The times., 1898-04-24
MORE SHIPS FOR THE NAVY
C0manche and Colorado Selected
for Coast Defense.
NURSES OF THE RED CROSS
Thirteen Young Women SOlemnIy
Pledge Themselves to Duty-May
Steamship State of Texas-Tars
Eager to Fight.

Naval Inspector Tawresey and Passed
Assistant Engineer Danforth returned to
duty yesterday with Capt. Rodgers and
the other members of the Naval Board of
Auxiliary Cruisers. The first named had
been in Philadelphia, experimenting the
work which will convert the St Paul in
to an armored cruiser. He planned two
weeks work for the Cramps engineers.
He will remain with the board until the
New York and st. Paul have been safely
moored in Cramps Philadelphia shipyard.
He will then arrange for the alterations
necessary TO put these vessels in fight
ing trim.
The steamship Comanche of the Clyde
Line, was examined yesterday. This ves-
sci is 300 feet long, 46 feet beam, and
draws 26 feet 3 inches. She was built by
John Roach e. Son three years ago. She
will in all probability join the coast de-
fense fleet as soon as the terms of pur-
chase can be arranged and the vessel
fitted out as an armored cruiser.
The steamship Colorado, of the Mallory
Line, was also inspected. This was done
at the request of her owners The Color
ado is 396 feet long, has a beam of 80
feet inches and is q feet inches deep.
The Red Cross.
Thirteen women took the sacred pledge
of the Red Cross Sisterhood yesterday at
the Red Cross Hospital, One Hundredth
Street and the Boulevard, and declared
themselves ready for immediate service
on the field of war. The act was spared
the superstitious stigma that attaches to
the fatal number One was laggard and
was Sworn in separately. They only
await the final word from Clara Barton
to leave this afternoon by the Red Cross
ship State of Texas. which starts with
supplies at 3 o'clock from the Atlantic
Basin.
1t was an impressive moment when
President William WardweH stepping
forward said: THE Red Cross requires
of YOU the utmost devotion. | am ready
to give you its pledge. AS many as are
ready to take it will enter and repeat
II after me-
As Sister-in-Chef Bettina Hofker-Les-
ser called their names, twelve recruits
stepped into the council room and
formed a semi-circle about the table
covered with the banner of the Red
Cross. Behind this sat Mrs. George F.
Shrady and Mrs. John King Van Rens-
selaer. Back of them were ranged the
physicians DR.. M Lesser, DR. Frank
B. Carpenter, DIR. Munez and Or. Car
bonel.
In the order of their names stood Miss
Allan, Miss Isabelle Rutty Miss Adele
Gardiner, Mrs. Lucy Thomas. Miss
Emma Duensing. Miss Sarah Shaw,
Hiss Maud Cromeiien, Miss Chanler
Miss Pettis, Miss Lyon and Miss Coffin.
wave of intense feeling swept over
that little group. Many eyes filed with
tears others again We're bright with the
excitement of an event that made an
era in their lives. Voices faltered anG
| grew husky as the pledge Progressed
and one recruit, at least, made no audi
| BILE sound. Her lips moved with the rest
but the effort to speak aloud was he
yond her Slowly chey repeated after
Mr.. Fardell the words that bound
them to the cause of humanity and
neutrality"
Mr. Wardelrs own voice shook as he
concluded
Il hope the Right Honorable (Clara
Barton) will order us to proceed at once
with the ship" exclaimed one youthful
sister, as they fingered in corridor and
lecture room My trunk is all but
packed. and I've said so many good
bys | can't bear to say them over
again
ooh. girls murmured another in an
ecstatic whisper. my uniforms are too
dear. | just wish I had a needle and
thread to go ahead with my cap now
In fves and threes they posed for pho
tographs as ''the first detail" And a
very realistic little scream greeted an
unexpected detonation from the fash
light, because one is always thinking of
these stupid bombs" as one warr.o
cried.
Sister-in-C Charge Dilworth. of the hos
pital. fired with patriotic ardor declared
that as soon as the fair patients under
her care We're sufficiently recuperated to
be discharged she should leave at once
for the front. Applicants by the score
claimed her attention every instant
They come in all conditions of health.
often well on in years. to offer them
selves. And to these | am forced to say
the ranks are full. We want health and
youth and vigor for the work"