Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-29

Manuenz, which was rolling SO heavily
that the soldiers in the hold could at
each roll see the Pekin through the
matches overhead.
Col. James S. Petit, commander of
the Thirtyfirst volunteer regiment, or
dered the Manuenz to proceed to Guam
and await relief, but the captain of the
Manuenz demurred, the officers say, be-
cause the government was renting the
ship for $500 per day.
Throughout the remainder of the
voyage the engines of the Manuenz
failed frequently and the ship would
roll for a few hours while the engines
were being repaired. Then the steamer
would proceed again for few hours.
The meat and vegetables rotted be-
cause of the failure of the refrigerators
and were thrown overheard.
After the storm, the water supplied
to the ship at Honolulu had to be used
for the boilers, and there was little or
none for drinking. In fact, it is as
serted that during the last week of the
voyage the men lived almost entirely
on whisky, beer and hard tack. The
officers and soldiers were utterly eX-
hausted when they reached Manila.
They declare the engineers were gross
ly incompetent. The officers say also
that the behavior of the troops was be-
yond praise. For days they worked in
the dark suffocating hold, with water
sometimes up to their shoulders and
planks washing about in a manner dan
gerous for life and limb. The officers
took the lead in bailing, and encouraged
the men.
The captain of the ship promised the
men rs cents day for pumping the
ship, but he now proposes to pay them
a dollar and a half in full. The SOL
diers talk of attaching the ship.
The regiment will proceed to Zam-
boanga on the Pekin to garrison sew
eral ports on the island of Mindanoa.
SAN FRANCISCO, November 2S.-
Transport officials at this port are at a
loss to explain the alleged unseaworthy
condition of the transport Manuenz,
whose arrival at Manila was reported
to-day. A representative of the Asso-
ciated Press interviewed number of
officials and in every instance the UNI
seaworthiness, under-manned and I'M
der-provisioned condition of the wess ell
was ridiculed. 1t was stated that the
Manuenz was in first class condition
when she left this port on October 26.
Her engines had been thoroughly over
hauled and her fittings were in the best
of condition.
She was thoroughly provisioned in
the cabin, enough supplies being taken
for six months trip. Her hold was
full of supplies for the soldiers and
sailors. The officials are at a loss to
account for the shortness of food sup
plies. That she was undetermined is
absolutely denied, because had she been,
clearance papers from this port would
not have been issued. AS a general
rule, transports leaving this part, are,
if anything, over-supplied with work.
ing crews.
Regarding the alleged unseaworth-
mess of the vessel, it can be stated that
she was thoroughly inspected by the
treasury department and was passed as
in first class trim.
Lloyd's local inspector, Captain Met
calf, also inspected the vessel and pass
ed her. The local inspectors of hulls
and barges made thorough examina-
ton and found her engines in excellent
condition.
The local inspectors of bulls and
boilers say they made thorough ex-
animation and found her engines in ex-
cellent condition, and, in fact, that the
Manuenz was generally credited with
being one of the best fitted vessels in
the transport service. The officials say
further that the only source of foun-
dation for the report that she was I'M
der-provisioned may have been with re-
gard to her supply CT fresh meats. which
she took a supply from here, but which
may have been spoiled from some ac-
cident to the refrigerating, plant which
gave trouble at Honolulu.
II the typhoon through which the
Manuenz passed was as severe as they
say. It is not at all unlikely that some