Evening star., 1913-10-11
CRY OF FIRE APPALLING
TO SHIPS PASSENGERS
Rules for Fighting Flames Pre-
scribed for All Seago-
ing Vessels.

A fire at sea in the days of wooden
vessels was the most dreaded of all
calamities.. for even the smallest blaze
might result. in the total destruction of
the craft. In these modern days when
practically all ocean-going vessels are
of steel construction, with fireproof bulk
heads installed at intervals through the
ships, the danger from fire is greatly
lessened. Notwithstanding this, how
ever. the cry Of "Firer' strikes fear to
the heart of every oneaboard ships at
sea, no matter how many safeguards
may exist.
When fire is discovered in any por-
tion of seagoing vessel the captain is
Immediately notified. II it is a passenger
steamer this is done with great secrecy
SO as not TO cause undue alarm. The
United States regulations provide that
the general fire alarm aboard vessels
shall be continuous ringing of the
ships bell for a period of not less than
twenty seconds, and this signal shall not
be used for any other purpose whatso-
ever.
Men Take Their Stations.
AS soon as the alarm is given every,
officer and member of the crew hurries
to his particular station. These stations
are assigned to every member of the
crew at the time of his employment. In
the case of the big liners every steward,
.stewardess, waiter. cook and kitchen help.
er has his or her place. The ships doctor
and barber each has particular station.
Certain members of the crew hurry t. the
decks and stand by the lifeboats in
readiness to lower them. Others aid the
passengers in getting into their lifebelts.
The actual battle with a fire at sea Is
done for the most part by the men below
the decks. These men know of the To-
cation of every bulkhead and opening, n.y.
drant and coil of hose Certain of the
ships officers take charge of the fire.
fighting, while others remain above to at
tend to the passengers.
2 Passengers Not Informed.
Occasionally a fire breaks out on the
big modern liners and is fought for sew
eral days without the knowledge of the
passengers Merchandise stored away
in the hold becomes ignited in some way.
The air-tight bulkheads are closed and
deprived of a fresh supply of oxygen
The fire is kept in the smoldering stage
There is practically no smoke. Over
powering gases are often generated by
the burning material, however, and to
fight the blaze is exceedingly difficult
There is also considerable danger from
the explosion of such gases. In modern
vessels the danger from fires in the hold
are greatly lessened by the operation of
delicate electrical apparatus, which
sounds an alarm at some central station
when the temperature in any portion of
the boat rises to a certain degree In
this way the crew is able to get the
apparatus into play before the flames
get headway. The use Of the oxygen
helmets, such as are used by fire de-
partments and in mines, enables the
crew to fight the gas-generated fires.
Rules Of the Service.
The United States steamboat inspection
service rules require that fire drills shall
be held at least once week. All hands
are called to their stations and put
| through their stunts Members of the
crew are drilled in the methods of dom
ming life preservers and in the handling
of the small boats. If the weather per-
mits, the life boats must he unlashed and
swung out on the davits. The fire hose
must be uncoiled as in the case of an
| actual fire. When such Are drills are
held record Of them must be. made in
| the ships log. Each month the masters
of ships must report the date of all
drills held.