Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-13
ASAVANNAHB BOAT'SPERIL
FLAMES ON THE TALLAHASSEE
OFF THE HIGHLANDS.

The Cotton Cargo Badly Damaged, But
the ROsin and the Steamer Unharmed
-Heroism of the Officers and Crew
The Losses Covered by Insurance in
Local Agencies.
NEW YORK. Nov. ia fire broke ont
on the steamship Tallahassee, of the Ocean
Steamship Company, last evening, and at
lO:5O O'Clock she was towed up the North
river to pier 80. An alarm of fire was
sent out, and the fireboats Zophar Mills
and William III. Havemeyer went imme-
diately to the scene. The fire was in the
lower hold, and after a great deal of hard
work on the part of the crew and the fire.
men Of the four engines that were subse-
quently summoned, the flames were got
under control.
Captain W. II. Fisher stated that the
cargo was general merchandise, including
5000 bales of cotton and a quantity of
rosin. The vesselIs divided off by matches
into two holds, an upper and lower.
''Just as we were passing the High
lands at 6:3O O'Clock last-night," the Cap
tain said, ''we smelt smoke, and immedi-
ately shut down all the matches. We
discovered that the fire was in the lower
hold. We were at supper at the
time. We Immediately stopped the ship,
and forced a seventy-tive pound pressure
OF chemical gas into the hold, besides
running six lines of hose into cuts to
put out the burning cotton, which by this
time we found was on fire. We lowered
boats, and all was made ready i'm case of
the necessity arising to abandon the ship
There was heavy fog at the time. The
passengers behaved admirably, and were
not at all frightened. There were twelve
passengers and a crew of fOrty-seven on
board the threatened vessel"
Immediately the fire was got under con-
troll at 80, a gang of lOngshoremen
were put to work taking out the injured
and half burnt cargo.
At O'Clock this morning the firemen
began to reel up their hose from the
steamer, and the two fire boats, Patrol and
ZOphar Mills, which were lying alongside
of her, stopped their pumps.
1t was discovered that the fire Originat-
ed between the decks, in the forward hold.
1t was 10 O'Clock before the steamer reach
ed her dock.
AS to all appearances, the hre started
between the boxes and the cotton The
flames had evidently been smoulderIng
for some time. Agent YOnge stated to a
Telegram reporter that no one could tell
the origin of the fire.
As to the damages, he said that the ship
was virtually rs sound as ever, as the
only injury she sustained was to her
matches, which had been partially burn
ed, but they could be replaced for 5000.
The total damage to the cargo, which
was principally through steam and water,
could not be over $4,000.
The naval stores, consisting of rOsin
and turpentine, were saved from ignition
bv flooding the entire hold, the water
being several feet deep in the engine room.
''It is very fortunate that the Taliahas-
see was an iron ship" said Mr.. Yonge;
''if she had been a wooden vessel She
would, in all probability, have been de-
str0yed, her cargo lost, and some of her
passengers burned to death or drowned.
She had 5000 bales of cotton on board, be-
sides a large miscellaneous cargo. The
loss is covered by insurance placed with
agents i'm Savannah"
The Tallahassee is one year old, is built
of iron with an iron deck, and is divided
off into air-tight compartments. She is
valued at $350,000.
The passengers, appreciating the cool
ness and bravery Of the Captain in the
moment of trying danger, addressed a
complimentary letter to him, which was
signed by all of them. Among the names
were j. II. Raine, of Atlanta, Ga; Charles
5. Blum, of Savannah; r. f. Quirk, of
England; William McManus, of Railway,
\. j.; a. G. Stevens, of BinghamtOn, n.
Y, and Captain Sawlole, of this city.