New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-22
WITH HER CARGO BURNING.
THE ROANOKE COMES TO PORT WITH FIRE
IN HER AFTER HOLD.
NO PANIC ON BoARD-SIX FIREMEN OVERCOME
DY sMoXE-coTToN AND TURpEN-
TINE CLOSE TOGETHER.

TINE CLOSE TOGETHER.
The steamship Roanoke, Of the Old Dominion
Line from Newport News Va backed into her
place at Pier %, Noith River at S o'clock last
evening with f:e burning ieIcely in her hold
At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, as the steam
ship was passing Long Branch, smoke Vas seen
issuing from her shaft alley ana an Investigate
showed that the vessel was afre Ii took some
time for Captain John G. 1Iulphers and his
officers 10 trace the fire. and they finally located
il in the after hold.
By this time the smell of smoke could easily
he discerncd in the cabins and on the decks. ami
10 avoid any panic among the passengers Captain
IIulphers went to the saloon and quietly informed
them that there a fire smoderng in some cot
ton slowed in the after hold of the ship. but that
there was not the least danger, and even if there
was. the vessel was so close TO land that everybody
could be landed in safety and with little difficulty
The seventy-fve passengers behaved admirably
under the circumstances. none of them. accord
ing TO tho pursCr's story, taking the trouble
20 pack valiso or prepare themselves in any way.
When the vessel reached Quarantine Captain HUI
piers rep rtcd the fire and started on 10 his pier
Word was teegraphed from Quarantine to Fire
Chief Bonner, of tlIi> city, and when the vessel
arrived tfc frcboat NcwYorl:cr was lying of the
pier 10 meet her, and Chief Bonner and truck
company No. s the pier ready to render
assistance. 1t was found that the matches open
ing into the afterhod were covered with freight
which would hnvc to be removed before the New
Yorker could Pour stream on the fire
Fully hundred set at work un-
loading freight and the Newly Orllcr lay alongsid"
the steamer ready TO turn on the water as soon
as the matches could be opened
After the cargo in the uppcrhold had been re-
moved, frcinen from hook and ladder truck No
8 and the frcboat New-Iorker went into the hold
and water soon pouring into the steamer
TIE smoke from the burning cotton and the fumes
from the heated turpentine overcame six freman
belonging to the hook and ladder truck. Captain
Van Horn. Assistant Foremen William OBrien
and Patrick O'Brien, and Privates Charles Lauth.
William Bouton and Andrew Fitzgerald were taken
from tho hold to the pier; they are expected TO
recover.
At an early hour this morning water still
being poured into the steamer. and she had sunk
almost two feet from the ali,d weight.
The steamer let Newport News on Thursday.
and has on board general cargo, mostly fruit.
In her afterholl, where the hrc broke out, is
large quantity of cotton, near which was stored
$50 barrels of turpentine.
Captai ITulphers sail last night that the fire
was evidently due to spontaneous combustion.
1t was impossible TO estimate the loss.
AS soon the ship male las; 10 her pier
all her carpets were taken up. ard her movable
furniture was taken ont TO the rer. The officers
explained that this done TO much
possible in case the fire should break out and
make it necessary TO scuttle the ship.
Captain Huphers said to Tribune reporter
1--WE discovered that there a fire in the lower
hold about o'clock this afternoon. Smoke was
discovered by the on watch in the en-
gineers department. and Immediately closed
all the drafts. shutting off all ventilation. Then
we turned on the steam. / informed the
sengers Of the fire. There panic. When
we got TO Quarantine | tclcDhOned to the Fire
Department for help. When rot to our pier
the freboats Mills end Ncw-Yorker wore ready
to help u.s. The Morgan Line shin FL Toro is also
alon nCside to give US help if needed it,.
The Roanoke ia Il single-screw IRON steamer M oi
1855 tons burden. She is 265 feet long; y"
feet beam. and - feet deep. and was built in
1882, by John Roach d Son, at Chester, Penn.