The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-13
COTTON SHIPS AFIRE.
THE ALBASO 4BLAzE IN NE"Fohf
NEWS HARBoR.
The BattIeship Indiana Renders 'a'"""''
seryice-The English steamer ""'e
nor With Fire In Her Hold


NEWPORT NEWS. VA, Nov. E .I1spo
clal-The German Steamsshlp 49, 1li this
which left the dock at 9;So oc,oSn srs
manning. was discovered 10 ne on H.
fifteen minutes later. Inc Aipai'V
longs TO the Sloman Line: - s,roor
Hardly had the centre OF lhe ~ A..
been reached before the stap deck was
loaded with cotton, and II iookeu 10, r-os
the shore as though the entire ooai ""s
INDIANA TO THE RESCUE.
Inst al this time the Battleship Inui
ana was steaming up the river, bound
here for coal. She saw the predlchHlent
OF the AIbano and at once dropped an ,
! Choir. Every available boat was loWeree
and as many men as possiDie "0i' '''
20 the burning ships aio; r.ot.,.
Tho sailor b0vs worked like Tro1ans.
In the meantime the CHESAPEAKE anu
Ohio tugs Hinton and HELEN puneu aiohs
side the shin and streams or water were
| pumped on the burning cotton conthu-
! dnsis, for three hours. The steam hose
Of the vessel was also placed In operation
! and M O'Clock IL was believed that the
| flames had been conquered, although big
clouds of smoke continued TO rise sky
ward. ..,,-
CANAAN Koch has remained on his ship
| during the day. but member or the
crew. when asked II he could explain now
! n happened, said, mo. / can't tell you
1T ali happened like that" he remark
ed. slapplng his hands together.
I'VE hardly left the pier when the cot
ton on the deck went of like a sky rock
et"
Asked as TO the origin OF the fire he
said that he had no doubt but that the
cotton was burning when taken aboard or
the ship yesterday. You see said the
sailor, they brought down several Darees
Of cotton yesterday from Norfolk. ana
was told that this was taken or burn
ing ship"
JUST A LITTLE SPARK.
"The name Of the ship was the May
| field Every body, OF course thought the
fire was out. but. let me tell you, spark
Just one little spark-will live for Il long
! time IN a bale Of cotton and attract no
/ attention"
1T is my opinion that this cotton was
smouldering when brought aboard anu
that the shaking mp it received IN Delng
taken from the barge and placed ABOARD
our ship simply served 10 ran the puihihs
embers into q brisk blaze
THE ENGLISH SHIP.
NEWPORT NEWS. VA Nov. l2.-Spe-
cial.-The English Steamship Governor
| Captain Goldman, put INTO TINS por,
J noon to-day with her cargo on IRE, Ihe
Governor left Galveston on the third INST.
bound for Liverpool. She carried a car
90 of 1 500 bushels Of grain, and 5000 bales
of cotton. Two days ago the first mate
reported 10 Captain Goldman that ne ne
Hevcd the cotton was on fire. and nasty
inspection served 70 confirm his SUB
plcions The blaze was in the main hold
and An a few minutes after II was dis
covered was burning briskly.
There was nothing 20 do but put ABOUT
and enter here.
FIGHTING WITH STEAM.
The steams pipes were constantly play
ing on the burning cargo and az noon
today when the ship put into quarantine
the fire was practically under control
although not extinguished Quarantine
officer Jones boarded the ship and CIV
ing her p clean bill Of health she pro-
ceeded up the river. finally dropping an
Choir Just outside the Chesapeake ana
Ohio passenger pier Captain Goldman
said he beleyed the FIRE was out. but that
the cargo was thoroughly soaked with
water and that it would have TO be dis
charged.
II will be necessary TO discharge the
cargo before an accurate estimate OF the
damage can be made.