Evening journal., 1898-09-05
TRANSPORT ALLEeHANY.
Captain Niclserson Answers the Attacks
ON His Ship.


NEW YORK, Sept 5.-The United
States transport Allegheny, Captain
Nickerson arrived yesterday at quaran-
tine from Montauk, where she landed
the Ninth Massachusetts volunteers
from Santiago, and, after a thorough
examination by the health officer, was
permitted to proceed.
Captain Nickerson when seen at
quarantine, said This is the cattle
ship the pest ship She does not look
like one, does she?"
The Allegheny, in justice to Captain
Nickerson, is one Of the cleanest trans
ports arriving in New York harbor since
the returning transports have stopped
at the New York quarantine for exami-
nation. The transport landed about 500
men Of the Ninth Massachusetts volun-
teers at Montauk from Santiago. She
was first employed by the government
to carry horses to Santiago. She also
carried General Wheeler and staff to
the front. On returning to Tampa all
the woodwork between decks was torn
out and the vessel thoroughly scrubbed
and cleansed. Stanchions were put in
position between decks and two rows OF
hammocks were hung for the troops.
These compartments had iron decks,
and all the sides were whitewashed,
making the quarters sweet and clean.
Captain Nickerson said when the troops
embarked at Santiago, many of them,
according to the surgeon in charge, were
suffering from malaria and general de-
bility, incidental to the campaign in
Cuba. The surgeon feared that many
would die before reaching Montauk.
Fourteen men died and were buried at
4 tfna .F r..s1
board and was lost. The transport was
washed swept and cleansed daily by
the ships crew under the direction of
her officers. The troops made not the
least effort to help themselves. nor did
they try to keep clean. II arranged TO
give them facilities for salt water baths,
but for three days no advantage was
taken Of the fine, warm salt ocean wa
ter which was pumped on board for the
soldiers special benefit"
MANY of the men opened canned
goods and threw the tins under their
hammocl1s. Dead lights six feet apart,
pierced the vessels side throughout the
quarters, but the troops appeared indlf-
ferent to their own comfort and cleanli-
ness and failed to throw their waste
and refuse through the port holes into
\ the sea. asked the officer in charge
how he kept his camp clean, and he an
swered, oh, the men do that But
while on board my ship they would do
nothing to help themselves, only eat
and sleep. and We're altogether indiffer-
ent to the ills and needs Of their COM
rades and themselves.
Il have heard the men call for water,
but could get no one TO bring II to them
until my chief engineer, disgusted at the
laziness Of the comrades Of these poor
sufferers, helped them with all the wa
ter they required. II has been stated the
transport had no ice. The ship had ice
and used II freely, and we now have six
tons Of ice on board within the very
compartment where the men Uere To-
Gated.
II offered the ships stores for the use
Of the sick and served out oatmeal in
abundance and whisky. The latter. of
course, was paid for. The men would
cut Off thick slices Of bread and bite a
piece and throw the remainder down
anywhere they chose. WE threw enough
bread and other food overheard to feed
the whole lot during the entire voyage
The waste was so great that at times ]
was obliged to make a vigorous protest
The Allegheny is open TO inspection. and
defy any man to say that there is OF
has been anything unwholesome about
her or that all of my crew have not
done everything possible to make the
troops on board comfortable during the
voyage. Fine weather was experienced
throughout the trip and at NO time was
there more than an eight knot breeze
The sea was quite smooth, with the ex-
ception of about two hours off Cape
Maysi.