The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-20
THE BARK ARDENLEA.
SHE Is DISCOVERED TO BE ON FIRE
AND is THREATENED WITH
TOTAL DESTRUCTION.
The Protector Comes tn Her Assistance
and saves Her

At 3 o'clock Wednesday morning fire, caused
by spontaneous combustion, broke out between
decks Just forward the main hatch, In the bark
Ardenlea. lying at the wharf. between Third
and Fourth streets. on the outside OF the ship
Sciota.
The flames burst forth with great fury from
the main hatch. and the cry of fire being given
the officer on the beat sounded an alarm from
box 6. which brought the harbor protection boat
Protector and the fire department to the scene
AS the bark was lying outside of the ship Sciota
it was very inconvenient to work on her. and at
the same time as it endangered the ship on the
inside. she was taken in tow by the Protector
and moored at the foot OF Fourth street. As
the flames at this time appeared to be gaining
considerable Roadway Chief OConuor had the
pipes of engines % and % to play ia the ships
hold, but as soon as Capt C0lburn. of the Pro-
tector, had his apparatus In a condition to
pump the carbopic acid gas in the shin the chief
wi ndrew the pip and battoned down the
matches. alter which the engines We're set to
work pumping in the gas.
In very short while a light was lowered into
the ships hold. VIII CD, before descending six
inches, went out, thus proving conclusfvely
was not a vestige Of fire to be seen.
The tugs on the, river, in large numbers;
wanted to pump her full OF water Capt. s ter
ling Informed the captains OF the different tugs
thar they must keep away from his ship. as she
WIS III Ine UdnOS Oh the trOb6GtOr, In Wnlcn
boat he had perfect Confidence SO far as the
savll OF his vessel was concerned
After Capt. Colburn bad filled the ship with
the gas he allowed her matches to remain I'M
disturbed until o'clock yesterday. when the
forward hatch was removed and u diver low
cred. who returned on deck again and repoi tad
that ne could not see particle OF fire remain
ing that the ship did not appear damaged at
all. and he did not think that there were over
200 bales of cotton damaged by either fire or
water.
The Ardenlea was loaded with s7o7 bales Of
cotton. 1000 barrels Of soap stock and so barrels
u oil. She was TO leave yesterday for Liver
pool The registered capacity Of the Ardenlea
is 1884 tons burthen.> She was built at Bath In
1859, She is owned by parties living in Green
insured in home com panies. and the
Vaughn. No. 1913 Gravier street, ara her agents.
Capt. Sterling. commanding the Ardenlea.
was Interviewed by. q DEMOCRAT reporter. to
covered the fire found the decks very hot. and
Was almost convinced that the destruction of |
the, vessel was certain. The fire department
to whom had given the vessel In charge, was |
pumping gas into her. The tugboats. to large
number. came up and wanted to put water into |
The bark 4 hold, but would II ot permit them.
shortly after the Protectorlhad been at work |
the decss rapidly coOled off. and there was no |
indication Of fire on boaru. Now am satisfied |
as barbor boat, and am satisfied that the dam |
age viii be very small compared 10 what 1t would |
have been had the fire on board been extin- |
guished by water"
The work Of unloading the vessel will be |
stared this morning,
- While Mr., Luke FIemming. housekeeper of |
at the corner of st. Andrew and Annunciation /
streets, the horse Pat Hagerty SHE'D at a milk |
cart and, falling, broke its left hind leg in three
eo ah s 10 tne greo OF ne re ooys
PAT. the match ess steed had been an old fire. |
man, having run with the boys for six years.