The San Francisco call., 1898-05-10
READY TO SAIL
 ON SATURDAY The City of Picking Ar rives and Will Prepare
 to Go to Manila.
Officers of the Vessel Delighted. With the Duty of Con-
 veying Troops.
When She Left Hongkong Prepara- tions for War Were Being Made
 by the United States Fleet

The Pacific Mail Steamship Company s
 steamer the City of Peking, which Is
 to be used as a transport ship to con-
 vey troops and supplies to Admiral
 Dewey in the Philippines, reached port
 last evening and anchored or Angel Island. She was boarded by Deputy Sur
 veyor of the Port Chauncey St Jonn'
 who extended the courtesies or the port
 to the vessel, and did everything ln nls
 power to expedite the clearing or the
 ship so that she might be oocked as
 early as possible. Quarantine Onicer Rosenau, acting under instructions from Washington. was more lenient than usual In his examination, and as soon as the steerage passengers were landed on the island, the Peking was allowed to dock. which she reached about 9:5o
 The first news of the war was received by the passengers when the pilot board ed the vessel, but when she left Hong kong 1t was expected that fighting would begin at any time. Shortly before her departure from there, the authorities at Washington were cabled that in the event of war vessels would be needed by the squadron, and the request was made that the Pekng be held at that port The reply was that the Picking might be of more service in the United states than Iongkong, and that II vessels were H6SQeQ Dy IuG bllcAC WOlO SOiiAO already there which could be bought. Acting on these instructions two Brit ish ships were purchased. One IS coal ship loaded with $500 tons, and was an cilored just astern of the squadron. The other is to be used as storeship. and into it were. placed a number of extra spars and boats. When the Picking sailed Dewey was making preparations for war All the vessels had on their fight ing paint, the decks had been cleared to certain extent, and orders to move were expected any moment.
 The fact that the Government intimated that the Picking would be of use here was enough of a hint to the officers that she might be used in some capacity, but to which she would be put until he reached here. He received notification from the company that the vessel had been chartered by the Government, and whether he was to go with the vessel, 1t Is generally believed by the officers aboard her that the majority of them will be retsined and all are anxious to go with the troops Captain Smith says that his vessel will be in shape to leave for the Philippines by Saturday, if not sooner. The freight will all be out by. Wednes- day at the latest, and then, after going into drydock for twenty-four hours to be of some of her foulness, she will be in condition to enter the Government service.
 W. o. Barker, the freight clerk of the Peking, when asked to make an estimate on the number of troops and amount of freight the vessel could carry. said: "The Peking is licensed to carry 800 steerage passengers, and can accommodate 100 cabin at present. If fitted up as troop ship she ought easily to accommodate 5000 men and carry 2500 tons of freight be- sides" It is rumored that the Picking will leave on Saturday under convoy of the Charleston, and this rumor is believed by the officers of the vessel.
 The steamship was day overdue when she arrived last night, and the cause of the delay was heavy head winds en- countered. There were no severe gales. but the wind was dead against the ship all the way over. Officers on board say that never before in their experience have they known of a voyage in which the wind was dead ahead throughout trip. The passenger list this trip was the largest the Picking has ever had, there being seventy-four cabin and 800 steerage pas sengers Two hundred of the latter were left at Honolulu
 Among the cabin passengerss were two captains and nine lieutenants of the Ja- panese navy. They are here to take back two cruisers, which are being built in this country One of them is the Chitosc,