
mined that the shell OF tho hull was on
fre, and 10 would be impossible 10 put out
the flames In tho hops, and tho only ro-
source was 10 scuttlo tho ship. Aboat was
brought around TO tho stern and tho mcn
proceeded 10 cut q hole In her hull. Ven
tilators were cut In tho cabin at tho samo
time and two streams poured down, Tho
ship slowly settled down 10 her guards.
when she rested ON the bottom, All the
afternoon water was steadily poured into
her until she was full 10 within two or
three feet OF tho main deck and the hre
drowned ont. No examination Is possible
At present, hut the fire seems 10 have been
confined 70 thatportion Of the hold between
decks, abaft the paddle boxes.
Captain Soabury gives tho following
account: Al 3 O'Clock this morning VIC
sighted Point Reyes. Al $3.50. whilo the
crew were washing tho decks, D thick
smoke was observed coming up through
the after ventilators and around tile fun
mel, where 10 appeared accompanied by
tongues Of flame. I had tho fire alarm
Immediately sounded, the ventilators
closed, and turned on q stream into the
after hold, judging tho fire was among the
Goals In the hold. There were i've Jets Of
steam turned down, but we found the ship
was slowing down, owing TO the exhaustion
OF steam In the boilers. Al about Ga. n.
Q thick fog settled down. tho ship being
then. - ! Judged, abreast OF Point Reyes.
Tho smoke having invaded the after ga
loon, tho passengers had TO retreat 10 tho
upper deck. They behaved admirably.
not the slightest fright, confusion or anxi.
city being displayed by man, woman or
child. The crow, all white mon, fought
tho frs inch by inch, and worked hard TO
prevent It's spreading 10 the forward
part Of the ship. After tho boil
ors were rendered useless the men
not being able 10 stand by them owing 10
the smoke, wa were forced TO proceed with
only such steam % VIC got from our for
ward boilers, giving vi . speed OF from
four 10 Ave knsts. Az the fog had settled
very thlckly I decided TO get out my
boats, 10 hoist = signal Of distress, aud TO
fire . gun every Ave minutes, which ! con.
tinued 70 do until the powder was exhaust
ed. I had battcncd down all tho matches
and commenced TO fire guns at 8 O'Clock.
] managed TO give tho passengers their
usual breakfast, though the saloon floor
was covered with water and the room
was very smoky. None Of tho signals Of
distress attracted any attention until VIC
ran close into land, when . pilot boat
boarded u.
The passengers praise the ability and
skin Of Captain Seahury. Their story Is
substantially the same ~ that already
They succeeded In saving all their
but describe their voyage from
Point Reyes 10 Ban Francisco Is the long.
est ono they ever made In their lives.