The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-05
CITY OF MACON LITTLE DAMAGED.
The steamer Dischnrging Her
ScOrched and Wet Cargo.

Scorched and Wet Cargo.
The City of Macon steamed up to the
Ocean Steamship Company's wharves yes
terday morning, arriving there about 8
o'clock, and was tied up in berth No. 6.
This berth is the one most conveniently
located for the removal of goods to- the
Gordon press, which is just across River
street.
A large force of hands was put to work
as soon as the vessel was berthed, and by
night considerable part of the cargo
had been unloaded. 1t was found that the
goods were not very badly damaged by
fire, the principal damage having resulted
from the water that was pumped into the
forward hold. The freight was all sorted
as 1t was brought out. Plies were ar
ranged of that which had been badly and
slightly damaged by fire and by water,
four piles Of freight being thus under the
sheds
a large proportion, probably two-thirds,
of the cargo was not hurt at all, and the
usual disposition of this IS being made.
Only few pieces were so badly dana ged
as to be a total loss. Some furniture,
part of 1t apparently secondhand, was
among this. 1t was in this furniture that
the fire started. There was only a small
quantity of il slowed in the lower between
decks on the port side of the forward
hold just forward of the forward hatch.
Some of the freight Immediately around
this furniture was badly burned and
charred. The loss to the cargo by fire,
hon uraz ya~ eli 10Th hn
with that caused by the water poured into
the hold. This water went in through two
holes that were cut in the deck just over
the place where the fire originated.
The cause of the fire has not been as
certaned, and President II. NJ. Conner,
who was at the wharf in the afternoon,
does not think it ever will be- Mr.. Conner
says there will probably be nothing TO
delay the City of Macon from getting
out on her return trip to Boston at her
appointed sailing time, at o'clock Thurs
day afternoon. The only thing that may
prevent her getting away on time VIII
be her having gotten in a day late and
the delay in unloading caused by this.
There is no damage to the ship that would
I serve to prevent her going right back.
Mr. Conner says $25 will cover the dam
age to the vessel This consists of smok-
ed sides and one iron plate sprung.
Mr.. Conner commended the management
that caused the stern of the vessel to be
run aground, thus depressings the stem
and preventing the water from running
back into the hold aft. There is an iron
bulkhead between the two holds and this
also served to prevent the water finding
its way at. The water was pumped out
of the f. ward hold after the fire had
been drowned out, and the vessel came
off the msu bank when the tide came up.
None of The freight in the after-hold was
damaged on account of the precautions
taken
The agent of the companies in which
the insurance on the cargo was placed
Will be here from New York to-day He
will make a careful inspection, and the
insurance loss will be adjusted No
freight that came in aboard the vessel
is now being delivered as it all must be
on hand for the inspection by the insur-
ance adjusters.
Capt Lewis Wlggings, port warden, and
Mr.. A. L. Earle. representing the Marine
Underwriters boarded the vessel soon af-
ter she arrived at the wharf and made a
survey They authorized the unloading
of the steamship, as. the damage, both to
the vessel and the cargo, could be better
ascertained.