202 SUGGESTIONS I^OR REDUCING THE LOSS BV FIRE ON VESSELS. 



so that they do not expose each other; loo to 150 feet is a safe distance. 

 If there is not sufficient room to admit of this, they should be so moored 

 that they can be cast loose readily and taken out of danger. Every winter 

 several boats are burned by a fire starting on one, and this is a loss which 

 is entirely preventable. 



On the large and more valuable steamers, steam should be kept on the 

 donkey boiler when the boat is out of commission, permitting the hose and 

 sprinkler system to be in constant readiness for use. 



Plate 66 is a diagram showing how one fleet of passenger steamers is 

 laid up every winter. A main is run down the dock and a connection is 

 made from this to each vessel ; all hose on board is attached and stretched 

 out on deck. There is no water in these pipes, but there is a valve in front 

 of the office which admits water to the entire system, and a valve at the 

 connection to each steamer. 



There are two men on board each boat and a watchman at the office. 

 In the event of a fire eight streams of water can be had readily on any of 

 the boats. 



Managers of the shipyards and basins have at the instance of the 

 underwriters given some attention to this point, but there is room for vast 

 improvement. Plates 67 and 68 show lay-up conditions .and what little 

 chance there is of saving a vessel if a fire gets going — especially when they 

 are all frozen in. 



There has been no attempt in this article to propose any radical innova- 

 tion but simply to point out that most of the fires we have are easily avoid- 

 able and due to lack of sufficient appliances and even more to the negligence 

 of the masters in not keeping their vessels in proper condition, and having 

 frequent fire drills. Owners and managers are largely responsible for this, 

 for if they are willing to allow their boats to be kept in a slovenly condition 

 the masters soon know it, and will let up a little on the crew — the crews 

 also are soon aware of this, and naturally become careless. When a fire 

 breaks out on a boat of this kind there is a scene of wild disorder, no one 

 knowing where to go or what to do. The fire pumps may be out of order 

 or the hose mislaid, and invariably it is the end of the vessel. However, 

 where the management demands and sees that it gets proper upkeep of its 

 boats, things are vastly different. The master realizes that he will be held 

 strictly accountable and the crew know it too. Things are kept where 

 they belong; duties are properly performed, including frequent fire drills. 

 Where this condition exists, the sounding of the fire-alarm brings out a well 

 drilled crew properly equipped, and they invariably get the best of the fire. 

 It is not unfair to hold the owners largely responsible for most of the fires. 



