New-York tribune., 1900-07-08
FIGHTING FIRE ON SHIPS.
A NEW SYSTEM THAT PROMISES vALU-
ABLE RESULTS

ABLE RESULTS.
water. The latter receives the more attention
in the long run, no doubt: but the recent dis
aster on the Jersey side of the Hudson River
emphasizes the seriousness OF peril from the
other source and the inadequacy of human in
vention effectively to combat It at times Thus
has been brought into notice a scheme which
might otherwise have been kept in the back
ground for months to await further experiment
and development Some Of the problems
nected with II have not yet been worked out
fully. but the deep interest felt in for
tinguishing fire on shipboard is great at pres
ent TO justify immediate publication.
Within the last few months experiments have
been conducted with sulphur dioxide. TO ascer-
tain its fitness for the purpose indicated. 1t has
long been known that carbon dioxide would dis
courage combustion This is the gas generated
by portable fire extngushers and chemical n
gines that have been In service for a genera
tiOn. But sulphur dioxide is a comparatively
new agent for suppressing fire. and its qualities
are not yet well understood they might be.
Striking effects have been produced with it.
however, and these encourage hopes that It will
prove highly efficient at a not distant day
II may be said at the outset that an atrnos-
phere saturated with 8 per cent Of sulphur d.
oxide VIII check combustion whereas 16 per
cent of carbon dioxide is required to secure the
same result Again, the plant needed for the
generation Of the former occupies less space
and is less expensive than a carbon dioxide
plant. Finally, it-seems that when sulphur is
burned for the production OF dioxide Il Will
actively combine with the whole % per cent Of
oxygen in the air. whereas carbon does not make
so complete a combination. Inasmuch oxygen
is the great promoter OF combustion. and nitro
ne of Rip in ba atm 10 al.
together inert. the more completely the oxygen
can be eliminated in the process of manufacture
the more efficient Will be the products of the
sulphur burning operation in suppressing fire.
The general plan TO be pursued with the new
agent is 10 generate the gas in a suitable fur
mace and force it through pipes into the COM
pa-tment Of ship where the fire has broken
out. It is necessary that the compartment be
closed. that the injected gases may do their
work as quickly possible. The time required
10 extinguish the flames WILL depend. of course,
on the size OF the compartment and the char
acter of the materials being burned. The head
way gained by the flames before their suppress
sion is attempted is another factor in the case.
But there can be little doubt TO the ultimate
extinction Of any fire that can possibly break
out in confined space.
If, however, after combustion has been
stopped, a high temperature prevails the ad-
mission Of fresh air may cause a reignition Of
the material The system under discussion pro-
vides for cooling off the compartment and its
contents TO perfectly safe degree. When It is
ascertained that the gas has done it's work, a
suction pump is brought into play. and the
mixed sulphur dioxide and air is drawn out
passed through a water cooling device or con-
denser, and then reinjected into the compart-
ment. The circulation is continued until the
temperature has been brought down to the de-
sired level
A test that was rnaderoVer at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard about two months ago will illustrate
the virtues Of the system. Ten tons of soft coal
put into brick reservoir and fired with
the aid OF petroleum. When combustion was so
far advanced that the coal was red hot the in
PRODUCTION Of sulphur dioxide was begun. The
effect was observed through a mica covered
peephole. and when the fire was apparently ex-
tinguished the cooling process was initiated.
Ten hours later the coal was cool enough to be
handled comfortably. e-
The new system seems to be better adapted to
use on cargo steamers though, than on naval
vessels. On the latter the compartments are
small, and there is practically combustible
material except the coal. This is already pretty
well safeguarded In the merchant marine, on
the other hand, the compartments are large.
and IN addition to the coal needed for the en-
gines. there is apt to be several thousand tons
Of more or less combustible freight OF the lat
ter probably the most troublesome article is
cotton When once fairly fire cotton bale
almost completely battles all efforts TO eXtin-
guish H. Still worse is the situation when
whole shipload Of cotton is ablaze. Cases have
been reported where such ships have been sunk
TO put out the fire, and yet the latter would re-
assert itself when, after five days, the vessel
raised thorough trial of the eff
cheney Of sulphur dioxide IN dealing with burn
ing cotton has not yet been made. But the par
tial tests offer much encouragement. This
matter is to receive further investigation by
competent men in the future. If the earlier
promise Of the system is fulfilled, it VIII be
practicable TO apply IL TO cotton warehouses as
well TO ships.
AT the present time one cannot speak posi-
lively TO the results which might have been
attained the North German Lloyd ships had
they-especiaIly the Saale, the first to be at
tacked-been equipped with sulphur dioxide gen.
Grating plants and the other simple apparatus
required for utilizing the gas. Without cooness
and promptness almost any system is likely TO
prove useless. But, properly handled the agent
here described might possibly have reduced the
disaster 10 insignificant proportions.
II should be noted that, so far as discovered,
sulphur dioxide exercises no hurtful effect on
any class of freight with which ii is brought in
contact. Delicate fabrics appear to Withstand
its influence efYectualiy,