The times., 1898-11-20
A NOVEL EXPEDITION.
The Equipment of the Sailing Ship
Tacoma.

From the Chicago Times Herald.)
The voyage of the Tacoma, which re-
Gently sailed from San Francisco 20 the
Philippines, will be most remarkable, and
the results of 1t will be watched with
the keenest interest by army men and
shippers of cattle and horses in general
The ship carries a cargo OF los horses
and 12O mules 700 miles across lie broad
Pacific TO Manila. The Tacoma :s a
three-masted, sky-sail clipper ship DO
feet long. Il feet beam and lbs :3ns bar
den. Under Lieut.. Camercon's Command
will be twenty cavalrymen to look after
the horses. crew of sixteen sailors,
under Capt. Charles Davis ard First
Officer Robert Melville, will MAI TIE
ship.
This expedition is attracting muoh at
tention because of several new devices
that have been adopted :or the comfort
of the horses and mules. The main icck
has been covered with false Geek rom
the break of the poop 10 the topsallant
forecastle, which forms a Roof for the
animals and footing for th2 crew. This
deck is substantial. but when removed
will leave the ship unmarried. Under it,
on the main deck proper will be housed
about fifty head of live stock. the
stalls for which are novel and ingeui rus.
toward the center of the vessel and their
HEADQUARTERS against rounded timhtrs.
while their chests will fit INTO ar ndau;.-
tion with side guards, making a complete
smooth case, which is hoped to effectual-
ly protect the 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 surcingIes passed
around their bodies. and fastened to the
roof above, which will swing them clear
when the ship lists. The surcingles. con-
trary to what would be supposed, are
never used in rough weather. At such
times the animals must shift for them
selves and when it becomes calmer thef
are swung mp in the surcingles TO give
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, L. s A
In the tween decks the rest of the 22S
equines will be housed in the same fash
ion. Between the two rows are wide pas
sages, which will permit hostlers to pass
to and fro while cleaning and feeding
their charges. The feed troughs hang
from wooden crosspieces above the chest
bars. and are made of iron, being easily
moved when necessary.
a system of electric lighting and Ven
tilation is put in. which helps greatly il,
the care of the stock. Incandescent lamps
are placed at intervals all through the
ship, except in the lower hold, which will
carry 500 tons of coal and forage. Patent
fans will send the air to places not other
wise ventilated, and batteries or porta-
Bile lights are hung where they NAV be
carried at the end of a fifty-foot wire to
dark recesses.
The question of supplying fresh water
Tor the animals is an important one on
such a voyage as this. Fourteen hun
dred gallons are daily required. 1t was
hrst intended to supply this by tanks in
the hold, which would necessitate pump
ing. Lieut.. Cameron, however. decided to
place on board two condensers. each of
ZOO gallons capacity The tanks for
these are placed high, and pipes conduct
the water TO where IT is needed. Four
hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds
of oats, $4,000 pounds of bran, $50 tons
OF hay and so tons of straw will be taken
aboard. The straw is for making mat
tresses TO lay on the decks where tba
equines are exercised and for bedding in
the hospital.
The Tacoma is expected to make Ma
mia Bay in fifty days. The trade winds
lost.