The record-union., 1898-05-04
A FLOATING HOSPITAL.
STEEL STEAMSHIP SOLACE
JOINS THE NAVY.
First Vessel to Be Used for Eospi-
tai Purposes in the History
of Naval Warfare.


hospital ship, and, strange as it may
SEEM the first in the history Of the
world 1t is to the credit of the Stars
and Stripes that our national colors
shall float over this vessel, shall sane
ton the first step toward tempering
the horrors of war with a humane en-
deavor to alleviate suffering. War has
enough heart pangs to answer for, God
knows, and the announcement that we
are to have hospital ship is indeed a
welcome one.
While thousands of workmen have
been busy day and night Transforming
the steamships built for commerce and
passenger traffic into men-ofwar. plac-
ing armament in position on decks and
painting hulls with a coating of somber
gray, gangs of men have been inces-
sanity at work during the last week
transforming the steel steamship Gre
ole of the Cromwell line, into the So
lace-the name, so suggestive of hope
and cheer, given to the first floating
hospital ever designed for service in
war. It's hull has been painted white,
with a wide strip of green along the
| side, which makes a striking contrast
to the frowning aspect presented by the
|
Newport News Ship and Engine Build
| ing Company.
The Solace is a $500 ton ship, with
speed of seventeen knots, which will
enable it to keep close to the American
| fleets on any expedition against the
emmy The Red Cross will protect it
! from menace. There is not a thing
about the Solace to provoke attack on
| + tl,N Af lN IT. md
nation. It's appearance is as peace
able as the name painted on its bows,
but there is still the suggestiveness ev-
erywhere of the horrors of war, more
convincing even that the battleships
and cruisers with guns protruding from
every portfolio.
EVERY POSSIBLE COMFORT.
Cleaning guns convey no such appre-
citation of war as the tiers of hunks for
the wounded and the rows of operating
tables. In it's white coating the Solace
is handsome and inviting, but the poet
ry of war finds no place with the visitor
on board
Such comforts as are to be found in
a we'll equipped hospital on land are
present in this hospital of the seas
These comforts have been provided
with the deliberate conviction that they
will be needed by many brave officers
and men who still hope that calamity
may escape them. How many lives
this ship of special purpose will save is
for the future to tell. Never before in
battles on the seas has there been such
provision to allay suffering and prevent
death that might ensue from lack of
proper attention.
Two large steam launches form a part
of the equipment of the SoIace. and
whenever there is opportunity, they will
dash around among the war ships of
the fleet, to remove such of the wound
ed as cannot be properly cared for in
the sick bay and carry them to the
hospital ship. OF necessity this trans
ferring would have to be done after an
engagement has ended but in the event
of ship being sunk many of the ships
company will be saved from drowning
by these swift launches
ABOUT THE EQUIPMENTS.
Wounded officers and sailors will be
lifted from the launches to the deck of
the Solace by a cable and tackle for
ward. Once on deck, they can quickly
be taken into the operating room or
lowered on the elevator which has been
placed in the bow of the ship, similar
to the elevators in hospitals on land
large enough to carry injured persons
placed on stretchers to the wards on
the main deck and in the hold where
the hunks are
The large forward saloon. on the sa-
loon deck, close to where the wounded
will be hoisted on board. has been
transformed into an operating room for
sailors and officers. 1t is perfectly
adapted for the purpose, the light and
ventilation being all that could be
wished for. Immediately in the rear. |
in what was formerly one of the largest !
staterooms. the dispensary has been
arranged, and another adjoining state |
room has been transferred into a. bath /
room. The operating tables are all of |
the best make, and all the appliances |
for the care of the wounded are like |
wise of the most improved pattern. |
The ward for wounded officers is what |
was formerly the saloon on the main
deck amidships. The main ward for |
the sailors is on the main deck forward |
which is communicated with by the ele
vator from the saloon deck There are
100 bunks in this ward The hunks are
in the form of lower and upper berths.
and each one is provided with a wire
mattress. There are other quarters for
use in an emergency in the hold of the
ship.
FOR THE CONVALESCENTS.
The womans steerage in the after
part of the ship has been transformed
into convalescing room. It is we'll.
lighted and ventilated and will be
comfortable resting place for those
least severely injured, and far removed
from the part of the ship occupied with
scenes of sadness. where the surgeons
are busy operating on the mangled.
and also far removed from the manned
and dying in the hospital wards
On the after part of the main deck
is located the laundry. with every mod
ern appliance at hand This will be nv
no means one of the least important
features appertaining to the ship. and
one that could not be depended on in
an emergency on the men-of- war. The
machine is in the forward
CT0RY nE "a