The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-08
ENGINEERS ATANCHOR YET.
CHESTER'S pENTTLATING APPARATUS
BROKE DOWN.

Accident Also to the Condenslng Apparatus
Two Cooks Disabled, One of Them by
n Long-ItanEe M~uIe-Private SEMI Pulls
Private Higgins Out of the winter.
A series OF trining accidents detained the
troopship Chester. at anchor OF Liberty Island
with the First Volunteer Engineers on board,
all day yesterday. Men at the Battery and at
Liberty Island with rowboats to let said that
II was n good thing. The rowboat fare from
Liberty Island to the Chester was 50. On the
way the man at the oars groaned and grunted
and talked about the head tide and wind. and
In one Instance tho oarsman wound M Ivy de-
claring that he could not row his passengers
back without collecting another fare from ench.
The passengers rrbellcd. dismissed the boat
man, and got back TO the city on n lighter.
There were hundreds OF persons in rowhoats.
sailboats and launches to say good-by to the
engineers.
The principal accident. and tho one that
really delayed the departure. was to the ven-
tilating apparatus. A cylinder head on the en-
CINE that operates the machinery blew out,
and. besides that. there was a breakdown in
the condensing apparatus. II was a matter Of
several hours to repair damages. and Col.
Griffin declared that he would not start until
everything intended to increase the comfort
OF his men was in running order.
Incidentally" said one Of the officers while
enumerating the mishAps Of the day. I'VE lost
both OF our cooks and the steward was obliged
to 60 up to the city to hire two more. The first
cook was trying to 60 down into the hold on .
ladder. when one Of the 300 mules tied up on the
main deck brayed. The cook was scared half
to death. lost his balance, and fell into the hold
head first. dislocating his shoulder and break
ing an arm. An hour afterward the other cook
met with a similar accident. but we DOM know
what caused 1t. Tho men got some fun out Of
the Incident by holding a mock court-martial
and generating the mule"
While sitting on the ships rail Private Hig-
gins Of Company G became dizzy and tumbled
overheard. As he fell his head hit the side Of
the ship and he was partly stunned. Private
Semi OF Company +. stopping only long enough
to remove his web belt. which was filed with
cartridges. dived to his comrades assistance
and held him up until a boat from n lighter ON
the other side OF the ship was sent TO the res
cue. Col. Eugene Griffin commended Private
Semi and relieved him from all guard duty
aboard ship.
Major L. L. Seaman. surgeon of the regiment.
said that the health Of the command was ex.
I'VE have left two men behind who had pneu-
monia," he said. and there are two or three
on board Just a little under the weather, but
there are no serious cases. II sickness does
The Su~rgeon-General has treated me very well.
i D"N i hluh W nun " i6 ~ " ny ullllV "
l could get them. At first my requisitions were
cut to smithereens. Then l insisted and said
that / would not be responsible for tho physical
welfare OF the regiment unless my department
was e9uipped as it should be. Finally | got
this morning and learned that all these mules
were to be stabbed right above the sleeping
quarters OF the men i concluded that we had
not enough disinfectants. | went ashore to he
Army building and got all that needed with
General is doing his level best. But we can't
expect HIM to know what each subordinate
officer in. his department, wants. It is their
place to inform him. and keep at him until
they get what they need for their men, -.
the men on the Chester it will be our own fault.
We have a magnificent outfit. furnished by tho
Government. the Red Cross Society. and Mr..
John H.. Mairs Of Ardsley, who has, given n set
OF operating Instruments to the regiment. We
main deck. forward. where space has been re-
served for sixteen cot beds"
Col. Griffin said that he expected to report to
Gen; Miles at Porto Rico by Friday of this
week
infantry regiment" he said. and are ready to
take our place in the line II there is any more
fighting. but as n matter Of fact / expect that
we will work principally as engineers and form
a part OF the. army of occupation. There will
1%ications. We, have n wagon train Of twenty:
five, wagons loaded with tools for all sorts OF
work; -,
like to deny before leaving New York. The
given a silk flag with the words Remember
the Maine embroidered on II to the regiment.
Mrs. Griffin has not given any flag to the reRi-
ment. She certainly would not have given one
with a motto"