Evening star., 1898-08-27
A NOVEL EXPEDITION.
Equipment of the Sailing shin Tn
coma En- Route to Manila.

HrVlh the Chlcago Times Herald
The voyage Of the Tacoma. which re-
Gently sailed from San Francisco for the
Philippines, will be most remarkable, and
the results of it will be watched with the
Keenest interest by army men and shippers
OF cattle and horses in general The ship
carries cargo OF los horses and I'D mules
1000 miles across the broad Pacific to Ma
Mia Tne Tacoma is a three-ma sted sky
sail clipper ship. Odd feet long, IL feet beam
and LBS tons burden. Under Lieut. Gamer
on's command VIII be twanty cavalrymen to
look after the horses. A crew of sixteen
sailors under Capt. Charles Davis and First
Ctflcer Robert Melville Will man the shin,
Ihls expedition is attracting much atten-
tlon because of several new devices that
nave been adopted for the comfort of tha
horses and mules. The main deck has been
covered with false deck from the break
OF the poop to the topgallant forecastIe
which forms roof for the animals and a
footing for the crew. This deck is SUBJ
stantial, but when removed will leave the
snip unmarried. Under it, the main
deck proper, will be housed about fifty
head of live stock, the stalls for which are
novel and ingenious. The animals will
stand with their heads toward the center
OF the vessel and their hindQuarters against
rounded umbers while their chests will ht
into an indentaton with side guards max
ing complete smooth cage, which is hoped
10 eIectually protect the animals from the
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 surcingles, contrary to what
would be supposed, are never used in rough
weather. AT such times the animals must
shift for themselves. and when il becomes
caimer they are swung up in the sur
cipgles to give them the needed rest. The
animals Will not be allowed to lie down ex-
cept In the veterinary hospital, in charge
of Surgeon Plummer, 4th Cavalry u. s. A.
In the tween decks the rest of the rs
equiEes will be housed in the same fashion.
Between the two rows are wide passages,
which will permit hostlers TO pass to and
lro Whne cleaning and feeding their
charges. The feed troughs hang from
WOODEN crosspieces above the chest bars
ana are made of iron, being easily moved
when necessary.
A system of electric lighting and ventila-
ticn is put in which help greatly in the
care of thu 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
VIII send the cir to places not otherwise
ventilated, and batteries of portable lights
ara hung where they may be carried at the
end of ffty-foot wire to dark recesses.
The question of supplying fresh water for
the animals Is an important one on such a
voyage as this. Fourteen hundred gallons
are daily required. 1t was first intended TO
SuPPls tiils Ny ldhhS IN lne hold, WHICH
would necessitate pumping. Lieut.. Gamer
on, however, decided to place on board two
condensers, each of 1900 gallons capacity.
The tanks for these are placed high and
pipes conduct the water to where Il is
needed. Four hundred and twenty-five
thousand pounds of oats, 133, 600 pounds of
bran, $50 tons Of hay, and fifty tons of
straw will be taken aboard. The straw is
for making mattresses to lay on the deSks
where the eQuines are exercised and for
bedding In the hospital.
The Tacoma is expected to make Manila
bay in fifty days. The trade winds will be
caught out Of San Francisco and the SOUTH
west monsoon when they are lost.