The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-10-25
Tire on Board the w. &. Han.

Tire ou Board the W. &, Hall.
Shortly after l O'Clock on sunday
morning the Waterman and third mate
of the steamer w. e. Hall, who were
standing alongside the vessel on the
Interisland Steam Navigation Compauy's
wharf, observed flames issuing from the
forward hatch. They Immediately
seized the hose, which Is always attached
TO the main over night in case OF emer-
gencies; went on board and with the as
sistapce Of the few men who were there,
did their best to battle with the flames.
These were confined to the forward part
OF the hold, where rs bales Of hay had
been slowed the previous day for ship
ment to the Pahala plantation. The hay
had been lying on the wharf Tor some
days previous, and was apparently free
from ignition when placed on board.
No cause can with any certainty be as
signed for the casualty, but the very
probable theory has been advanced that
the recent showers produced a dampness
which resulted in spontaneous combus-
ton. The Waterman states that at II
D. m. he raised the corner Of the tarpau-
lin and noticed nothing unusual. 1t IS
evident, however, judging from the hold
the fire had obtained when discovered,
that some portion OF it must have been
smouldering for a considerable length OF
time. Be this as it may, at 1 O'Clock the
30, tbaf
up through the deck at every vulnerable
point and soon shot up several feet above
it, until it became far from certain
whether or not they could be vanquished.
Precisely at l 40 a. m the intelligence
reached No fire station. Waterman
Townsend, who was in charge at the
time, promptly rang the alarm, and be-
ing joined by his comrades to the num-
Der of about 80, at once repaired to the
spot, the engines from No. l and No. 4
stations arriving shortly afterwards. A
large crowd had now assembled on the
wharf and the scene was one OF intense
excitement Among the members of the
fire brigade the strictest discipline pre-
about 2 o'clock, speaks in euiogistic terms
of the behavior of the men under com
mand of Chief Engineer Charles B.
Wilson. The skiIlful direction of the lat
ter was the means of avoiding any I'M
necessary destruction OF property, and
with the exception Of the removal of a
few planks in the deck and the cutting
of three holes sufficiently large to admit
the hose, there are no signs of the fire
mans Ratchet. BY o'clock the deter
mined and intelligent efforts of the brig
ade had produced d marked effect, by 4
o'clock the fire was fairly under control
and at it was practically extinguished
The cargo in that portion OF the hold
where the fire occurred consisted solely
OF the It's bales of hay already mentioned,
which is so far damaged as to be entirely
useless. A quantity of it has been
thrown out upon the wharf, and much
still remaifs aboard, where it was com
pletely flooded with water. 1t is the
property of the Hawaiian Agricultural
Company.
The steamer has sustained considera-
BILE damage to her timbers, which viii
take at least week to repair. Two OF
her deck frames will require to be re-
moved, as also three of her hanging
knees and about one-third of her deck.
She is owned by the Interisland Steam
Navigation Company, who do their own
insurance. The steamer was built in
1884 and has never met with a casualty
before. She is commanded by Captain
Bates, who claimed to have enjoyed an
absolute immunity from accidents Of a
serious nature during the time that he
has held his certificate. 1t is probable
that the steamer Iwalani, belonging to
the same company, will take the place
OF the w. G. Hall on her next trip.