The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-03
A xrcHnoND SHIP BURNED.
THE SPLENDID STEAMSHIP ISAAC BELL.
OF THE OLD DOMINION LINE. TOTALLY
DESTROYED by FIRE AT PORTSMOUTH
DETAILS OF THE LOSS. &C., &C.

Information was received here late last
evening OF the burning OF the splendid
steamship Isaac Bell, Captain j. Helphus.
which occurred st her wharf at Portsmouth
Yesterday afternoon.
| The fire broke ont about Z. NJ. in the
| forward hold, and spread with great ra-
pidlly. She was lying at the North.street
wharf. Portsmouth, taking on cotton, and
| so rapid was the progress OF the fire that the
shin was wrapped in. flames from stem 10
stern within thirty minutes. The officers
made every effort to suppress the flames,
and worked manfully with the means at
their disposal. The Portsmouth Fire De-
partment acted promptly with their one
steamer, and the Norfolk Department sent
over another engine, but neither could be
used except to protect the wharf property.
Captain Helphus saw that the Bell was
doomed, and gave orders TO scUttle the ship.
! Holes were quickly bored through the bot
tom, hut the cotton was so packed IN the
bold that the water would not flow.
| The ship WAS now all oil fire forward OF
the smokes;aeS, aud the Ltain Summoned
several tugs and hauled the Bell out in the
stream and on the Berkely flats, where she
grounded. The officers aud crew, with
other help, saved some OF the cotton by
throwing il overheard. They then put tue
boats overheard and proceeded TO cut
through the bull at the water-liDe. As the
fire burned the ship lighted up, and was
| drifting away towards Portsmouth with the
wind and tide, but the tugs again made fast
and towed her over on the North-street
flats, where she was left, and gradually
burned TO the waters edge, the expiring
flames lasting far into the night.
The fire originated far up IN the forward
hold amongst the cotton, and is supposed
either to bave caught from an oil-lamp being
knocked down or by friction from the iron
bands OF the cotton as the bales were iammed
together. The Bell was not running as
passenger vessel, but as an extra freight
ship. When the fire broke ont she bad on
board about bali her cargo, consisting OF
800 bales OF cotton, 40 hOgsheads OF tobacco,
and 40 barrels Of rosn, and was dscharg-
ing quantity OF northern freight to 60
south. She came in from New YORK last
night.
The Bell was fine ship, and was built in
1868, and cost over S260,00O. The ship and
her total equipments and contents were de-
stroyod, not more than fifteen or twenty
bales OF cotton being saved. The remains
now on the fats will hardly be worth more
than $4,000 or $4,000. There was no in
surance.
The officers OF the Bell at the time OF the
burning were Captain j. Helphus; j. Ben
nett, first officer ;,J. b. Taylor chief eng!-
peer; w. ii. Mayer. purser; and crew OF
ibirty-two men. She left New York with
an extra cargo on Thursday afternoon, and
reached Portsmouth on Friday night.
When the Bell first came out from New
York she was commanded by Captain ii. a.
Bourne, now the excellent general superin-
tendeut OF the line; a. W. Starke, first
officer, now on shore duty; George V.
Slost, chief engineer. now chief engineer
Of the company; and Nr. John F. Mayer,
purser, now one OF the agents OF the CON-
pany with Captain g. W. Allen, III ms city.
The Isaac Bell made her first trip to Rich
mond from New York in 1868, arriving at
Rockets Monday merning, May 18th, at 10
O'Clock. She brought among her passen-
gers Hon. John T. Hoffman, the then Mayor
of New York; Hon. J. B. Nicholson, Hon.
q. II. Purser, Hon. Owen w. Brennan.
Major j. d. Kelley; Samuel F. Glenn, ot
the New York Herald; General Il. ingalls,,
United States army; Hon. Morgan Jones,
General William MshOne, Hon. Hy. Smith,
Senator Bradley, Judge Bowling, Hon.
Isaac Bell, and other notable persons, some
OF whom have since died.
The principal saloon OF the Isaac Bell
was on the main deck, and contained eigh-
teen large and splendidly-furnished state
rooms. fitted up with every comfort that art
could devise or comfort suggest. Each
s,ateroom WAS furnished with two large
berths, giving the room the air and conf
fort OF a first class hotel. Her saloon was
furnished in the mott sumptuous manner
with divans, sofas, ana arm-chars trimmed
with plush velvet. The panel-work
was composed Of satin-wood, CURED
maple, mountain ash, black polished walnut,
and ebony. Back OF the main saloon was a
ladies' dressing room, fitted up with every
appurtenancc. The upper saloon contained
ten staterdOms; not so completely arranged
az those Of the lower saloon. On the upper
deck the officers rooms we're arranged; all
appropriately furnished. The captains room
was situated Just aft OF the piot-house. at
was perfect palace for u sea-capian, with
eyerythino he could desire conveniently at
hand.
The machinery OF the Isaac Bell was con-
structed at the AlIair Works, New York.
The vessel was built by Lawrence d
Fowlkes, williamsburg, n. Y. The tom
mage OF the steamer was 1,612 tons, new
r measurement, giving her carrying capaci-
ty OF at least 2,500 tons dead weight, and
capacity for stowage on her main deck Tor
ward and in her hold for at least 140OO
nackages, boxes, or barrels OF truck. Her
extreme length was 239 feet; breadth OF
beam, 80 feet over all, So feet; depth OF
hold. 81 feet. She drew about 13 feet load
ed, and 10 feet light.
She had an ordinary beam. engine with
winters cut of, 65.inch cylinder with IL
feet stroke; two boilers, flue, and tube,
with lS7-feet CRATE surface, and 6,OOO-ieet
heating surface, and tested to carry 80
mounds OF steam; 9t feet surface; wheels
were % feet in diameter. She had don
: key.engine OF 32.horse power, which was
. u,ed for loading and unloading the vessel.
and also, in case OF leak or lire, TO
be used in driving steam-pump,
with two connections on the main deck and
r one on the upper for hose. AS iurther
t; protection against fire the vessel had pipes
r leading TO all parts OF the ship for the pur-
0 pose of extinguishing fire by steam, but the
r fire spread so rapidly these pipes could mol
e be used. She was provided with SIX NE
r boats, and every room was furnished WITH
several life-preservers. The ottomans IN
r the cabins were adapted as floats, making
4 more provision against the dangers OF The
:, deep.
!. In 1868 the agents OF this line were
Messrs. William T.. Durham Il Co., wh'
were well and fayorably known in thi
4 community.
!. A few hours after the steamer arrived
: here on her first trip, In accordance with IN
yitations. large number OF our most promi
I nent citizens assembled on board. Amons
( them were many Of our most respected