Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-06-20
FIRES
ON BOARD ship

In every ship carrying passengers the
law requires that there shall be posted
In conspicuous place what II known
as station bill, giving the post Of duty
for every man in the deck. engineer
and stewards departments in case Of
ire or abandoning ship. The law further
requires that there shall be drills once
each week ut least and that during the
stay Of ship in port these drills must
be performed In the presence of Unit
ed States inspector of steamships. This
Ii done to insure orderly and prompt
action against any danger that may
threaten. During these drills the
pumps are tried out. and all the appa.
ratus must work to the satisfaction Of
the inspector or the ship will not be
permitted to sail until repairs have
been made and everything works as 1t
should
Some ships are provided with tubes
let into the deck and extending into
the holds containing thermometers,
which are examined every four hours.
Any suspicious increase in temperature
brings about immediate and thorough
Investigation. In this way the presence
Of FIRE can he discovered before It gains
serious Roadway.
There is rapid ringing Of the ships
bell for about minute. Instantly
there IL change throughout the ship.
Where but a moment before things
were going on In the manner pre-
scribed by the daily routine now all Il
activity. Men get to their fire stations
with the alacrity induced by danger.
Sailors under the direction Of the ON
GERS get out hose lines and appear with
axes and lanterns. One group II rip
ping the battenings OH the main hatch.
where the Gre has been detected They
drag the canvas away and open the
bodily hatch Ia small opening in the
large hatch cover). and Immediately
there pours out q column Of dense
black smoke.
Two or three men make an attempt
to 20 down. but after two or three
trials they are obliged to give It up
The captain gives the order to dood the
hold and turn on the steam hines. Hose
Ia pushed into the opening. which by
now resembles crater. for the air ad.
mitted by taking the cover or has fed
the flames. and smoke and dame roll
out in alarming quantities.
Suddenly the hose Oils out and the
swish Of water under high pressure Ia
heard. At almost the same time far
below In the smoke Oiled hold the hiss
ing and roaring Of liberated steam
reach the anxious ears on deck The
pipes connecting with the boilers have
been put into use. and the fire II al
ready beginning to feel the choke Of
the steam Ms 1t keeps the air away and
settles over everything In a dense.
damp cloud While some pumps are
throwing tons Of water into the hold
others are hard at work taking that
same water out. for amy great amount
Of water sloshing about would sndan
ger the stability Of the vessel.
Up in his cramped quarters Sparks II
working with all his skill to pick up
some station ashore aud dash the wire
less call for help. The spark crackles
and crashes. then stops Sparks snaps
shut q switch. and then with deft On.
gers making an. adjustment here and
there listens in for the faint buzz that
announces that his call has been heard
There comes Just series Of faint
huxzes. like the noise OF ny on
drowsy summer afternoon. At once the
operator b galvanized into action.
Again the spark craahes out the ahip's
position and need Soon ships alter