The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-01
TRANSPORT OFFICIALS
At San francesca Report the Manu-
ense Duly Inspected and Manned,
and the Trouble Must Have Been
Due to the Elements.

and the Trouble Must Have Been
Due to the Elements.
WASHINGTON, Nov. So.-The quar-
termaster general has received detdti-
ed report by telegraph from Lieut. Col.
o. F. Long, in charge of the transport
service at San Francisco. on the trans-
port Manuense which recently arrived
at Manila after undergoing frightful
hardships in Paciae typhoon. The
report. which was requested because Of
the statements of the unHtness of the
vessel for transport service, Is as fol-
lows: -. 40
In reference to your telegram to-day
| the transport Manuense sailed October
| 25, for Manila via Honolulu. Her ca
pacity was "S officers and $50 enlisted
men, She carried II officers and $50 en-
listed men. She was inspected by Cap
tain MetCalf, surveyor of Lloyd's regis,
ter, who officially reported the vessel
| In good order and condition when she
left this port. both in hull and macftn-
cry She is classed Al, star one. Lloyd's.
Also, was thoroughly inspected here by
treasury department inspector OF hulls
and boilers, who reported her In excel
| lent condition. Official reports OF these
officers are on file and record.
"Treasury officials would not allow
any unseaworthy ship, whether govern.
ment or otherwise. to leave port, would
not grant clearance, consequently e%-
pert opinion pronounced Manuense per-
fectIy seawcrthy She was provided
with all llfe-savIng apparatus. even
I,n, No ffnUn ri mont
ulntions required. Her crew under or
dInary circumstances. numbers 32 men.
She actually cnrried from San Francisco
n crew of 10 men. which fully met the
requirements of the treasury officials.
She carried flfty-flVc days provisions
for 400 enlisted men, and was provi-
stoned for crew and army officers by
agents of the vessel for l6O days Be
sides, she had in her hold 300 tons meas
urement OF bacon, flour. canned goods,
and other commIssary supplies. The
Manuense was also thoroughly inspect
cd by Colonies Darlington and Nous, In
spector generals, and by Captain Barne-
son, marine superintendent, and by
other transport officials. Lieut.. Col.
HAYES also frequently Inspected the
transport previous to departure. All
express themselves thoroughly satisfied
with every arrangement and provision
made here ihc snip met hiayH 4 re-
quIrements which are highest known
among shipping people. This In itself
should be a sufficient guaranty Of sea.
worthlness.
"Thc vessel made an average speed Of
ten knots from Honolulu to Manila, Had
her machinery been seriously impaired
she certainly could not have made the
distance covered in the time she did.
believe, and all our officials connected
with the transport service here, concur,
that when the MaBueRse left here she
was perfectly seaworty, fully manned
and amply provIsioned."
Commenting on the above report, Col.
BallInger, in charge OF the transport
service here said II seemed clear that
the utmost vigilance had been used by
every one connected with the lnspec-
tion Of transports at San Francisco,
and, as the commissnry branch had also
shown the care used by them, such
hardshins as had occurred must be at
trIbutRblet 10 the clements, against which
no amount OF care could prevail with
absolute assurance. OnlceTE here had
received Honolulu newspapers, showing
that tho Manuense was all right when
she arrived there, no that the trouble
must have occurred between Honolulu
and Manila.