The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-30
HOSPITAL SHIP RELIEF
FLOATING PALACE FOR UNCLE SAM,S
SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS.
Fitted with Every Modern Conven-
fence and Loaded with Medical
Supplies and DeIicacies.

NEW YORK, June 29.-What undoubted-
~ is the finest hospital ship in the world
will steam out of New York harbor next
Thursday and proceed to Santiago de Cuba
She is the Relief, the pride OF the War De-
partment. The Solace, Uncle Sans other
hospital ship, belongs to the Navy De-
partment, and is on duty in Cuban waters.
For more than month the Relief has been
receiving the attention of carpenters, ma
chinists, plumbers, electricians and med
tcal and surgical experts at the Morgan
Iron works. Saturday she f1oated out of
dry dock, and with a few more finishing
touches, inside and out, she will be ready
to sail.
The Relief, with her splendid lines her
massive steel frame and her modern en-
gines; more than answers every demand
from the point of view of a ship proper
and from that of the physician and surgeon
she is dream. Imagine a ship of this kind
divided into five large wards for the sick
and wounded, into storerooms and mess
rooms, operating rooms and officers quar-
tiers, fitted with every appliance known to
modern medical and surgical science, in
Guiding all known instruments likely to be
required in surgical operations; two COM
plete X-ray outfits, a microscopic labora-
and with electrical power running the
lights and hundreds of fans scattered
throughout the ship. whose zephyrs will
make the wounded soldier. forget that he
is not in his northern home. instead of
off torrid Cuba.
The ship will be loaded with the greatest
cargo of nice things that any similar YES
sci ever carried. Hundreds of patriotic
women all over the Eastern States have
heard of DR.. Torney and his ship, and the
result has been contributions of money and
luxuries and delicacies until the pantries
and storerooms of the floating hospital now
fairly creak with the load of them.
In the way oil purely medical stores Or.
Torney has taken pains to supply every
thing. He last week sent on board sew
eral hundred cases of medicina! stores.
which he describes as pills and powders"
Three special plants have been provided
which will add infinitely to the comfort OF
the sick. They are the distilling plant the
ice or refrigerating plant and the plant for
Garbonizing water-the gift Of the Colonial
Danes The first two will be indispensable
IN the south in furnishing a plentiful sup
ply of pure and cold water, and the car
BOMBED plant will make the water more
drinkable.
The wards are models in their way. The
walls are painted white, the floors COW
cred with rubber thing ard the beds of
iron enameled in white. The beds have
fine wire-woven springs and comfortable
mattresses, which being cheap. are thrown
away as soon as soiled. Bath rooms abound.
They are connected with all the wards with
the private quarters of the medical staff
and with those of the ships officers. There
is a special shower bath. which would be
the making of any bathhouse on land 1t
is for sick officers and is so arranged that
the shower throws hot or cold. fresh or salt
water
For hosting or lowering the sick or
wounded Naval Constructor Francis T.
BowleS has devised special apparatus.
On the forward side of the main mast he
has fitted steam boom. BY it's use patients
on any deck of the Relief or in any ward
desired.