The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-01-02
ANorHER srEAMER BURNED.


The Passengers on the Bristol. of the Old
Colony Line, Have n Narrow Escape
from CrematIon-The Vessel Proves
Total Loss.
NEWPORT, R. L, Dec. 31.-The steamer
Bristol, Of fthe Old Colony line, which arrived
from New York about $3.50 o'clock Sunday
morning, was found to be on fire at $40 a. m.
and in short time was destroyed. No one
was injured, though few Newport passen-
gers who had remained in their state-rooms
to await convenient hour for rising, had
narrow escapes, and some of them lost all
their clothing All the baggage, however,
was saved. The steamers freight had also
Fall River and Boston passengers had all
departed, the last train leaving just as the
alarm was given.
The fire started near the kitchen and
spread very rapidly. The fire department.
of Newport, together with the police force,
exerted themselves in every possible way to
check the flames, but the joiner work of the
state-rooms, saloon and stairways was as
dry as tinder and draughts through the
steamer caused fearfully rapid spread Of
the flames, so that before the city fire de-
partment arrived there was mass of fire
sweeping her almost from stem to stern.
Some Of the passengers still on board did
not understand the meaning OF the first
alarm, and were only aroused by the crack
ing Of the flames near by. All succeeded in
escaping, but some with only portion Of
their clothing. One man with two little
children; who occupied state-room. was
awakened by the sound of cracking flamas
and barely escaped with his little ones unI
dressed, but with their clothing in his hands.
All Of the personal baggage of the passen-
gers was saved.
Whe: the steamers arrived the upper
decks and center Of the steamer were a
mass of flames, which gave out such in
tense heat as to greatly impede the work OF
the tiremen. The flames had gained such
headway that they could ouly be fought
from the wharf, while the flying sparks en-
dangered buildings on the docks and other
vessels in the vicinity. A dozen streams
were soon pouring into the flames with lit 10
apparent effect for over an hour, while other
streams were thrown upon surrounding
property. The steamer Pilgrim, which was
in the greatest danger, was with some diff
1
Guilty gotten safely out of the range of the
flames and was kept drenched with streams
of water from her own apparatus,
In the slip to the north lay the freight
steamer City Of New Bedford, which also
had to be kept constantly drenched, and
even then did take fire about noon, but the
flames were extinguished before serious
damage was done. Shortly before eight
o'clock the flames were under such control
as to permit few firemen to board the
steamer aud work from outside the guards
of the lower and second decks. At S:l5 the
port hog-frame fell in and soon after the
port smokestack fell and the starboard side
fell about noon. Two firemen were injured
The crew lost all their clothing
General Manager Kendrick states that tht
insurance of 100000 on the Bristol vii
probably cover the loss. The boat wa:
twenty-five years old, but had been partial
ly rebuilt and was one Of the finest inland
steamers afoat The company has severa
other steamers and traffic will not be inter
rupted