The morning call., 1893-09-16
Ship From Glasgow With
Burning Coal.
THE HOT STUFF OVERHEARD.
Tempestuous Voyage of the British
Ship Gantock Rock-Steamer
Adrift on the Bay.

vain AlOuSCbs Loo OoD Ilbm 0ldoSOnt al
rived here yesterday with her cargo Of
c0aI:burning. She anchored in the stream
some distance up, and it is thought she
will have no further trouble. Throughout
the voyag ge fear of fire was constantly en-
terlaiued. and tests were frequently made
By long steel rods carried specially for that
purpose. These rods were driven through
the cargo at the several matches and al
lowed to remain.
''Soundiugs" were taken in the Atlantic
and about thirty days out the coal showed
signs Of heating, but no fire develop ped.
Toward Cape Horn the heat diminished.
and it was hoped that the embryotic fire
had been smothered of its own accord.
Coming up on this side heat again de-
veloped. and on September thick smoke.
heavily laden with gas, poured out of No. 2
hatch. All the matches were imm ediateIy
taken off TO avoid dangerous explos ions,
and as many hands as could conveniently
work were set TO shoveling the coal on
deck, whence it was thrown overheard.
Steam was meantime raised in the donkey
engine and the coal was hoisted over
hoard. The burning coal was confined
to space OF about nine cubic feet between
decks directly beneath hatch q After six
hours hard and very hot work all the live
coals was got out and Immediate danger
averted.
About the same time the coal beneath
hatch was tested with the steel rods and
showed signs of much heat, but in the last
wepk II has cooled somewhat though
1t Is certain there must be a smoulderipg
fire amidshipS now.
In his official report of the fire Captain
ArenScn takes occasion TO express to Stew
art MenZeS of this city his grateful thanks
for valuable information about coal car
goes, which he sent to Captain Arensen
before sailing. Without this knowledge
Captain Arensen could not have located
the seat OF the fire. which be did with the
steel rods, nor would ne have known so
we'll how to handle the coal.
When the Breidablik was loading much
rain fell and the coal under the hatchways
got wet and the dust thickened into paste
AS the burning coal was located only
under Nos. 2 and 3 batches it is evident
that the fire resulted from spontaneous
combustion caused by moisture.
About 80 tons were jettisoned and there
is scarce doubt that considerable coal at
No. hatch is damaged. ]
There was Dit of excitement about
O'Clock yesterday afternoon over apparent
danger TO the Stockton steamer J. T. Pc
ters She was backing out of Howard
street pier when her iiller-chain broke. A
strong ebb tide carried her rapidly toward
tug Elizabeth and the tug Sea Witch started
to her assistance, the two first named get
ting hold of her and towing her to her
berth. She got away one hour late.
The British ship Gantock Rock, Captain
Pike, l49 days from Antwerp, with general
merchandise. arrived yesterday. Hers was
a very stormy voyage on the Atlantic side.
On June II she encountered a very heavy
gale in latitude 40 south, longitude 46 west
She was struck by sea which started the
whole starhoard side of the iron deck
house. Another ssa struck the quarter
breaking the wheel tackles and smashing
the wheel to pieces, filling the decks from
rail to rail and doing other damage. The
carpenter had failed 10 join the ship at
Antwerp. but Captain Pike, with two men,
made a temporary wheel and in twenty
minutes had it connected with The steer
ing gear. So we'll was the work done that
it served its purpose through the whole
voyage and not single flashing had TO be
altered
After a succession of strong north
northwest gales she encountered a whole
gale from the southeast on July 10. The
decks were continually flooded, and one
heavy sea burst in the cabin, filling the
saloon, storeroom and officers quarters
and doing considerable damage.
The schooner Rather arrived yesterday,
twenty days from Copper Island. This is
the Rattler's first entry into this port.
though she is owned here. by her master,
Captain Fred Nelson, and Roscoe
Wheeler. She sailed from Gloucester,
Mass. and was 130 days to Hak odate
Her catch was 64S skins. In the storm Of
May she lost her stern dingy, a sea un-
shipping the davits She spoke the
seven boats in the same storm. The
schooner Mary Thomas was to leave Cop
per Island the Gay after the Rather sailed
and is due to-day. Her catch was 1925
skins.
Mr.. Reed. first officer of the Arcata, has
been promoted 10 captain. anu will have
command OF tha. vessel She will be
ready 10 60 on the Coos Bay route. under
the management Of Goodall, Perkins &
Co.. in about TWO weeks.
The freight for New York by the steam
ship Keweenaw, which sailed from here
August 10, reached New York September
IL. She has freight which lett New York
August q, and If she arrives as expected,
next Monday, she will have brought mer-
chandise from New York IN twenty eight
days, which is the best time ever made
across the isthmus. and not bad time for
overland freight.
IL is reported that the American ship
Eureka, which left Valparaiso for Damp
ton Roads and put back leaking. has been
condemned. The report has not been con-
frmed.
A new steruwheel steamer, the E. d.
Smith. has been launched on Puget Sound.
and will engage In freight and passenger
trade. She was built at Lowell, on the
SDOhOmish River, by Albert Hinkmort
Captain John Petersen has been ap-
pointed master of the Alaska Packers
Association steamer Hattie Gaze. The
steamer now has a Government contract
for towing rock barges at Port Hartford.
Captain Nathaniel f. Percy has taken
command OF the ship Standard, vice his
son. Captain E. p. Percy. who brought the
vessel out from Philadelphia. The Stand
ard will sail to-day for Liverpool with a
full cargo Of wheat.
Captain A. Holmberg has succeeded Cap
tain Mein In command of the schooner
John Lambert
FOR DISABLED HORSES.