New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-17
FIGHTING FLAMES AT SEA.
STORY OF THE FIRE ON THE ALLIANCA ovEH
A MONTH AGO.
STRUGGLE WHICH LASTED THROUGHOUT Z
NIGHr-CoURAGE AND GOODNESS OF
THE CAPTAIN AND OFFICERS.


THE CAPTAIN AND OFFICERS.
The passengers, crew and officers Of the United
States and Brazilian mail steamer Alliance will
long remember their experiences during the voy.
age from Pernambuco to Bahia. when for one
night the c2ew fought the flames in the hold
OF the steamer while the l40 passengers, includ.
ing 1orty-hve women and small children. sat in
the hieDoatS at distance from the ship
Ihe Allianca arrived at her Brooklyn pier yes
terday ana her officers had thrilling story to
tell. On July g. at 9:3O p. m, Joseph Neptune,
the third assistant engineer, discovered blaze
in the upper hold between the main and lower
decks. 1t was then eating its way into 900
oaies OF cotton which were stored there. There
were also 90 barrels Of gum In
the hold, and toward these the fra
steadily made its way The fire bell was sounded
and all hands were called. The passengers
panc-stricken crowded into the cabin. where the
Rev. MIR. Howells Gained them and offered up a
prayer Tor the safety Of the Ship her officers crew
and the passengers
Ihe conduct OF Captain James r. Beers and his
assistants, William Meissner first officer; Joseph
faJtson, second officer Gordon Brandon third
officer; George Van Idenstein, chief engineer,
and his assistants, and j. ST. c. Hunt. purser.
was admirable. With great coolness and per.
tect system they organized to fight the flames,
and the course of the burning vessel was changed
straight for the Rio Real River over 100 miles
away. When she was fifteen miles of shore in
soundingS the anchor was dropped, the boats
were lowered and the passengers sent to a dis
tance, hfe-raft and boat being kept for the
crew if it should become necessary for them To
abandon the ship
Meanwhile the fire had been steadily gaining
ground, and d number of barrels of rum had ex-
ploded, hurting the burning liquid over the space
between decks. The blazing rum as il ran with
the roll of the vessel here and there and through
the bul<headS shot up darting tongues
of blue flames like snakes. Six
streams of water were turned on
the fire and as it spaShed against the heated iron
bulllheads it Kissed and boiled as it turned TO
steam Now followed brave and stubborn fight
Pluck and determination won in the end, and by
3 o'clock in the morning the fire was under con-
trol.
While the fight was raging on board ship, tho
passengers crowded in the boats watched the dark
masses of smoke rising above their heads. The
ship with the hcary baLket hail. L2ing over it was
sombre sight At times those IN the boats
heard the sharp orders of the officers. but they
struggle until daylight At breakfast
time they were able to go aboard, sore,
and stdn, but thankful. The smOke-begrimed
men were glad TO stretch out on the deck until
they were partly rested.
The steamer, after coming up to Roberts Stores
yesterday, began TO unload her cargo. the damage
TO wbeh has not yet been estimated. 1t will be con-
siderable, however. The damage to the steamer
was slight.
Among the passengers on the steamer was the
delegation from Brazil to attend the International
American Congress at Washington. The members
OF the delegation, SenOr Guineraus, Senor
lafayette, wife and daughter, Senior Salvator
Mend )Iza. blln;stnr PleDpCtentiary 10 the con-
ference; Senor Vasco Consoles and Senor S.lvora
Marti1s, were net at Quarantine by Charles X
Flint Conrad n. JordanW. f. Curtis, special agent
of the Department Of State; DR.. A. DeCosta.
Brazilian Charge de'Affaines at Washingto
Jose NJ. Ceballos president o; the South American
Commercial Union: j. VI. Munoz, vice president
of the Spanish-American Commercial Union: r.
G.. Per1a secretary of the Spanish-American Com.
mercal Union, and f. r. Bacon, Of New-Yorl1
They will be the guests of Senor MendOuza at
Ne. &c East Twenty-6rst-st, while in this city.
vote of thanks was given 10 Captain Beers by
the passengers and all spoke in the highest man,
ner of his seamanship and courage.