The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-11

-Becomes-
AHospital


line freight and passenger steamer Gre
ole, was built by the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Drydock company.
She was completed the latter part Of
September, 1896, and was put on the
New York and New Orleans route and
continued to make regular trips be-
tween the two ports from that time un-
til purchased by the government few
weeks ago. Immediately after the ship
was turned over to her new owners she
was sent to Newport News, where she
was changed from a merchant vessel to
q floating hospital, the work being COM
pleted in remarkably short time.
The Solace is regarded by marine ex-
perts as the finest piece of work ever
turned out by the Newport News yard.
The workmanship Is unexcelled. The
ship is $40 feet over all and the beam
measurement is A feet 23s inches. Her
depth of hold is 32 feet inches and
she has displacement of 4,700 tons.
The mean draft ia II feet l q inches.
The engines, which are of the highest
type now in marine use have an indi-
Gated horsepower OF $500. All of the
vessels machinery was built of the best
material and shows bat little wear after
~ years Of almost continual service.
The steamer has been overhauled and
remodeled throughout. The sanitary
and drainage systems of the ship have
been entirely rearrarged, special atten-
tion having been given to cleanliness,
which is of 80 much Simportance on
board vessel of this kind. Under the
present arrangement the Solace can care
for 800 sick and wounded men. The
lower deck has been fitted up with 200
cots and space provided for the swing
ing Of large number Of hammocks
which can be used for berthing the
crew when necessary. The forward sa-
loon has been fitted up as an operating
room. This room is in direct communi-
cation with the lower deck by means of
ootlike elevator by which patients can
be readily taken to the cots below after
an operation has been performed. In
the operating room number of tables
have been placed as well as full supply
of cases for the care Of surgical instru-
ments. Close to this room is the apothe-
oary,s reem, which Is supplied with het
and cold water and basins and sinks.
There are also in this room large num-
ber Of cases, bottle racks and the like,
which have been considered necessary
for the proper storing and handling Of
medical supplies in such quantities as
to answer immediate calls, these stores
being kept in large quantities in the
storeroom below decks. This room,
which is in the hold of the ship has
been 30 arranged ard fitted up as to IA.
cilitate the safo and rapid handling Of
oil material stored therein.
The staterooms which were original
ly intended for passengers have been
remodeled and fitted up as quarters for
the officers In command of the ship and
the chief medical off1cer and his staff
Of physicians and surgeons. The galleys
have been enlarged to such an extent as
to meet the increased demands which
will be made on this vessel and rear
ranged SO as to give the Grew better
quartsrs The culinary department has
been well provided for and everything
has been so arranged that the work In this
department can be- edone with cleanliness
and dispatch, even though the vessel
should be crowded to her utmost capac.
ity with wounded.
The fresh water tanks are unusually
large, and arrangements have been made
by which an adequate supply of fresh
water can be kept on hand. The water
is forced from the large reservoir tanks
into smaller ones, from which It is dis
tributed by force Of gravity to the gal
leys, pantries, wash basins in the off,
GERS state and wash rooms, senior med
ical officer 8 and assistants departments
and to the bathrooms used by the off,
GERS, crew and oonvalescent patients.
The steam laundry, which isoofnplete
in every respect, has o capacity suff-
ciently large to do all the ships hospi-
tai laundry work. r..,
While at Newport News extensive
telephone and voice tube systems have
been put in, by means Of which the off,
GERS can readily communicate with any
part of the ship and orders can be ham
died with dispatch. The new arrange
ments have made 10 necessary In some
instances to rearrange the bulkheads
and some Of the joiner work, but aside
from this the vessels general make up
remains as 1t was before it became the
property Of the government. On account
of the peculiar service for which the
Solace has been fitted she has been
painted white with green upper strake,
and will be easily distinguished from
the other vessels Of the navy, all Of
which have been painted gray and pre-
sent very grim appearance. Being en-
tirely neutral and going only on mis-.
>sions Of mevcy. the Solace will carry no
guns and has not been provided with
single piece Of armor plate--in fact, no
munitions of war, either in large or
small quantities. will be allowed on
board the ship.
The vessel has been supplied with
two steam launches and q large number
of small boats. which will be used in
picking up unfortunate combatants after
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