Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-25

Seven streams of water were being
poured or the burning ship AtlanthuS
looked as if the fire would not be COM
at 2:3O o'clock this afternoon and II
Motor companies Nos. and ) have
pletely subdued before late tonight
one stream each, one stream from the
reserve steamer, one from the ship
ward and three from the Firefighter
Fire Chief McDermOtt stated that
this was one of the most difficult
fires the local department has ever
had to contend with. they not being
being equipped for any such work e
Firemen are today still battling
with one of the most stubborn TRES
they have ever had to contend with
which was discovered at 7:l3 O'Clock
last night in the engine room aboard
the big wooden ship "AtlanthusD be-
longing TO the Western Salvage Com
pany which is being dismanteled here
at the wharf of the Virginia Ship
building Corporation.
Every piece Of fire apparatus IN the
city together with the tug "tlre-
fighter" from Washington is on the
scene and about 4 dozen streams are
being played on the burning ship, the
interior of which presents the appear
ance of a roaring furnace.
At midnight last night the two re-
serve steam engines of the city We're
put into service and ever since oOJh
have been working together with the
other fire apparatus. Since rev
minutes after o'clock last night the
Firefighter has been on the job throw
ing several streams of water on the
burning ship.
Practically the entire super-struc-
ture Of the Atlanthus is gone and the
interior is gutted and all of the valu-
able machinery of the ship is so bad
~ damaged by the fire that it will
be good for practically nothing but
Just. it was stated today.
The Moiave, known as the hOodoo
ship. which was directly beside the
burning ship, it being on the inside
of her sister ship the Atlanthus, was
badly scorched by the fierce fire. For
q time it looked a Sif the hoodOO ship
was also doomed. However, the fire
men kept the blaze confined to the ship
on which it originated and other than
having the left side scorched the Mo-
iave escaped injury.
At daybreak this morning the Mo-
lave was moved from her position TO
a place of safety, the firemen fearing
that probably the flames might at
tack that ship.
Directly south of the burning ship
was the George NJ. Morse, launched
i'm 1920, which is practically COM
pleted. and which ship is a 9,i00 ton
steel freighter. the property of the
Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation.
Early i'm the night this ship appeared
to be menaced but when e was seen
that the fyemen would i'm all prOba-
biIity keep the fire confined to the ship
on which il originated il was decided
not TO move this boat.
Fortunately for the frefghterS,
there was little or no wind blowing
and they kept the blaze confined to
the vessel on which it originated. Had
high wind been prevailing the en-
tire plant of the Virginia Shipbuild-
ing Corporation. part Of which is
now used by the Trent Amalgam Com
many. undoubtedly would have been
destroyed by the fire,
A weary and tired looking bunch or
volunteer firemen today are handling
the hose. fighting the fire at the ship
ward. Most of the firehghters have
been without sleep, having. been on
the Job since the fire started.
II was the first time in the history
of the local firemen that they have had
70 handle a fire on ship and despite
this fact they did remarkably well.
The tiremen upon their arrival on the
scene soon had several streams or
water PLAYING on the interior OF the
ship and they had to cross the Mo-
iavo I'm order to get to the burning
ship.
George Wilkins, employed as Il
watchman ON the two ships, stated
that hg discovered the blaze exactly
ut 7:l1 o'clock i'm the engine room OF
the shin. He ut once had an alarm
turned in and 500 thereafter the fire
denartment was on the scene.
The exact origin of the fire IS a
mystery, although 7. y. Barde. gem
cral manager Of the Western Salvage
Company, is Of the opinion that a Gig
arctic stump carelessly thrown by one
Of the workmen may have caused the
fire. Others, however. expressed the
opinion that probably a spark from
one of the acetylere burners used by
the mechanics may have been reSpon-
sible for the blaze.