The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-03

Within a month tbs first ambulance
ship the United States government has
ever owned will be ready for service.
She IL the Grand Duchesse of the Plant
line Of steamships. and was purchased
by the government In March. She Is
Kaid to be the finest vessel in the great
feet OF steamers that ply between the
different ports On the North American
coast.
The active work OF reftting her has
been in charge OF Surgeon General Van
Reypen OF the United States navy. and
nothing approaching her in the way of
a floating hospital has ever been con-
structed. There is not an il-ventila;ed
apartment on the ship. and every con-
v~enience that has been invented for
making the life OF the sick or wounded
afioat one of comfort Will be utilized for
the benefit OF whoever may have the
misfortune to have his name placed on
the sick roll of the navy. and assigned
to these quarters.
The Duchesse is built entirely Of
steel. her dimensions being as follows:
Length. 404 feet over all: length be-
tween perpendiculars. $50 feet: beam.
AZ feet . inches; depth from top of deck
to base line. 81 feet 4 inches. She has
two steel masts and is fore m aft
rugged. Her water bottom extends from
what Is called the stuffing box bulk
head to the collision bulkhead.
on the main deck forward Is located
the dining saloon which originally had
a seating capacity of 125 people. n Is
fitted up and decorated in white n
gold. This dining room has been large
ly cut down. the a thu gained be-
ing utilized as the offices of the surgeon
and attendants in charge. Forward of
this room IL the old reception room for
s~econd-class passengers. now utilized
for convalescents. still forward Of this
were the sleeping room OF the second
class passengers. which Will be occu-
pied by the nurses. In the after end
OF the old dining saloon. and leading up
from a hallway fronting the staff Of
fees. is a grand stairway to what was
formerly the social hall for frst-class
passengers above. This social hall has
been divided up into wards. each con-
tanning nine beds.
on the main deck aft OF the dining
saloon Is a pantry, and aft of this is a
large galley. ON this deck Is also To-
Gated cold storage for provisions. the
officers mess room. baker and porter
shop. the telephone exchange room. the
stewards room, and a number OF state
rooms abreast OF the boiler and engine
matches for oilers. water tenders. etc.
Aft of the machinery Is the main sa-
loon. with two tiers OF staterooms on
zach side. No change has been made
I'm this arrangement. the space being
left for whatever IL Is considered best
to utilize IL for. Immediately aft of the
main saloon Is the toilet. bath rooms,
etc.
In the forward end of the upper or
promenade deck the social hall for sec
ond-class ~ssenge just Onward of
the similar apartment for first-class
passengers. has been transformed into
two wards. The staterooms on either
side will be utilized for convaiescents.
on the pilot-house deck forward Is the
pilot house. after which is the cap
tain's room and two tiers of staterooms
for the officers and surgeons OF she
boat. These continue to the smoke
stack. over the first-class social hail
Is a large steel house originally fitted
up as a ladies' observatory. This will
be used as a convalescent cabin. a
similar structure stands over the sec
ond-class social hall. finished in quar-
tered oak. AS yet no operating room
has been provided. but Surgeon Gen
eral Van Reypen said when questioned
that IL was likely a portion Of the main
saloon would be used for that purpose.
SO much for the technical equipment
and fitting Of the Duchesse. As a mat
ter OF fact she Is a marvel. because
there have been carried out aboard OF
her many ideas that have hitherto beer