Morning journal and courier., 1888-12-31
HOW THE FIRK STARTED.

Captain O. G. Simmons, commander of the Bristol, stated that he went ts his room after the first passenger train left to prepare to take the second train himself and, on open- ing his state room dor, found the place full of steam. An alarm was st once sounded and the crew tried to fight the flames, but made but little headway as the boat was so dry and the flames spread 80 quickly. Chief Officer Thompson says he first saw the flames l in the direction of the kitchen. Fire apparatus was got out and every possible effort made to | confne them to the kitchen where they start ! ed but they were fruitless. In three min- utes a hose full of water was actually on the | fire, and the heat was then so intense that the | men could not work. T. J. Smith, manager | of the Western Union Telegraph company, I believes he was the first to discover the fire. | He went down to the wharf to take the train | for Boston, and while waiting went | aboard the steamer and got g cup of \ coffee AS he came ashore he saw | flames coming from the main passenger gangway and spread around the walking ! beam, He told a policeman, who struck an alarm. Some deckhands say they were at breakfast when the alarm was sounded and they thought at first 1t was only for practice, ! but on going out they found the engine room all on fire. The cook states that he started a fire in the range and soon heard loud roar ing and at once discovered the fire. This
 
 that it's origin was in the kitchen.
 When the news reached the Boston offics of the Old Colony company the officials were | summoned from Boston by special train.
 They viewed the wreck, heard the story of 1 the officers and laid plans for future move l ments Mir. Kendrick said that the Bristol l WAS twenty-two years old and was considered I good for ten or fifteen yrsrs more service l The loss was great, but there was fire in surance on her of $300, ,0o0, which he thought I would cover all the loss. As far as accom-
 modations were concerned the line was al
 right, as they still have four serviceable pas
 sengsr boats, with new one, the Puritan, tC
 be ready in the spring.
 DESCRIPTION OF THE BURNED STEAMER.
 The Bristol was built by Webb of Nev York and her engines were supplied by Johl Roach of Chester, Pa. She was begun il 1861, but was not finished until 1866. Sh was about 300 feet in length and was one 0 . the staunchest boats of the fleet, which ar
 known as model steamers. Her model wa
 of conventional steamboat type, flat ol
 the floor and the wall sided with shor
 bilge midships and with long, wedge lik ends. Her hull was wooden and had bee
 nearly all rebuilt within the past four years
 Her paddle wheels were of ordinary pattern
 Above the hull her superstrusture was diyid
 ed and arranged steamboat fashion in gran
 saloons, cabins, dining salools, social hallf ] offices and other apartments to meet the rt
 quirements of the travelling public. Tn
 grand saloon was on the second dec
 and furnished with very elegant appoin
 ments in upholstery and furniture. It e1 d tended the whole length of the steamer an 2 was surrounded by two rows of stateroom 't The cabins were on the lower deck. Sl
 was lighted throughout by the Edison ele
 tric lighting system and ranked next to u
 Pilgrim in elegance of apartments, but wi le surpassed in speed by her sister boat, u Providence.