2o8 SUGGESTIOi^S FOR REDUCING THE LOSS BY FIRE ON VESSELS. 



Have you had a fire drill twice during the month, throwing water from 

 every shot of hose? 



What dates? 



Has every man a station to go to in case of fire, and does each man know 

 just where to go and what to do? 



Master. 

 Dated 



At I J 



DISCUSSION. 



President Taylor: — Gentlemen, I would like first to ask the author of the 

 paper what are the four steamers that were nearly totally destroyed by fire in the 

 vicinity of New York in the last year? 



Mr. McComb: — The Steamer Manhattan, the Redfield, the M. Martin, and 

 the Poughkeepsie. 



President Taylor : — Now, these examples show what I have said on this floor 

 before, that steamers of well regulated Companies in actual service are not often 

 destroyed by fire. A very unfortunate accident happened here in the East River 

 a few years ago that is still brought unnecessarily to your minds and the minds of 

 the public; that steamer was taken out very early in the season, after being laid 

 off all winter, with a crew that was mostly picked up promiscuously, and she carried 

 a very large number of women and children many of whom lost their lives in the 

 panic that always accompanies a fire. It was a deplorable accident, but it was 

 very exceptional, for the burning of steamers more often occurs when they have 

 been laid up or about to lay up when the crew is reduced and discipline relaxed. 

 The Manhattan was lying at Portland, Maine, waiting for transfer of ownership to 

 go the Pacific Coast ; and the Redfield, Martin, and Poughkeepsie, all at least forty- 

 five years old were lying up the Hudson River. I think they had no passengers. 



I believe it is improbable that a fire like that of the Slocum can take place on 

 the well regulated lines carrying passengers in the vicinity of New York. 



It is practically impossible to make a steamer absolutely fireproof against fire 

 in a cargo, because any fireproof construction that will withstand a cargo fire will 



