The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-29
RIAL SEA WORK.
Jerseys Amateur Tars Have
a Lively Experience
With Fire Aboard.
OFFICERS AND MEN DISPLAY GOODNESS
Old Portsmouth Has a Narrow
Escape From Destruction
Cause of the Fire.
OFFICERS AND MEN DISPLAY GOODNESS
Special to the Jersey Citp Ne1os.

On the q. S. S. Portsmouth, off Fishers
Island, July %, lss6-New Jerseys Naval
Reserves had a real experience Of ship
life yesterday which was certainly not
down on the programme. They had to
fight a fire on board, and that of a very
dangerous character.
The Portsmouth was off Middle Ground
Light. near Stratford, Conn, between
three and four o'clock, when Seaman HEX
staff, Of the Engineer division, who was in
charge of the engine on the berth deck,
which drives the dynamo which lights
the vessel with electricity. discovered
smoke coming from the deck under the
boiler.
He reported to Master at Arms Daniel
Dugan- who reported to Lieutenant
Blount, of the Jersey City division, who
was officer of the deck. Commander
Washington Irving was on the bridge at
the time. and Lieutenant Blopnt COM
municated intelligence of the fire to him.
Captain Irving Immediately directed that
Lieutenant Commander Marlborough
Craven and Lieutenant Hart, commander
of the engineer division, be sent to the
berth deck. and he hurried there himself.
A special detail of men was also hurried
to the spot.
Lieutenant Commander Craven took
charge OF the men, and, under his diree-
tion, the carpenters mate cut away the
deck. 1t was then discovered that the
deck under the boiler was a double one,
lined with oakum, and that the oakum
was smouldering, evidently from a live
coal from the boiler which had dropped
there. The pumps on the forecastle
were manned, and a line of hose stretched
TO the berth deck. A stream was turned
thoroughly drenched.
In the meantime the watchers and look
outs were manned, and the rountine Of
that dread foe of the sailor, fire at sea,
was not present.
Word Of what was going on quickly
with which the officers went about their
work inspired such confidence in the
men that not the slightest excitement pre-
vailed. The place where the fire was dis
covered was thoroughly drenched. and a
watch was kept at the spot all night,
all preparations being made TO cope With
more was seen of 1t.
The Portsmouth weighed anchor in
Glen Cove Harbor shortly after eight
o'clock yesterday morning and started on
her cruise under her own sail and manned
by the sailors of the Battalion Of the
East of the New Jersey reserve. Few of
them knew a main brace from a foretop-
gallant sheet. Navigator E.. McC. Peters
took the bridge. and. under command of
and lower topsails. jibs. trysails and
spanker were set. A good breeze was
blowing and under these sails the
knot speed. Everything worked we'll.
The members of the crew showed them
selves quick TO learn; and the officers
oeuvre the ship.
Clouds appeared in the sky toward even
ing, n it began to grow dark rapidly.
Preparations were made for sailing during
the night. The weather was SO threaten
ing that oilskins and sou westers were
served out to the men at supper time.
G. hAxal Md ~ ,NA- al ---t.. 49,
day, hauling on ropes and setting sail.
was was a welcome one. In swinging beds Of
berth and u decks. the port watch was
called on deck and linen the remainder
Of the tired crew prepared to turn in.
in their hamrnocks than the order "Al
hands on deckl' few through the ship.
The weary tars jumped from their ham
mocks. donned their oilskins and tumbled
on deck.
it was so lark they could not see their
hands before their faces. Rain fell in
creak. Lieutenant Commander Craven
was in command. and under his spirited
lead preparations were made for shorten
ing sail The men were soon at their
stations. The upper topsails. flying jib
and trysails were taken in and the anchor
made ready to drop at any time.
ner which made many an amateur un-
steady on his legs. but no one succumbed
and all kept the deck. The clouds broke
about midnight and the moon came out,
but the wind continued fresh.
Lieutenant Commander Craven sent
the port watch below, leaving the star
board watch on deck. The Portsmouth
then went along until three o'clock this
morning, when she came to anchor off
Fishers Island. The men. tired out by
their nights experience. were allowed
to sleep until seven o'clock, and the day
has been spent riding at anchor so that
the men could rest after their hard nights
work.
The first cutter went ashore in the
morning and in the afternoon. but the
men found little on the barren sand dunes
of the islad to entertain them. Their APP
petites are excellent, and today Paymaster
Colby was obliged to go ashore at New
London and procure more supplies.
Anchor will be weighed tomorrow
morning and the Portsmouth headed for
Vineyard Haven.
The vessel has escaped a mishap. the
remembrance of which ever now makes
Lieutenant B.. Franklin Hart. commander
of the engineer division. turn pale. It was
discovered that the boiler of the dynamo
engine had a hole in it which had been
stopped with putty. It was a wonder.
the Lieutenant says. that the boiler did
not blow out and seriously endanger the
safety of the vessel and crew. The boiler
was a new one, purchased just before
the vessel sailed. Mr.. Hart soon had