Daily camera., 1898-10-25
A NOVEL EXPEDITION.
Trip Of the Sailing Ship Tacoma
to Manila.
An Undertaking That Will Be
Watched with Great Interest By
Army Men and Shippers
Of Cattle.

Inc voyage Oh tne ldcoud. "uiSA re
Gently sailed from San Francisco for
the Philippines, will be most remark
able, and the result of it will be
watched with the -enest interest by
army men and shippers of cattle and
horses in general. The ship carries
cargo of 1Os horses and 120 mules 1000
miles across the broad Pacific to
Manila. The Tacoma is three-mast-
ed, sky-sail Clipper ship, 222 feet long,
Al feet beam and 1,73S tons burden.
Under Lieut.. Cameron's command will
be 20 cavalrymen to look after the
horses. A crew of 16 sailors under
Capt. Charles Davis and First Officer
Robert Melville will man the ship.
This expedition is attracting much
attention because of several new de-
vices that have been adopted for. the
comfort of the horses and mules. The
main deck has been covered with a
false deck from the break of the poop
to the topgallant forecastle, which
forms roof for the animals and a
footing for the crew. This deck is sub
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leave the ship unmarried. Under it, on
the main deck proper, will be housed
about so head of live stock, the stalls
of which are novel and ingenious.
: The animals will stand with their
heads toward the center of the vessel
and their hindquarters against round
ed 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 animals 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
Surgeon Plummer, Fourth cavalry, U.
S. A.
In the tween decks the rest of the
22s equines will be housed in the same
fashion. Between the two rows are
wide passages, which will permit
hostlers to pass to and fro while clean
ing and feeding their charges. The
feed troughs hang from wooden cross
pieces above the chest bars and are
made of iron, being easily moved when
necessary.
system of electric lighting and
ventilation is put in which helps great
ly in the care of the stock. Incan-
descent lamps are placed at intervals
all through the ship. except in the
lower hold. which will carry 800 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 50-foot wire to dark re-
cesses.
The question of supplying fresh wa
ter for the animals is an important
one on such a voyage as this. Four
teen hundred gallons are daily re-
quired. 1t was first intended to supply
this by tanks in the hold. which would
necessitate pumping. Lieut.. Cameron.
however, decided to place on board
Two condensers, each of 1000 gallons
capacity. The tanks for these are
placed high and the pipes conduct the
water to where it is needed. Four hun
dred 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 max
ing 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 so days. The trade winds
will be caught out of San Francisco
and the southwest monsoon when they
are lost.-Chicago Times-Herald.