The San Francisco call., 1898-05-09
TROOP SHIPS
 FOR MANILA Several Vessels in Port That Gan Be Put in
 Commission.
To Transport Nine Thousand Men Nine Vessels Will
 Be Necessary.
Lively Work Required to Secure That Mum Der and Got Them
 Away on Time.

eff troops are to be sent to Ma nila at once what vessels are going to carry them?" was the main topic of con- versation on the water front yesterday. Not only are the National Guardsmen in- terested in the question, but the general public as well. In consequence every pos sible carrier was examined by eager crowds during the day, and hundreds Of the militia were scattered over the front from Meiggs wharf to the Mall dock and gathering in groups in front of ocean-go- ing steamers. All of them wanted to get a look at the City of Peking, and much disappointment was felt when the day gradually wore away and there was stlll no sign of the big liner.
 Word was sent to Captain Smith at Honolulu to rush the Picking up, and II was generally supposed that she wohda l schedule did not call for her appearance until Saturday.
 Still, she may have been detained at the islands or she may even be in quaran- tine Smallpox and the bubontc plague are prevalent at Hongkong, and case of either one or the other may have de- veIoped during the voyage
 The vessels in port or expected here during the next forty-eight hours that could be used as transports for men, horses, munitions of war and coal are the ebla, Leelanaw, City of Peking, City or Sydney, Progreso, Washtenaw and Wil- lamette Of these the Australia IS reaQy to be fitted out at moments notice, the Ohio Is discharging at Harrison street wharf the City of Puebla Is to sail on Wednesday next for Puget Sound ports, the Leelanaw is discharg1ng coal al MS sion street wharf, while. the City of Syd, ney is on her way here from Panama ana the Progreso, Washtenaw and Willamette from Puget Sound.
 The MaripoSa was moved to the re- finery yesterday to discharge the sugar she brought from Honolulu, and unless she is pressed into Uncle Sans service will begin loading genera! cargo TOT Aus. tralasan ports to-day. The Ohio ana Leelanaw were brought out here from the East for the St. Michael trade, and 1t would not take long to Tt them out rLo so carry a large number of troops: The Progreso carries 5000 tons, the WaShte- naw 1000 tons and the Willamette Z4oO tons of coal. They are now on their way here with black diamonds. The big Aus trian collier Burma and the Nor wegian whaleback Titania are now on their way from Nanaimo, B. C., With about 10000 tons of coal between them so they would fill up the American steam CTS Progreso Washtenaw and Willamette in short order. The latter vessels are bringing down Seattle coal, but as the Nanaimo article is a much better fuel for steamers Uncle Sam would be sure to send it. As men experienced in the pas senger trade say it will requlre al le2sI 1 nine vessels to move 5000 troops to Ma nila it will thus be seen that 1T It comes to sending the men away in hurry the Government has not a great number or vessels to pick and choose from
 Many of the business men on the water front have been left short handed by the call to arms. There is not store on East street but what has lost one or more or the assistants, but every one Of them was given leave at moments notice, and in nearly every case their pay goes ..(G on just lS the same. At the Ferry Cafe freddy Osborn's brothers got the summons while they were at work behind the counter. of you go.'' said Ted" and without de
 I, Fra14 1anfV sNft2f fG and marched to the arpory, where they were sworn in. They are now in camp with the rest of tAe boys at the Presidio: Will and Arthur are in clover, as they not only draw full pay from their brother, but will also draw a small sum from the United States treasury each month; With has to stand a double watch in order to even up with the expense sheet
 Captain Chisholm of the British ship Blackbraes has arrived in San Francisco to superintend the repairs to the Wills colt. The latter vessel was caught in a hurricane while on her way from Japan to Portland and was dismaSted. She put in here in distress. Captain Mitchell will take the Willscott to England as soon as she is repaired and chartered L,, .,o Risdon Iron Works yesterday, fell on a piece of iron and broke his jaw. pr. Green l attended to him at the Harbor Receiving
 The river steamer George M. Stoney, built for the Hayne party that went to kotZebue Sound on the bark Alaska, will have her trial trip to-day. She will carry about thirty people and their baggage on a, very light draught, and will be used on the Kubuck River She will be taken up on the bark Northern Light and will be turned over to the Hayne party at Kotze- bue Sound. Captain Ludlow, formerly of the whaling bark Mars, will go up as master of her and M Eckley will be the engineer. The George M. Stoney is pro- peller boat and is the first of her kind built on this Coast. As the propellers are ] greater in diameter than the draft of the l vessel they are covered by a water-tight box which the wheel fills as soon as 1t l begins to revolve, and thus gives a solid l body of water in which to work.
 1 Another river steamer for the Kubuck 1 will also have her trial trip to-day. She is der for the barkentine Jane A. Falzin- ! burg.