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We ane Ta ces oii : Ihe Marine Recon. © MARITIME LAW. BALVAGE— LIGHTER MOORED NEAR OIL WORKS —FIRE ON SHORE—LIGHTER TOWED TO PLACE OF SAFETY. U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. The lighter Oregon, loaded with naptha, was lying in Bushwick Creek, moored hear Pratt’s Oil Works, when fire broke out in the building on shore. The Oregon, with two other lighters loaded with oil, was taken out of the creek to a place of satety by libel- ant’s tug boat, the Alpha, and for this ser- vice salvage was claimed. The value of the lighters and their cargoes was $4500: Held, that the service was a salvage service, but under the circumstances, not one of a high degree of merit, and for it $200 was a fair compensation. Brown, J. During the forenoon of the 14th of No- vember, 1884, a fire broke out on the premises of the Pratt Manufacturing Company’s Oil Works, in a shed on the south side of Bush- wick Creek. The shed was about 100 feet long by 45 feet deep, inclosed by a brick fire wall about 20 feet high. When the fire broke out, the lighter Oregon Jay outside of a canal boat which was moored alongside of the shed and within 3 feet of it. The canal boat and lighter were immediately. removed some what farther up the creek; the lighter about 75 feet above the shed and the canal boat some two or three hundred feet farther. The premises in the vicinity of the shed were employed in the oil business, and there were various tanks in different parts of the grounds not far distant. The general orders of the Standard Oil Company, who contro! the whole premises, were that whenever a fire occurred ulong the creek, the creek should be cleared of boats. The libelant’s buat Alpha was towing a schooner down Newtown Creek, when ob- serving the fire, the pilot dropped the schoon- er at the mouth ef the creek, and went down to the Bushwick Creek not far below; when he arrived there, he was hailed by the assistant foreman of the premises to coine into the creek and tow out the lighters. The Alpha accordingly went into the creek and succeeded in towing out the three lighters ina line upon a hawser. The Oregon had naptha aboard, the other two lighters re- fined oi]. For this service a salvage award ether the service is entitled to salvage by fire isa familiar ground of ‘ where the essential elements e exist. (he Connemara, ) Such cases have frequently urt. (Ihe Tampico, 16 Fed. e Baker, 23 Fed, Rep. 109; S.C. 771.) As respects the degree 8 not necessary that there sh be a certainty of loss unless the ser- vice were rendered. It is sufficient that there is a reasonable apprehension of danger, and that the service is rendered in reference to that fact, and not in the ordinary course of business. (The Raikes, 1 Hagg. 247; the Jos. ©. Briggs, 1 Ben. 81; the Plymouth Roca 9 Fed. Rep. 413 416.) There can be no doubt that the Alpha was not employed in the ordinary course of busi- ness nor that the service was rendered asa rescue from danger of fire. The superin- tendent indeed, testifies that he did not re- gard the Oregon as in any position of danger butaltogether safe ; that she might have been moved further up the creek, if necessary ; and that the request to tow her out was on account of the stauding orders to clear the creek in case of fire. But [ cannot doubt that this standing order was in part on ac- count of the danger that any vessels in the creek might be in, as well as to furnish ad- ditional room for fire boats that might be wanted to protect from loss other parts of the premises, A fire in one place might spread to others. The combustible materials all about the grounds were such as to favor the spread of fire; anditcould never be certain until the fire was checked how far it might be communicated, The service desired of the Alpha in this case was under the pres- sure of this reasonable necessity; and be- cause the respondents own boat, the Niagara, which had been expected, did not make her ‘appearance, and the removal of the boats from the creek could’ not be properly de- ‘layed longer under the standing orders mentioned. The fire was already. under full headway. Of the many .other tugs in the _ vicinity none but the Alpha was of