The Philipsburg mail., 1898-11-04
A NOVEL EXPEDITION.
Trip Of the Sailing Ship Tacoma
to Manila.
An Undertaking That VIII IA
Watched with Great Interest hE
Army Men and Shippers
Of Cattle.

The voyage Of the Tacoma, which re.
Gently sailed from San Francisco for
the Philippines, will be most remark
able, and the result of it will be
watched with the k.cnest interest BY
army men and shippers of cattle and
horses in general. The ship carries a
cargo Of 10s horses and 12O mules 1000
miles a~~oss the broad Pacific to
Manila. The Tacoma is a three-mast-
ed, sky-sail clipper ship, 222 feet long,
Al feet beam and 1873 tons burden.
Under Lieut.. Cameron's command will
be 90 cavalrymen to look after the
horses. a crew of IL sailors under
Capt. Charles Davis and First Officer
Robert Melville will man the ship.
This expedition is attracting much
attention because of several new de-
vices that have been adcr<:. for tho
comfort Of the horses and mules. The
main deck has been covered with a
false deck from the break of the poop
to the topgallant forecastle, which
forms a roof for the animals and q
footing for the crew. This deck is sub
stantial, but when removed it will
leave the ship unmarried. Under it, on
the main deck proper, will be housed
about so head of live stock, the stalls
of which are novel and ingenious.
The animals will stand with their
heads toward the center of the vessel
and their hindquartcrs against round
ed timbers, while their chests will fit
into an indentation with side guards,
making complete, smooth cage, which
is hoped to effectually protect tho
animals from the rolling and pitching
OF the ship that are to be expected in
heavy weather. To further aid them,
each will be lifted clear of the deck by
surcingles passed around their bodies
and fastened to the roof above, which
will swing them clear when the ship
lists. The surcinglcs. contrary to
what would be supposed, are never
used in rough weather. At such times
the animals must shift for themselves,
and when it becomes calmer they ara
swung up in the surcinglcs to giro
them the needed rest. The animals will
not be allowed to lie down EXCEPT in
the veterinary hospital, in charge Of
Surgeon Plummer. Fourth cavalry, U,
S. A.
In the tween decks the rest of tho
22S equines will be housed in the same
fashion. Between the two rows are
wide passages, which will permit
hostlers to pass to and fro while clean
ing and feeding their charges. Tho
feed troughs hang from wooden cross
pieces above the chest bars and are
made of iron, being easily moved when
necessary.
A system of electric lighting and
ventilation is put in which helps great
~ in the care of the stock. Incan-
descent lamps are placed at intervals
all through the ship, except in the
lower hold, which will carry 800 tons Of
coal and forage. Patent fans will send
the air to places not otherwise venti-
lated, and batteries of portable lights
are hung where they may be carried at
the end of a 50-foot wire to dark re-
,esses.
The question Of supplying fresh wa
ter for the animals is an important
one on such voyage as this. Four
1uired. 1t was first intended to supply
this by tanks in the hold. which would
1ecessitate pumping. Lieut.. Cameron,
however, decided to place on board
-wo condensers, each of 1000 gallons
capacity. The tanks for these are
placed high and the pipes conduct the
water to where it is needed. Four hun.
'red and twenty-five thousand pounds
II oats, $4,000 pounds of bran, $50 tons
If hay, and 50 tons of straw will be
aiken aboard. The straw is for maxi
ng mattresses to lay on the decks
where the equines are exercised and
or bedding in the hospital.
The Tacoma is expected to make
ianila bay in so days. The trade winds
will be caught out of San Francisco
nd the southwest monsoon when they
re lost.-Chicago Times-Herald.