The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-05-21
BURNED AT SEA.
Narrative of the Loss by Fire Of the
Bark Jorsalfarer.
Nine Days al Sea In Open RoaIs-In-
tereStiBg Narrative by Captain
J. c. =. StOcsen.

The ADVERTISER recently published a
! short narrative OF the loss OF the NOrwe-
/ gian bark Jorsalfarer by fire on her
I voyage from Newcastle, \. s. w, to this
/ port and so much interest attached TO
/ II, that Captain Stoesen was requested
/ by US to furnish a detailed account Of the
voyage. This he kindly consented to do,
more especially as a statement had APP
Peared in a local paper regarding the pri-
I vatiOns OF the men in the boats which
he desired to correct. Although on very
"shOrt allowance" the scanty rations
held out till their rescue, and in all
human probability would have carried
the hopeful and energetic mariners to
the nearest land. Captain Stoesen like
wise desires to express his grateful
acknowledgements to Captain Barstow
for his timely succor, and especially to
Captain Rowland and the officers and
men of his ship for their kindness to
himself and unfortunate companions
during their stay on board. On the ar
rival of Captain Stoesen, he at once re-
ported to Mr.. J. F. Hackfeld, acting
Consul for Sweden and Norway, who
promptly attended to the wants of the
shipwrecked men.
CAPTAIN sTOEsEN's NARRATIVE.
Saturday, February 20, 1886, at 30
a. m, left Newcastle, n. S. w, with
bark Josalfarer of Porsgrund, Norway,
loaded with coal for w. G.. Irwin & Co..
Honolulu t@ship well fitted in every way
for the voyage. At9p. m, outside the
entrance, discharged pilot and tug boat
Set all sails and proceeded on voyage
without anything unusual to remark
Encountered varying weather, mostly
head wind or calms through the S. f.
trades
April 14th, at ? a. M, ships position
4 deg. Al min. south latitude, 153 deg.
Il min. west longitude, the First Officer,
who had watch on deck suddenly called
me and reported that he had noticed
steam issuing from the forehatch, which
had always been kept open for ventila-
ton. Immediately went forward and
saw steam rising from the hold. Went
down to ascertain where the steam came
from, but as no light was used, being
afraid of explosion, nothing definite vas
ascertained. Ordered the matches COW
cred and all air pipes and ventilatOrs
carefully closed up to prevent, if posi-
BILE, the outbreak of fire. As soon as
daylight came, the main hatch was
opened, and thick volumes of black
smoke rolled up through the matches.
Immediately all hands commenced to
jettisOn cargo to get room to overlook
and find out the location of the fire.
Kept on until we were compelled to send
streams of water down on the cargo, as
the dense smoke troubled us exceedingly.
At noon we were happy to see the smoke
very greatly reduced in quantity. While
we were working, flames broke out be-
tween the timbers, but were extinguished.
Kept constantly at work trimming Goals
and sending water down.
April 18th, II 80 a. m, saw the
flames again break out, but again sue
ceeded in getting them extinguished. We
then found ceiling, timber, and outer
skin badly burned, as well as the water
way. Later on, found one of the tween
deck beams under the main hatch badly
burned, and the coal around it cooked.
Continued working without cessation to
dig down the cargo to get to the seat of
the fire, especially along the port side of
ship, where we found the beams, and
knees and stringer beams entirely
burned and gone, as well as some tim
bers. The damaged place measured
about IA feet in length and reached from
the upper deck to three feet under the
tween deck beams. The fire is now
quenched, as far as can be ascertained.
April 17th.-Found that the heat in
hold had greatly increased. Again COM
menced to work the Goals and find, if
possible, the cause of this renewed heat,
but after digging twelve feet down into
the cargo, could find nothing to fear
Work on the coal was stopped. Nenti-
lated the hold to prevent explosion or
spontaneous combustion. Proceeded on
the voyage with light NE. breeze, with
no signs of fire or smoke, but some light
steam issuing from the hold.
April 20th.-Ship in deg. % min. n.
lat, 1876 deg. 81 min. west longitude;
the steam had increased, but after send
ing streams of water down, it was again
reduced Continued working in the
coal, but in spite of all our labor, on the
DIST the steam and smoke had become so
overpowering it was only with the greatest
risk that work could be continued ut
short spells without danger OF sutfoca-
ton. Attempted especially to keep the
mainmast out OF danger. The whole
cargo is now in one mass OF smoke, and
in spite of all our exertion and hard
labor, the fire seems to have spread, the
heat increasing enormously.
April 23d.-Cut two big holes in the
main deck, to enable us to send down
water where it was otherwise inaccessi-
bic. At noon the ships position was y
deg. fl min. north latitude, I58 deg.
IS min. west longitude, and keeping on
her course. Still working with our Mt