The morning call., 1893-06-11

rather than endure further hardships.
This is an old story among deep-water T
mariners. however-the same complaint
which has become stereotyped along the
front-so level heads think and wiser men
declare that the Elmbank's crew had no
incentive to so diabolcal crime as an at
tempt to destroy their late ocean home
The story of incendiarism is, therefore,
discredited.
More plausible by far is the theory of
Professor Price, who believes that spon:a-
neous combustion caused the fire. This
gentieman's cool judgment and knowledge
OF chemicals. as subsequent recital will
show, proved the means of eXtinguishing,
or. at least. greatly subduing, the flames
which for awhile threatened To destroy one
OF the finest vessels that ever flung the flag
Of England from her halyards
The Elmbank is not lost, nor is she dam
aged to such an extent that she will be rem
dered unfit TOR further sea duty. Her
cargo, 2500 tons of sulphur-325 tons Of
which had been removed-and 1900 tons of
coal. has. of course, long prior to this pub
llcatinn, gone up in gaseous vapors or
fallen in ashes in her flooded hold
Captain Metcalf, Lloyd's survey or, was
not able up to a late hour last evening to
estimate the amount of damage done the
ship and her cargo by fire and water, bur
rough estimates place it at from $4,000
to 100000.
Nearly thirty minutes before the Fire
Department arrived on the scene the ferry
boat Governor Markham came booming
up the bay under full pressure of steam
and in remarkably short time had four
streams of water playing upon the flames
through the Elmbank's main hatch.
The Markham was quickly followed by
the Fearless of the Spreckels' towboat
line and the tugs Annie and Albert. By
the time these two latter vessels were on
hand Chief Sullivan arrived and informed
them that their services were not needed.
Captain Dan Haskell Of the Fearless
was preparing to 60 into action with sew
eral streams of water, which move on his
part was the signal for controversy, in
which Chief Sullivan. Captain Haskell
and Sergeant Whitman were the princi-
pal actors.
Chief Sullivan ordered Haskell off the
Elm bark. but the doughty captain refused
to obey. Sullivan then caliedsto Whitman
and tod the sergeant TO enforce his orders.
After great deal of argument compro-
mise was effected and the Fearless was
told to stand by in case she should be
wanted.
By this time the Markham had five
streams playing on the fire and two fire.
engines were augmenting her service.
Fumes from the burning sulphur filled
the atmosphere in the virinity of the Elm
bank. 1t was impossible to get men near
enough to the fire to fight it, so it was
decided to close all OF the patches. cut
holes in the ships deck aud smother the
fire.
1t was no easy job getting through the
three inches OF plank decking and one
half inch lining of steel, but after half
hours work this task was accomplished.
Chief Sullivan gave orders that all Of
firm
draw. and that the Fearless should be or
dered to pump four streams of water int
the Eimbank's hold in addition TO the
water which was being pumpsd by the
Markham at the rate of 100000 gallons an
hour. An arrangement was made with
the Fearless by the owners of the Elm
bank that the latter should pay $50 an
hour for the tugs service. 1t was Chief
Sulilvan's object to sink the ship and
flood her cargo.
The 200. 600 gallons or more of water an
hour seemed to have no effect on the burn
ing sulphur, the smoke from which was
pouring out OF every crevice iD the ship
ana nearly suffocating those on board
Ihe Elmbank sank down to the muddy
bottom OF the bay until her stern was only
about ten feet above the level of the water.
AT o:15 O'Clock Professor Price created
CONSERVATION by informing the Fire De-
partment that an explosion was liable to
o.Coi ~ Tue tugs u!u not stop nlllng the
ship with water.
For" explained the professor, ''the
sulphur will float to the top of the water
and burn like oil Gases, which are ex-
pandlng all the while. will be forced into a
smaller space by the rising flood and may
Dlow up the ship"
The announcement had the effect of
making the crowd of bystanders retire
to safe place with alacrity. A consulta-
ton was held between the professor and
Chief Sullivan, and it was thought best to
shut OF the water and send for the
chemical engines. Accordingly these
machines were telephoned for and arrived
at the wharf soon after o'clock.
The Eimbank had settled, stern first, in
the mud, with her bow high out of water.
Volume OF sulpburous smoke were issuing
from her ventila ors. fore and aft, and
plainly told that something must be done
and done quickly too
Inc main hatch was opened to allow
some OF the confined gases to escape, after