The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-10-02
AMERICA MARU
Facts About the Fire Are
Mysterious.
Much Of the Cargo Seriously Damaged
Vessel Was TO Sail on
September 27th.

The latest news Of the America Ma
| ru is to the effect that much OF her
| cargo was damaged by fire and had TO
be sold for what it would fetch. The
damage by the fire was being repaired
and the vessel was TO sail on Septem-
Der %. The following particulars are
| from the Japan Gazette of Septem-
Der IS:
The mystery in connection with the
origin of the fire on board this steamer
seems TO be no nearer a solution. Thar
there was fire, and of very serious
character, is beyond question. This is
amply proved by the condition of the
cargo, which is now being unloaded.
Bags OF peanuts, of which a large
quantity had been shipped, blackened
with smoke and wet: chests of tea and
rolls of mating ali show evident traces
OF recent contact with smoke Off not
with fire. and water. The owners. the
agents, and, in fact, all concerned.
seem TO be absolutely reticent with re-
gard to matter which most seriously
aHects all exporters and shippers in
Iokohama, and, indeed, in all Eastern
ports. The information, therefore
which we are able to give. comes en-
tirely from outside sources: neverthe-
less we believe it TO be perfectly trust
worthy. We are informed that short
ly after the vessel eft NagaSaki il
was discovered that there was a fire
aboard, but it was not possible to dis
cover its locality. Half a day out from
Kobe. however, it was ascertained that
the seat of the danger was one of the
bunkers. Nothing could be done with
out the removal of an iron plate and
that operation could not be performed
until the vessel arrived at Yokohama.
On reaching that port the ship was
detained and water was poured into
the bunker. The affected coal was re-
moved from the bunker and fresh coal
was taken on board. The vessel was
due to sail on Saturday and on that
day the japanese manager of the Toyo
Risen kaisha, the owners of the ships.
went on board and made an inspection.
donIing engineers clothes and de-
scendlng into the hold. He was appar-
emily satisfied, for, acting under his
orders, the ship left the port on the
following day. What happened after
wards we have related in previous is
sues. On the fourth day out and some
SUI miles from Yokohama it was ascer-
tanned that fire had broken out in No
hold and the momentous> Question
which the captain had to decide was
whether to steam ahead to Honolulu
or to put back to Yokohama. The hold
was at once closed, and after consul
tation with his officers, the captain de-
c1ded to return to Yokohama The YES
sci arrived in this port on Friday even
ing and the passengers were safely
landed. This is a matter of the ut
most satisfaction. There can be no
doubt that someone has Numbered"
and that seriously. The loss to the
company not only in specie but in pres
llge, must be very great, but the shin
is IN port and no lives have been lost.
ana Tor that we must be thankful The
Asahl In commenting upon the disas-
ter, IN a paragraph which we publish |
elsewhere, states that the vessel was
coaled at Nagasaki on a rainy day and |
II spontaneous combustion was the /
cause of the fire this fact may account |
for it. The Asahi goes on to state that /
before the vessel left Yokohama the |
japanese officers, perceiving the dan
ger, insisted on a thorough examina-
ton or the vessel and that this was
refused by the captain and the foreign
engineers. This statement we believe
to be absolutely without foundation.
When the fact became known amongst
he passengers there was naturally
excitement, but, on the
whole, excellent order prevailed and the
company have taken every care and
)recaution to mitigate as far as pos
lble any inconvenience to which the
passengers have been put or course.
numerous questions will arise as to in
urance, damage to freight, loss from
lelay and other matters, and the
America Maru seems doomed to loom
arge' in the public eye for some time
o come. We learn that the fire was
uccessfully extinguished this after
oon.''