A WARSHIP ON FIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3967, 19 November 1891, Page 3

A WARSHIP ON FIRE.

A telegram from New York says that the new United States cruiser Philadelphia, at present in dock in the navy yard at Brooklyn, was discovered to be on fire recently, causing great excitement in the vicinity, as she was known to have a quantity of ammunition on board. The fire was found to be in the provision room, three decks below the protected deck, and adjoining the magazine. Joseph James, captain of the hold, went to the forehold &i 1 o'clock, and whether he lit a lamp and set fire to the tar which was stored in that compartment, or was smoking in disobedience to orders, cannot be ascertained until he recovers, if he ever does. He was fearfully burned, and it is thought he cannot live. A number of the officers and men were overcome by the he«t while fighting theflames between deck., without guard or protection of any kind. The first known of the matter was a muffled report in the direction of the magazine. Less than a minute afterwards flames leaped from the forward hatchway. . The guard gave the alarm, and summoned the ship's fire brigade. Several men rushed below to find James, who was brought up on deck with his hair burned from bis head, while the flesh peeled from his face and arms. His two rescuers were also burned. Hundreds of tons of water were thrown into the blazing compartment, while the hatches were tightly closed. All the time the knowledge was in possession of all hands that they were standing on a mine that might explode at any moment. When the hatches were opened two hours later, it was found that 40 barrels of provisions had been burned and a great quantity had been rendered useless by the water.