The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-30
ARMY HOSPITALSHIP


Aocommodssieas Can Essi1y n Rssvidsd
For $50 PsAa.nss and in IN nnsrsaaay
For Soo--Larss Operating nes~-x Rsy
Appliance Eur Hsissi.s Pusassss.
Tho work of reconstruction On the
army hospital ship Relief Is practically
completed. The ship was coaling re-
Gently and large force Of men was en-
gagged In giving the finishing touches to
the vessel. The wounded men OF our
army at Santiago will have at their
service the finest hospital ship ever own
ed by any government. Major George
II. Torney, u. s. A., the surgeon in
charge, has given his personal attention
to every detail OF construction and as q
result the ship presents beautiful ap-
pearanoe Of neatness and comfort. The
Relief was formerly the steamer John
EngIis of the Maine Steamship line.
plying between New York and Port
land.
Under the supervision Of Naval Con-
structor Bowles of the Brooklyn navy
yard the Relief has been undergoing
reconstruction for the past month. Tho
vessel has four decks---she main, berth,
promenade and hurricane decks-and on
these five sick wards have been arrang-
ed. There are two wards ON the prone
made deck, fore and aft; two ON the
main deck and another on the after
berth deck. Probably $50 patients can
be accommodated in the five wards AZ
now arranged, and by the addition of
extra cots it is estimated that 500
wounded men could be cared for in an
emergency. The officers ward is for
ward ON the main deck and does not
differ materially from the others. On
the after main deck Is the surgical ward
and adjoining this il q good sized and
well lighted operating room. In it are
three operating tables and two cabinets
for surgical instruments.
The entire interior of the vessel Is
finished in white enamel paint with
gold trimmings. The floors of the wards
and operating room are covered with
| rubber ti1ing. The cots are OF iron,
PAINTED white and most of them have an
| upper and lower berth, arranged like
sleeping car section, to accommodate
| two patients. In each ward are baths
| fitted with the Gegenstorm system OF
hot and cold water, by means Of which
| water may be drawn and kept at any
temperature desired by simply turning
lever above the tub. All in all, the
plumbing is said to be the finest ever
put ON board q ship.
On the berth deck are staterooms tc
accommodate 15f male and 10 female
nurses, and forward are the roomy and
we'll lighted officers quarters. The shiI
carries disinfecting plant, an ice plant
capable of producing 200 tons day and
an electric plant which supplies power
for incandescent lights throughout the
vessel and also for a 1000 candle power
searchlight, which is operated from thu
pilothouse. In addition to this all th'
wards and the quarters Of the officer
and the nurses are provided with higl
power electric fans, which are expecte'
to cool even the heated air Of Cuba. 4
small portion Of the after promenad
deck has been left open at the sides. ant
here hammocxs are to be swung for tn
benefit of convalescent patients.
Besides the appliances already emu
merated, the Relief has carbonater 70
supplying mineral water. several K IA,
outfits to aid the surgeons in locatin
bullets, microscopic laboratory and
we'll equipped Photographic dark room
On the main deck Is o telephone, b
means of which communication may
established with the shore or with othe
vessels. The ship carries eight lifeboats
four life RATS and two 28 foot stear
launches. Her eyterioris painted white
except for an olive green band whic
will encircle the vessel in accordanc
with the requirements Of tho Genev
convention.
An apparatus has been devised b
means of which the sick or wounde
NAV be hoisted on board the Relief wit
the least possible trouble. This consist
of a steel boom, which can be swun
over the deck Of q varship and is fitte
with tackle for hotsting. The surgic'
staff Of tho Relief will consist OF Majt
Torney, surgical director; DIR. L.
Williamson, DR.. r. NJ. Myers, d
Ernest @. Schultze, DR.. William n
Gray, DIR. Francis Metcalfe, DIR. w.
Gorgas, DR.. George IL Torney, Jr.,
the regular army, and DR.. Frank Do
aldson, the only volunteer.
Captain Harding will navigate Il
vessel and Lieutenant Crabbs OF Il
Eighth cavalry has been detailed
ouartermaster and commissary. II
crew will not be composed of enlist'
men. The male nurses who are to
with the Relief are from the Mi
Training school Of New York, and {
women are from the Johns Hopki
Hospital Training school Of Baltiraol
New York Sum.