The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-03
BURNED TO THE WATERS EDGE
THE BARKENTINE, CIPHER AND
HER CARGO A TOTAL Loss.

The Vessel lowed ont of the Cham
mel at Five Fathom Hole and Left
to Her Pate-The Fire Broke out
AInidships and Was Beyond Com
troll Before Assistance Arrived.
The Loss About SI3.OOO-0rigin or
the Fire Mystery.
The British barkentine Cypher burned to
the waters edge yesterday morning. il
was her second fire since she was towed
to Five Fathom hole, three miles below
the city last Thursday.
Saturday morning fire was discovered
in the forward port peak near the chain
box. A part Of the cargo was damaged
before the fire was eXunguished by the
prompt response and work by the fire
boat Forest City. A survey was held on
the vessel and the board declared her only
slightly damaged and recommended that
she be cleared and proceed to Pernambuco
with her cargo Of rosin and lumber.
Early yesterday morning fire broke out
amidships. half the vessels length, from
where the first fire occurred, and before
assistance could reach her the flames were
beyond control
The first mate was sleeping on top Of the
cabin and was awakened about o'clock
by the smell OF smoke coming through the
cabin windows. In few minutes the IRE
had worked it's way through the deck
UP the manmast, and soon enveloped the
entire rigging. All the time the fire was
raging below. and it soon became uncom-
Portable to stay aboard. The crew gath
cred on the forward deck and prepared TO
leave the vessel.
About . o'clock the fire was seen from
the city, and the tug Forest City went
to the scene. An effort was made to eX-
tinguish the fire. but it was then beyond
control The crew rushed on board the
tug and refused to assist the tugs crew
in trying to save the vessel. The tugs
Cambria and Regis went to the burning
vessel about 8 o'clock, but could be Of
little assistance. The matches of the bark
entine were covered with the deck load of
lumber and it was impossible to get
stream of water in the hold.
Finding that the vessel would be a total
loss, the tugs towed her out of the main
channel and left her al the mercy of the
names IN swallow water near the place
where she took fire.
A board Of surveyors, consisting of Capt
F. G. Strachan, Mr.. A. L. Earle, Capt.
James 7. Stewart and Capt. Lewis Wig
gins, went TO the vessel about o'clock.
Upon investigation they found that the
fire had started below the deck, between
the main and mizzen masts. Its
origin is as much Of a mystery as the one
that started in the forepeak. All of the
matches were fastened down and covered
with the deck load of lumber In the
hold Of the vessel was 2,3C0 barrels of rosln
and about 1900 feet of lumber The ser
veyors found that the vessel and cargo
were 4 total loss.
The crew of the Cypher was brought to
the city by the Forest City, and quarter
ed in a sailor boarding house Capt.
Thomas of the barkentine was in the city
at the time the vessel took fire and eX-
pected to clear yesterday for Pernambuco
Brazil. He had his vessel towed 10 Five
Fathom hole in order to keep his crew
together. He had had some trouble with
some Of his sailors and feared they would
desert just before the vessel was ready
to sail, If she remained at the city dock.
The CIPHER had a cargo consisting Of
1890 barrels of rosin, valued at S. SOB, ship
ped by Paterson. Downing & Co. and
4l,G00 feet OF pitch pine lumber, valued at
$500. shipped by the Georgia Lumber Com
ing 5000.
The barkentine was valued at
about 5000. She was built in
1882, at Prince Edwards Island,
and was owned by T. T. Richards &
Co. of Swansea England She was AIS tons
net register. The owners mad the vessel
rebuilt a short tim ago. IL was not learn
ed yesterday whether or not there was any
insurance on her. The cargo was insured
for its value.
The fire was viewed by numbers CT people
all day from the wharves along the river
front The passengers on the early Tybee
train got a fine view of the burning YES
sci as they passed along the river bank on
their way 10 the city. The flames were
licking the masts and rigging, and large
volumes OF fire were enveloping the decks
which made an interesting sight to those
who had no interest in the property that
was being destroyed.
COLORED TROOPS TO CAMP