The herald., 1898-11-10
A NOVEL EXPEDITION
Equipment Of the Sailing Ship Taoons
En- Route to Manila


The voyage of the Tacoma, which recent
ly sailed from San Francisco for the Philip
pines, will be most remarkable, and the 70.
suits of it will be watched with the keenest
interest by army men and shippers of cattle
cago of l0S horses and 120 mules 1000 miles
across the broad Pacific to Manila. The
Tacoma is three -masted, sky-sail clipper
ship, 222 feet long, Al feet beam and 1873 tons
burden. Under Lieutenant Camercon's
command will be twenty cavalrymen to look
after the horses. A crew of sixteen sailors,
under Captain Charles Davis and First OFF,
Ger Robert Melville, will man the ship.
The expedition is attracting much atten-
tion because of several new devices that have
been adopted for the comfort of the horses
and mules. The main deck has been COW
cred with false deck from the break of the
poop to the topgallant forecastle, which
forms a roof for the animals and footing for
the crew. This deck is substantial, but
when removed will leave the vessel un-
marred. Under it on the main deck proper
will be housed about fifty head of livestock,
the stalls for which are novel and ingenious.
The animals will stand with their heads tow
ard the center of the vessel and their hind
quarters against rounded timbers, while
their chests will fit into an indentation with
side guards, making complete smooth
cage, which is hoped to effectually 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 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 aniulals must
shift for themselves and when it becomes
calmer they are swung up 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 Sur
geon Plummer, Fourth cavalry, u. S. A.
In the tween decks the rest of the 229
equnes will be housed in the same fashion.
Between the two rows are wide passages,
which will permit hostlers to pass to and fro
while cleaning and feeding their charges.
The feed troughs hand from wooden cross.
pieces above the chest bars and are made OF
iron, being easily moved when necessary
A system of electric lighting and ventila-
tion is put in, which helps greatly in the care
of the stock. Incandescent lamps arc
placed at intervals all through the ship, ex-
cept in the lower hold, which will carry 300
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 fifty-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
supply this by tanks in the hold, which
would necessitate pumping. Lieutenant
Cameron, however, decided to place on
board two condensers, each of 1000 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 fifty tons OF
straw will be taken aboard. The straw is
for making mattresses to lay on the decks
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.-Chicago
Times Herald