Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-16
TINE PosT-INTEllIcEMcER PUB. ca
An HyENTPUE VOYAGE.
the steamer Niagara.
Now York World
Seattle. June 10. 1888.

Inc bL00Iu6T NldQhId, WulCu tOOk uI6
and was scuttled near Indian Keys the
18th inst. arrived here from Havana
Yesterday and ia now at Lower Quaran-
time, where her cargo is being discharged.
Her passengers will come up TO the city
this morning, but the steamer will not
reach her pier until Friday or Saturday,
owing to the quarantine restrictions re-
RardinQ incoming vessels from Infected
ports. Fhs niagara brought a full oar
20 and number Of passengers. Among
She latter we're Sen0r Juan Cevall0s.
Ths vessel sustained bnt little damage
through her mishap, the only repairs
pssdsd being carpenteTinR work to be
doue in the hold.
Captain Baker came to the clty i'm
meaiateiy altar the arrival Of his steam
sey, and was seen by \ reporter OF the
World at ths offioe 0f Ward 4 Co., the
aspsts Of the lins, No lib Wall street.
.About 4 o'clock Thursday, the 18th
instant" said he, "while We were few
miles Oh Florida Reef, smoke was dis
euyersd by ono of the sailors issuing
fsom the opsn matches. Without in
vsseigaiiu0. ordered the matches TO be
hattsued down 70 cHt on Ventilation.
The boatswain and the tirst ofiiCer were
thou loveged With ropes around their
SaiG1s With ths intention OF finding the
sxace locality oi the 6re. bot on opening
eos Of the side lights they were repulsed
b. the smoke, vhi0h issued In q cloud
With . sound resembling escaping
oap. Tue vsssa vas thsn before the
Wtad end ] ordered the enQinss 70 be
9Dppsd whiIs the vesssl was headed for
15orids kssf. Hteasn was then forced
Snfn ahn bnlxN H.~>sx AA.A xsSra,ox. k,.s
failed 70 extinguish the flames. About
lhia time the English dtsanaer Com.
naonasy was sighted, and Mftsr exshang-
n dgnAls sho Game mp 10 N and the
maila and our So passengers were placed
On board OF her.
''Hoon after We stored over Alligator
Reaf and entered q si.all bay about one
and half miles fr0m Indian Keys.
The place was Calln and sheltered, aud
~ found . spot Whsse there was but
nove0teen feet Of waseg and began prep
sSatious 70 scuttle the ship. Chief En-
atnosf Fowler was lowered over tho side
and opened the valves, dangerous nm
dsgtaking for which he deserves much
praise. We started the pomps and lot
tho water run In until the ship sunk.
Tho svatsy was than about four fest
ahove ths cargo, but the decks were
olear. We remained in this position all
night and at Z O'Clock the following
mornipg the matches were thrown open
and % alarted the pumps, uAing steam
from the donkey enRines. After throe
hours stsady pumping the vcesei va
clear. A few minutes after the hre
aeaiu broke Out and we Let great deal
OF watar run INTO the hold, and alss
directed several lines Of steam into the
Aoad,
"After sxtinguishinQ the fire second
time We passed. oyer the reef at high
tide and arrived at Havana at o'elOok
,. n. We were at Havana one hour
I'm the fire again brake ont, but w
euooscded In putting out the flames with
water from the steam pumps. limmed.
iaAsly ordered q survey OF ths vessel and
oasRo, and thxoo AmerioAn ship-builders
vent through the vessel and discovered
that The fro had originated Am0ng some
ohamioals. We then sse 70 work dls
oharuino cargo, which occupied sixty
meu, WORKING day and night. Tor forty
eiaht houro. We fonnd the cargo was q
1o1al loas, exoop1 sosne lard and bacon,
vhiph vas mot damaged. Tho shig
~ thoroughly elsansd and inspected
and found 10 be uninjurod. We took u
caro- and left the city the follovins
Friday. We arrived at Quarantine a
1910 Shis morning."
sWas thsre no exoitsmeut among thu
pospsnRsru vhsu tAe 6re was discovss
edfa aSked the rsportsF.
ssNone whatever. We assured them
that thero was no danger. and every
body Was oool and collected. TIT
women, three in number. we're some
chat nervous, and anxious 10 leAve th,
vsaaal. They we're the firse 10 be trans
ferrsd 10 the EnQlish steamer"
'How do you account for the tires" !.
at cannot DO accounted for except ]
b. attributed 20 spontaneous combus
Sion. When the 6rs occurred it wai
terribly hot. We had to cass ssvera
earboys Of vitriol overheard for feal
they would explode, but We did 10
touch the chemicals In the hold. IL i
ssldom that We experience weather Q
insuGegahly warm. Even the wind u
aelf Was like the heat from . nre - i
bleW across our faces."
1hs vessel will leave port fos Havana
- soon a. her burned woodwork 70 re'
placed.