for ext'mgtiisking accidental Fires in Ships. 109 



accident that may happen above the upper deck. This 

 would effectually answer the end intended; for as to those 

 parts where cross timbers of any kind join the side, and 

 where consequently the fire might communicate, they could 

 individiiallij be extinguished in succession, by the means we 

 have pointed out, with much less trouble than if all the 

 upper works were exposed to the accident. 



But, though we recommend sheet copper as a covering 

 for the upper works, which surely ought to be as well se- 

 cured against fire as the lower are against the worm and 

 against water, even if this improvement be not adopted, the 

 means we have pointed out (wet sand, wet mould, and wet 

 clay,) should be provided to enable the people to extinguish 

 ^e parts in detail till they master the fire; which in many 

 cases they will be able to accomplish when the application 

 of water would not l)e of the smallest avail. I need hardly 

 add, that when anv part of the carsjo consists of articles 

 that will of themselves, by the aid of an increased tempera- 

 ture, furnish a sufficient supply (;f oxygen to maintain com- 

 bustion without the aid of atmospheric air, (as for instance 

 saltpetre,) such part of the cargo should be disposed low in 

 the hold, and should, if pos^ible, be cut off from all com- 

 munication with the other parts of the lading, that, should 

 3. fire happen, there may be tlie less chance of its being 

 communicated to that part of the cargo. For this purpose 

 a part of the hold should be set aside, and ought to be 

 boarded up, caulked, and covered with sheet copper. If 

 that cannot be done, a false flooring sliould be laid in above 

 that part of the cargo, which should be covered over with 

 coarse matting of any kind : over the matting there ought 

 to be a layer of sand or earth of two or three inches in thick- 

 ness, and over the sand another cover of matting, to pre- 

 vent it from being displaced by the stowing of the rest of 

 the cargo. 



But whether such arrangements are practicable respect- 

 ing the oxygenous parts of the cargo or not, the other ge- 

 neral precautions ought to be strictly enjoined, and the 

 people should be appouited and trained to their respective 

 duties in case of fire : books of instructions should also be 

 profusely distributed aujong the officers and crews, and 

 these instructions ought to be drawn up in a maimer so 

 plain and simple that iu> one may be at a loss to know what 

 i* nccfisarij to be done, whether ke understand the scientific 

 principles on it'hich they arc Joandtui or not. But the better 

 the crew in general, and the officers in particular, undor- 

 1 Rtand 



