Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-10
SHIPS CARGO IN A BLAZE
DISASTROUS FIRE ON TIE
STEAMSHIP LANCASTER.

tFlames Break Out in the lower Hold,
aud the Stevedore Gangs Narrowly VS.
cape Sufrocation-The Vessel Loaded
with $500 Bales OF Cotton-FIremen
Have Hard Work to Control the
Flames-The Damage Not Yet Known.
At IL 80 O'Clock yesterday an alarm OF
Eire at the Ocean Steamship Company's
wharves was turned In by Officer BuoX,
sot the steamship police, from box 30, at
she Central Cotton Press. The fire was
In the British steamship Lancaster, which
was lying alongside the wharf taking in
"a cotton cargo for Liverpool. After turn
sng in the alarm Officer Knox assisted the
clerk on the wharf to get q line OF hose to
the ship.
The ii re was discovered by Capt. A. f.
Churchill, who was between decks su-
lperintending the loading OF the steamer.
He first saw fire blazing up through the
hatch from the lower hold. 1t spread
with lightning rapidly along the tops OF
she bales between deck, and the gangs OF
men working there had barely time 10 get
put OF the hold, leaving their clothing and
screws in the lower hold.
CLOSING THE HATCHEs.
The matches we're battened down and
The steamers pumps were started with
two lines OF hose running into the for
ward hold, besides the line OF hose from
the wharf, all pouring in streams OF
water. The top hatch was covered with
IA tarpaulin, as the smoke was Intense.
The steam tug Constitution, Capt.
I<4reen, had just arrived up from Tybee
and went to the assistance OF the steamer
and started two heavy streams from the
neeside. The city fire department re-
eponded promptly to the alarm, but in
Jess than half an hour it was apparent
THAT more force was needed, the heat
being so intense, and the reserve engines
were brought out by a second alarm.
With this combined force deluge OF
water was poured into the burning cargo
A1nul IL O'clock last night.
SURVEY HELD.
AT s O'Clock a survey was called, the
BOARD consisting of Mai. James T. Stew
art, Lloyds' agent, Maj. Henry I. Bolts,
underwriters agent and Capts. Stan
hope of the steamship Scaw Fell aud Nicol
lof the Border Chieftain. The board rec
commended that the burning vessel be
Alled with water. This was begun, but
sheVessel was not filled at O'Clock this
morning.
The fire must have been burning some
time before 1t was discovered by Capt.
Churchill. 1t was not two minutes from
the time he saw 1t before ne mad the
matches closed and streams OF water
pouring into the mold.
The ship had between $500 and 5,400
Bales slowed and of this fully 5000 bales
were In this hold and between decks. The
b1lling of the forward part OF the ship with
water and the swelling of the bales in the
Forward hold started the buikheads and
khe water made its way ait, which Of
course damaged the cargo.
DAMAGE NOT KNOWN.
The damage to neither the cargo nor ship
can yet he estimated. The swelling cot
ton, 1t is expected, will raise the decks.
The cause of the fire is unknown. The
vessel had almost her fun cargo in. ex-
peetng TO take 6.100 bales, and she would
have cleared Tor sea tomorrow. The cotton
Is fully covered by insurance, both in
american and British companies, The
ship ia also covered against damage in
hferen' English companies. A further
Euryey will take place at O'Clock this
morning. The entire cargo will have to
lbe discharged TO ascertain tha damages
10 the cargo and vessel.
Tue Lancaster ana her commander,
Cagt. Sleeves, are old traders at this
noft. The steamer was one OF the largest
Uarrlers tor her tonnage of the ships visit
Ing the port.