The Portland daily press., 1895-05-30
SET ON FIRE.
A Bath Seheoner's Experience With
Cuban Insurgents
BURNING STEAMER DRIVES
UPON HER.
And from Midnight to Day the Americans
Fought the Flames.

(Bath Times
There is now lying at E. W. Lar
rabee's coal wharf, vessel
the charred bow and canvas
wrapped bowsprit of which tells of con-
f1ict with the flames. This craft is the
three masted schooner James W. Bigelow,
Capt. L. M. Bird commander The bow
spirit is SO badly burned that it, as well
as the injured jibboom must be replaced,
a large share of the top gallant forecastle
deck was burned while the bow bulwarks
bits and all forward timbers suffered.
That the vessel was saved was due to the
pluck and energy of those in charge of
her and to the timely assistance rendered
by friendly steamer. The story of this
exciting experience is given below.
On March goth, this schooner James
W. Bigelow was lying at anchor in Man
zanillo Bay, Cuba. At that time the
insurgents were showing themselves very
aggressive and the government troops
were meeting with great difficulty in
protecting property and life. Suddenly,
just before midnight, flames appeared
bursting from steamer which had been
lying at the wharf there, and then it was
seen that she was adrift, having, appar-
en- tly, been cut loose to drift with the
currents and do what damage she might
to the shipping in the bay. How she
came to be in this condition no one was
prepared to positively state at the time
but the evidence was sufficient to con-
vince Capt. Bird and the other Ameri-
cans that it was the work of the insur-
gents.
At all events the flames We're given an
opportunity to get firm hold upon the
steamer and as she was soon great mass
of fire no one could approach her and it
was impossible for any steamer to tow
her into unoccupied water. Steadily the
fire gained and soon it was apparent that
the great floating bonfire was in the
power of a current which was setting her
down upon the American vessel
At about 12. 30 she struck and, catching
against the bowsprit and fore rigging of
the schooner stopped as if to burn up
the stranger. The forward sails caught
fire, the wood work above the water line
quickly began to show the effect of the
flames and it looked for a few moments
as if the vessel was doomed The intense
heat from the burning steamer was such
as to drive the men from the forward part
of the schooner and the charred condition
of the forward wall of the schooner S
house bears testimony as to the roast
ing which the whole bowof the schooner
underwent.
But steamer near at hand saw the
danger to which the American was ex-
posed, and, coming to her assistance,
hauled the stern around so that the burn
ing wreck, for such the burning steamer
he d become by that time, was sent clear
That craft, a few moments later, had
burned so low that the water came into
the hull and she sank short distance
from the Bigelow.
But on this craft a hard fight had just
begun The hose to the steam pump had
been burned while the wreck was against
the schooner's bow and buckets were
about all the frefghting implements left
available for the Americans. But from
midnight to morning they kept up the
fight and at last the flames were subdued
Examination showed that the schooner
had suffered quite severely, but Capt
Bird felt that she was still in the ring -
With rough plank he relaid half of the
forecastle deck which had been burned
away, put the damaged bow in as good
condition as the materials at hand al
lowed, removed the remnants of his
burned IOfeStay sail ana JlD and proceed
ed to load his vessel with sugar as origi-
nally intended after which he sailed
home.
Having discharged his cargo, which was
found to be in first class condition, Capt.
Bird brought the vessel to this city where
she will receive permanent repairs. These
will be quite extensive, but that they are
not more is due to the pluck with which
Capt. Bird (who is Maine man) and his
crew maintained their hard six hours
fight against the flames.