suffici- ently light draught to go upon the opposite side of the creek, somewhat away from the fire, and astern of the fire boats, which took up a considerable portion of it. Under the circumstances the service is of a salvage - character, and nota mere towing service. The Oregon undoubtedly was not moved, as far away from the fire asshe might bave heen moved, but that no doubt was because it was expected that she would be taken out of the creek very speedily. There is much contradiction between the witnesses as to the amount of exposure of the Alpha to the fire, On the libelant’s part the testimony is that her deck hands were considerably employed in throwing water | — upon her house; that the glass of her sky | lights was broken by the heat, and that the | neck, face and hands of two of the persons and that the paint of the boat was also in- jured, her position being for some time op- posite to the fire. The disinterested witnes- ses on the opposite bank testify to this effect. } Several of the respondents witnesses say that the Alpha Jay lower down in the creek, astern of the two fire boats, which thus engaged were burned and blistered, | wo stions are here presented; first, | !of navigators, * * * lay partly athwart the creek and that the fire bouts were between the Alpha and the fire. These discrepancies would in the main be reconciled if the Alpha, after first going Opposite to the fire and throwing out her lines, had then dropped back astern of the fire boats and such may have been the fact, the libelants witnesses, testifying as to the former position, and the respondents, as to the latter. The services in this case, however are not of any high degree of merit, considered as salvage services. Though the @regon had naphtha aboard, she was at such a distance from the fire, and the service was so soon aiter the fire broke out in the shed within the walls, that Icannot regard the service ORWGIAL NUMBERS AND SIGNAT. LETTERS. ; TREASURY DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF NAVIGATION, WAsHINGTON, August 9, 1886 To the Editor of the Marine Record: Following isa list of merchant vessels of the United Statesto which ‘offt-inl numbate and Signal letters were assigned by the Bureau of Navigation, Treasury Department, during the week ended Ang 7, 1886: Official Signal | { Tonnage, Number.) Letters. | Rig. | Name of Vessel, Gross, Net. Home Port. | SAIL VESSELS. 106;432)\\ 2.553650 191: Arrow, 8.25 7.84) Pensaeola, Fla. 106,433|K D L WSI. yt. - |Ariadne, 17.82 16 93|/New York, N. Y, LO4AgAloe es Geese isl. Annie May, 12.49 11.87|Eustport Me. 126,375] -s- «---.-|Sl. Crescent, 12.18 11 58|New York, N.Y. 135,393] ----------|Sc, E. Hampstead, 19.76 18 77/Pensacola, Fla. 70;630|«- + 3--= 1SI, J. L. Thomas, 8 29 7.88| Philadelphia, Pa, 76,640\|K DL VSe, Jennie S, 185 28 176 02| Boston, Mass, OTS5O |< 20 eess: e151, Mattie Lee, 7.00 6 74|Cnancork, Va, 116, 113} -eoosese- «5/51. Sparkle, Io 72} . 10 10|New York, N. Y. 81,124) -025 2 eas). |Se° Wilbur E. Pestles, 47.79 45 40| Wilmington, Del, STEAM VESSELS, 126.372] ,........ Carrie H. Scriven, 25 84 12 92|Buffalo. N. Y. 126,373 Coronado, ; 308.54! 222 26/San Diego, Cal. TGA Ale C. A, Diekey. 18 50 9.25|Bu6alo, N. Y. 126.376 City of Bridgeport, 518.27) 274.02! Bridgeport. Conn. 135,894 Evelyn, 48 99 27.79: Albana, N, Y, 95,885 H. A. Root, 198.12 161 93} Saugatuck, Mich, 76,641 Jessie. 24.51 12.90;Rochester, N. Y, 91,857 Marinette. | 61 33 30.67)Marine te, Wis, 91,858 Maggie Belle, 52 81 52.81;! ouisville. Ky, 161.556 Viking. 13 80 6 90: Portland, Me. UNRIGG’D VESSELS, i 21,480] . Burt, 89 00 89 00:Galena, 11. 