New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-31
NEw-YORk MONDAY DECEMBER 81. Sss.-rEN PAGES
THE BRISTOL IN FLAMES.
LOSS OF A FALL RIVER STEAMER AT NEW
PORT
SOME OF THE PASSENGERS NARROWLY EscAp'
ING FROM THE FIRE-THE STEAMER CITY
OrN W.BEDFORD SLIGHTLY DAMAGED.

~~~--~
ING FROM THE FIRE-THE STEAMER CITY
oFN w-BEDFoRD SLIGHTLY DAMAGED.
Newport II. L. Dec. 3O.-Thc steamer Bristol, Oh the
Colony Line burned in her dock here this morning
Ing She arrived from New. York about 30 am, landed
all her freight and her Fall River and Bos ton passengers
they departed at the usual time for their destina
ton. There were left on board the steamer Only
few Newport passengers and their personal baggage
At 20 O'Clock, Just the last passenger train was
leaving the station, fire discovered on the steamer
and an alarm was at once given from the company's
signal on the premises. The fire started near the
kitchen Three alarms sounded In rapid sue
cession calling the entire fire department and police
force TO the The fire apparatus on the steamer
was brought into soon as the flames were dis
covered and the crew worked with great vigor TO
save the boat, but tho homework OF
the staterooms saloon and stsrways was
as dry as tnder and draughts through
the steamer caused rapid spread of the flames, so
that before the city fire department arrived there
was { mass of fire sweeping almost from stem to
stern.
5ome of the passengers stlll on board did not nm
.lerstand the meaning of the first alarm, and were
only aroused by the cracking of the flames near by
All succeeded IN escaping somo had only a portion
of their clothing and others crawled the railing
to the burning timber One man with two
little children, boy and girl, who occupied state
room, awakened by the sound Of cracking hames
and barely escaped with his little undresscd but
with their clothing in their hands. Another young
man had to borrow clothing In which TO go to his
home in this city. All the personal baggage of the
passengers was saved.
When the department arrived the flames could only
be fought from the wharf side while the great heat
and flying sparks endangered buildings on the docks
aud steamers lying either side of the wharf and
constant effort required the part Of the
fremen 20 prevent them from gnlting
- tbo nutu unoDt
steamer Pilgrim which in the greatest danger as
she lay in the slip TO the south OF the burning steamer
with her bow the BrlSors side. She speedily
warped to the other side Of the slip and several
streams from her apparatus kept her constantly
drenched. southerly wind also aided the workmen
II the wind had been from the norh II IS doubtful
II she could have been moved In time to save her from
great damage. In the slip the north side lay the
freight steamer City of New-Bedford, which also had
to be constantly kept drcnched. She took fire about
noon, but the blaze extInguished- II was
an hour and half after the department arrived before
their efforts made any apprcciabc difference In the
volume of fire. Shortly before o'clock, however,
the flames were far controlled that a few fremen
boarded the steamer and worked from outside the
guards OF the lower and second decks, though In
constant peril from falling timber and machinery. The
hawscrs from the steamer TO the dock were burned
off several times and refastened. and finally
She was bound to the wharf by chains to prevent her
drifting beyond the reach of the fIemen. who were
almost mracuously successful IN keeping the piers
aud buildings from catching fire. Her boilers had
been emptiod of steam before the fire broke out so
that there no danger of explosion Two tugs
from the torpedo station did efficient service in
leading hose from the Pilgrim near enough to the
fire to put a stream into 1t.
At SIS the port hog frame went in with crash
number OF fremen barely escaping with their
lives. Relieved of this weight, the burning vessel
leaned over heavily toward the wharf soon Alter
ward the port smoIestack fell. The hog frame ana
smokcsack the starboard side did not fall until
about noon, the smokostack going frst followed by
the hog flame in sections, greatly imperilling the
nremen The walking beam dropped from It's sup
ports about twelve feet but remained upright One
fireman was injured by being struck by a falling
mast on the head, hut not seriously, Anotl@
fell overheard. but was quickly rescued
All this time the steamer was settling badly and
straining her hawsels so heavily that at 80 p. IN.
they were cut and tug endcavored to pull her out
into the stream but without success, She was then
found TO be on the bottom. 1t was hoped early In
the morning TO save the hull but this was now out OF
the question as It completely guttcd and the coal
was on fire. The hremen and police were Kept haru
at work with only slight ntermsson until night out
coffee and crackers furnished them by the cont
pany and they had good dinner on board one OF the
steamers. The department used all us nose drawing
water from the dock
Acting Chief Engineer Merritt lost a thumb in the
machinery early in the fire. Merritt was taking the
place Of Chief Engineer BIasicr who died yesterday
at his home in Poughkeepsio. The crew lost all ther
clothing and HoOper's Band lost music and instru-
ments CAPTAIN o. u. Simmons, commander Of tho
Bristol stated that he went to his room after the
first passenger train left TO prepare to take the
second train himself and on opening his STATE
room door, found the place full Of steam Chief
officer Thomson saws he first saw the flames In
the direction of the Kitchen In three minutes
hose full OF water actually playing on the hrc,
but the heat then intense that the men could not
work. T. J. Smith, manager OF the western Union
Telegraph Company Le' ewes he was the hrst 10 ulS-
cover the fire. IIc went down to the wharf to take
the train for Boston and while waiting went aboard
the steamer and got cup of cofrce AS he came
ashore he saw flames coming from the main passenger
gangway and spreading around the walking oeanl'
lie told police officer, who struck an alarm MI
Smith then went TO the Old Colony Telegraph once
and informed the Boston office Of the accident. Inc
cook states that he started fire In the range and
soon heard a loud roaring, and at once discovered
the fire. This would seem TO decide almost beyond
doubt that its origin in the kitchen.
When the news reached the Boston office of the
company the officials were speedily warned, and
about o O'Clock a special train of a locomotive and
one car started for this city. Those on board were
General Manager J. Il. hcndrick, General Passenger
George L. Connor, Mr.. J. IL. French and Directors
John l. Brayton and Thomas Borden. They were
iolned here by Thomas Dennis. of this city
Mr. Kcndrck said that the Bristol was twcnty-tw
years old and considered good for ten or fifteen
years more service. There insurance on her Of
500 900 which he thought would cover all tue loss.
As far as accommodations were concerned, the line
has s four serviccablc passenger boats. with new
one, the Puritan, 10 be ready In the spring
>
THE POUGHKEEPsTE BRIDGE OPENED.
Poughkeepse n Y, Dec. 3o.-Ihe first engine
and car passed over the Poughlecpse bridge yes
crday. The bridge was completed several days ago
The train was in charge OF John W. Brock. Of Phil