Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-31
Quilted BY FIRE.
Old Colony Steamer Bristol Burned at Her
Dock.
Narrow Escapes for Passengers and
Fhemen.-s3oo, 900 InsuI ance.

PROVIDENCE. Dec. 80.
The steamer Bristol, of the Old Colon,
Line, was burned at her dock here thu
morning, being a total loss. She arrive,
from New York about 2.30 A. NJ, and land
ed all her freight, and Fall River and Bos
Ton passengers. and they departed on tim,
for destination. There was left on boarC
but few Newport passengers and their per
sonal baggage.
At q 20 O'Clock Just as the last passenge
train was drawing out of the depot, nre was
discovered on the steamer and an alarm
given from the company's signal on III,
premises. The fire started near the kitch
en- and spread with great rapldity, rendering
futile any efforts to sop It's progress. 1hre,
alarms were sounded IN rapid Succession
calling out the entire tre department anC
police force TO the scene.
Thousands of ciuzens were also attracted
to the spot by the brilliant illumination anJ
the volume of fire and clouds of smoke
which arose from the burning steamer. The
nre apparatus on the steamer was brought
into uee soon as discovered and worked
with great vigor TO save the boat, but the
JOINER work of the staterooms, SALOON aud
s.airways were as dry as uuder, and the
uraughIs through the steamer caused fear
tul spread of the flames, 80 that before The
lre department arrived there Was u macs OF
hire sweeping her almost from ST, m 10 stern.
lhe passengers slllI ou tile steamer didn
understand the meaning OF the nrst alarm
ana were only aroused by the cracking OI
the flames ns ar by. Ali succeeded IN escap
ing safely, some with only portion OF tneIr
Clothing aud others cLnolns over the railing
lear to The burning umDers.
Two tugs from the torpedo station did Ell
clent service, Ieadtug the hose from the P,i-
grim n. ar enough to the tire 10 put str,am
lAto II.
AT sl5 the port hog frame went in with IA
crash, u number OF nr. men barely escaping
With their lives. Relieved Vi lhis ~eish.
she leaned over toward The wharf. Soon
after the port smokt-stack tell, but the hog
frame aud smoke stack Oil the slarUOard side
stood we'll and didh', iaii until about noon.
The sin Ike-stack going nrst, iol.owed by the
hog frame, III sections, greatly lmpenlllng
the bremen.
All TINS ume the steamer was settling bad
ly and STAINING her ha~strs So h.a'hy That
NJ 80 tuey were cut And ,he lug aNofeu
to pun her out Into The stream, but ~Huou
success, belng solid Oh the ottom. IL was
hoped IN Tie early part of the moruIng 10
save her hui, but II MAS now out OF the ques-
ton as 1t WAS completely gutted AMI me coal
was Oh flre. he n!euien And poilce worked
steadily uli night The department useu al
vi the huse drawing the water from the dock
Acung ChIet Engineer Merritt iIst n tnlmb
III the early part oI the TIRE, having 1t eau. n,
III the machinery. Merritt was takIng the
place OF InIef Engineer Braiser, Who Uy
singular colncldence, died yesterday al his
home III fous shkeepsie. The crew lost ali
of their cl, thing aud Hooper's Band lost
Their instruments AMI muse.
Capt. U. u. oimuous, commander of the
Bristol, stated that he went 10 his loom al
ter the hrst passenger train lett to pr, par,
tu take tht second train himself, and un OPP
enilg his stateroom door found the place
full ot smoke. The alarm MAS al once
sounced and the crew tried lu fight the flames
but made little nea1way, as the Doat was dry
and the flames spread quickly.
chef Ufhcer thompson saS he first saw
the IL tine, III the direcIol OF the kitchen
he tire apparatus was got out and every
possible enort made To contine the flames Io
The kitchen where they started but trultless.
In three minutes the hose tuIl of water was
s,tuaiiy vu tnre anu tiIe meat 81 lnIepse tnal
the men couldn't work.
ut COOk edstb siidt ut uIt
the range and soon heard loud roaring ana
at once discovered fire. This would seem to
decide almost Oey ond dot Lbi that It's Origin
was III the kitchen.
When the news OF the fire reached head
qu, rters. OF he Old Colony Co. III Boston, Il
SPECIAL train started tor TINS city CONSISTING
of al engine and one car, carrying General
Manager kehdIiCks, Passenger Agent Geo.
l.. Connor, j. Ii. French and directors
Bray ton and Thomas Borden. hey ser,
joined here by dir, ctor Ihos. Dennis OF
Inls city They reviewed the wreck, heard
the story of the officers ami laid plaIs for
future movements. kendrick said the Bris-
tol was - years old and considered goud
for 10 OF 10 years more service. The los
was great, but the hire insurance, $500, 900,
he thought would cover all tue l,ss
As far AS accon modations were concerueL
the line was all right, as they have stlli tOui
serviceaDle passenger boats, with a new one,
the Puritan, ready IN the spring The Btls-
tol was built by Webb OF New York; engine
supplied by John Roach, Chester, Ia. As
soon AS practicable preparations will be maue
to get the Old Colony ready 10 20 on tonight
in place of The Bristol.