56,565) . Rose, 81 38 77.32\New York, N, Y. 56,566) .. Rosalind, kat 5.05 Quincy, Ill, JARVIS Patren. Commissioner ot Navigation aseeeenieemmennenineienieesianeieentnienmenieeeenieminininmeEnnee ee o’clock, gentlemen,”’ said the urbane chair- man, 48 we broke up for the night, after I had spent six dollars for drinks. General Dumont received me kindly and [ found him a gentleman somewhat ad- as one involving much -personal da: ger, although that element is not wholly out of the case. In other respects, the service was not one of any special difficulty, or labor, orrisk. The damage to the Alpha was, slight. Her painting was not repaired until a year afterwards, and then at a slight cost, and this libel wag not filed until some five months after the service, The value of the three lighters towed out with their cargoes was about $4500. I think $200 will be a fair compensation ; one-half to be paid to the tug, the other half tothe captain and crew in proportion to their wages. May 4, 1886. THE HOSPITAL TAX, Wasuineron, D. C., August 1. Special Correspondence to the Marine Record. Before 1 left New York a letter was handed me from the master of the refunding society, which, in addition to a small remit- tance contained this gentle reminder; “In your work,us representative of the soci- ety, before the committee on claims,to whom our affairs have been referred, bear in mind that you must put the brightest side of your shield upon the outside, and that you must be lavish with your money (treating the senators you know), even though you deny yourself some of the comforts. * * * Register at the best hote] (even though you are only able to stay one day and have to jump the town), in fact, let every move be an indication that you represent a well or- ganized, truly disciplined and powertul body Be sure and see James A. Dumont, the supervising inspector general, and Jarvis Patten, the commis- sioner of navigation, and do not stare at them in wonder, remembering that they are appointees of the dead party; but admire them for the power they possess, that of making their services so valuable that it obscures the fact that they are Republicans,” Landing in Washington, I, with the other great meu, registered at the Williards, and I told the clerk who [ was, and intimated that I would expand myself before the august committee on claims in a few days. . A tall, greyish-looking fellow stood at my right, a person with a seedy dress coat, and, looking askance at me, furtively asked: “You, ah, intend to appear before the comunittee ?”’ “Yes,”’ I responded, hurriedly, “I appear before the committee on claims to-morrow,”” “Well, if you think it will facilitate mat- ters any, I’ll introduce you to the chairman of that commitiee, Judge Fillup, senator from Maine?” I thanked the gentleman, and was at once introduced to the chairman, an angular look- ing chap, whom I considered extremely young to be at the front of so important a committee. However, I gave him a drink, and incidentally told him all about my mis- sion, and was introduced in turn to several other members of the committee, among whom were the Hons. John Takeanother, from Missouri, Wm. Drinkall, from Kansas, Sam’! Setemup, from Kentucky, and T. O. Fullglass, from Georgia, gentlemen who seemed very earnest in their attentions to me and anxious that the navigators of the country should be justly dealt with in the matter of getting the hospital tax refunded. “The committee meets in chambers at 1614 F street, to-morrow afternoon at 3] of from 95 to 100 pounds on the inch, the vanced in life, tall in stature, muscular in frame, and with a smiling face; «a man you would take for either a doctor or a lawyer. Courteous without affectation,dignified with- out effort, intellectual without pedantry, I found him, indeed, a truly delighttul com- panion. Jarvis Patten, commissioner of naviga- tion, isa gentleman ot somewhat opposite Style, a slender person, about fifty years ot age, whom you would take for a well-to-do business man. An old navigator, learned in the details ot seafaring life, he has, by his knowledge and energy, made the office of commissioner of navigation one of in- tellectual research, adding largely to the interests of navigation thereby. At the appointed time the committee on claims met, and I must confess that I was no impressed with the dignity of the com- mittee or the intellectual standing of its members, ® “Get a basket of champagne,’’ said the chairman to a servant. “Get two baskets,” said I, as I planked down my last dollar. The chairman, after several botiles had been consumed by the five members of the committee, asked me to state my claim, which I did, in as eloquent terms as possible, telling him how we had paid hospital tax for years, ead how we had never been sick, and——”’ “What! Never been sick??? asked the chairman, ; “No, sir,”’ 1 responded, and that is why WC apamene””. ’ ‘Will the honorable gentlemen of this committee drink the health of the man who was never sick?’’’ To which several more bottles responded by yielding up their sparkling contents. At this stage in the conference an argu- ment sprang up, in which the chairman ac cused some of the other members of drink- ing more than their share of the wine, and the argument ripened into a rough and tumble fight which was concluded by the police breaking in the door and arresting the combatants. I told the police my story, and they let me go, but the papers the next morning, in speaking of the affair, headed its article with “‘A Sucker Sold,” and then told bow the Washington dead-beats got me in their power. ‘THe SECOND ENGINEER, METALLIC PACKING. Escanasa, Micu., August, 12. Te the Editor of the Marine Record. : There is probably no part of a steam engine more frequently out of order or gives | greater annoyance to the engineer than the piston-rod and valve-stem packing, conse- quently there are a great variety of packing in the market, such as hemp, jute, soapstone, ashestor and many others, none of which could any reliance be placed upon until the invention of the Katzenstein metallic pack- ing. This packing does not only dispense to the gauges, know when: they are working correctly, and keep them clean and order; he should maintain a steady pre over the Rapi The ratt is consign packing showing no signs of wear, The piston rod runs steam and air tight, with no lubricants required other than that which is forced into the cylinders for the purpose of lubricating the internal parts of the engine. Ihave not known the tempera- ture of the rod being higher than that due to the pressure. Therefore, I feel safe in saying the Katzenstein packing produces less friction than any of the above named packings, all of which I bave used, Quincy MILER, Engineer, Steamer J. H. Devereux. FIREMEN. There are probably few callings deserving of so much attention, but yet so neglected as that of a fireman for a steam-boiler. The impression is that any able-bodied man, - young or old, can fire a steam-boiler, and it is often more a question of wages than of age or experience. So far as the opinions of the writer go, firing needs as much study, prac- tice, and investigation, as some trades, [n fact, there are several trades where not halt as much knowledge and education are re- quired, with reference to natural laws, as in firing. In older countries the subject has received considerable attentiun, and it is as difficult to get a position as fireman as it is that of an engineer. answer a number of questions, and furnish satisfactory references as to his experience, ability and knowledge of firing generally, including a knowledge of steam boilers, dif’ ferent kinds of coal, treatment of a steam- boiler, careful firing, so as to make as little smoke as possible; this last is considered equally as important there as here. The question of wages is not the first in consideration of the value of a good fireman, | so long as he has had experience and can be trusted. Of course, all engineers are aware that a good fireman can save more coal in a day than his wages would pay for, and also, erally ac. that an intelligent fireman is gen knowledged to be the best smoke- burner on the market, Outside of the fact of wasting fuel, there are a number of things that are dependent on the fireman’s ability. Promi- nent among them is the care that he gives. to his boiler; he should give close attention ming prop- — hoy forming by means of blowing down p ally, either from the ase the surface blow, .‘ have enough intere his employer ‘to clean the boiler and keep the gaskets in man-hole plates can be 12-inch instead of al ing fires properly, ing fires, and the manipulat off pipe o in hig A raft o with the annoyance of leaky piston rods and Manistique, Lake Mic valve stems, but is productive of economical results to the steam engine owner. Since applying the Katzenstein’ packing to the high press piston ‘rod of the steamer The 4 ’ The applicant must | in good — PEON Ea OO ¢ 4 | hes Devereux, the engine has made up to date | | 5,805,156 revolutions, ata piston speed of 492 feet per minute, under an initial