New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-10

on her first trip from San Francisco TO Mania
She reached Manila on July "a after success
full voyage of thirty days TWO Thousand Sou's
shut UP in the narrow confines or great s'ee'
ship for month, with only one break at hoho-
lulu. Thirty days Of forging over uackiess
ocean Of whose awful extent no conception can
be formed in any other way! There was not
single sail sighted 10 break the monotony' nor
any visible assurance that there were other hu-
man beings in the world. war might nave
ragged or a national calamity have stirred mo
world, while those on board saw nothing day
after day but a reach Of sea and SKY
In looking back day STANDS out from
another only by reason of some slight occur
renee peculiar to it. 1t took two days 10 shake
off the fog and chill Of the Western coast. but
near Honolulu capes and thick blouses were
laid aside and the men turned out in KHAKI OF
every shade of yellow and brown. II there are
regulations concerning the cut and devices OF
khaki uniform they have not yet extended TO
the color The heavy swell near the coast was
the toughest encountered on the trip to Homo
lulu. and not more than fifty men on the ship
were seasiCk.
The second day out three miserable little
stowaways were hauled out from the depths OF
the ship, into which they had surreptitiously
crawled when she was at her pier. The foricrn
youngsters, Of whom was coal black, from
Tennessee declared that the soldiers had taken
them along as mascots, a statement which
might well be credited. They were isolated In
the brig" for a few hours. to mediate upon
their nisdeeds and were then put 10 work at
washing dishes in the galley They did not
manage TO break more than the law allows
and lived high till Honolulu was reached. when
the two youngest were put ashore in charge OF
the quartermaster. 10 be sent back to the States
on the next steamer. TIE oldest one was formally
taken into the employ of Uncle Sam on board
ship at a salary Of IS a month.
One other event occurred before the Shert-
dan reached Honolulu. On the third night
out an enlisted man took his blankets up
10 the deck Of Stats built for the ships
boats and launches. and lay down to sleep under
the lee Of a lifeboat The deck was sheer; there
was nothing TO hold him in II the chip gave a
sudden lurch In the morning he was gone,
and though the ship was searched for two days
from stem to stern nothing has been seen or
heard of him since then. II he cried out in the
dead Of night as he rolled off into the sea, no
man heard him.
Nearly all the enlisted men board were
ROCKIES" the Army term for recruits. and Of
the thirty-f officers ten or more were shave
tails" young second lieutenants who had been
commissioned only month or two. and who
were destined TO early baptism OF fire.
THREE HEADS ON A TRANSPORT.
Colonel Daggett Of the infantry. was the
commanding officer. He brigadier general
in the Civil War, and in the Cuban campaign
CALAMITY led the 10Th at FL Caney. The tenn
permanent Of the commanding officer on board
&c In the
the passengers Those who were thus placed
under the Colonel's command considered them
selves fortunate. An army transport presents
the anomaly of having three heads. namely the
commanding officer, the quartermaster and the
captain. master. Of the ship. Though the
commanding officer is the highest official II is
sometimes hard TO define the exact limits Of
each mans powers. The master navigates the
ship, but the are engaged by the quar-
termaster he is responsible for their discipline.
and refractory is brought 10 him in
stead Of to the master. In port the quarter
master makes all arrangements for cOaling.
provisioning and other preparations. but the
ship does not leave till the commanding officer
directs irrespective Of the masters ideas
the subject. II these three officials are compe-
tent men and understand the scope Of their re-
spective powers, deferring 10 each other and
working together, all goes well on board the
transport. but II there is jealousy and friction
the result general discomfort.
The colonel has his adjutant, or executive
officer, and other officers are appointed 20
police" the ship and TO try offenders One Of
the senior officers is appointed officer Of the day
and two Of the juniors officers OF the guard
their duties extending through a day and a
night. they being watch alternately. The
adjutants office is on the spar deck in the for
ward part Of the ship. and here the summary
court is held. where offenders tried daily
and fined for such violations Of regulations as
sitting while guard being absent from drill.
splitting on the decks using bad language.
On board ship none Of the discipline enforced
shore is relaxed. The first call for reveille
is at GO reveile at $50. breakfast, Z; sick call
7:45; fatigue call. s; guard mount 500 assem-
bly,. $50; ad1utant's call. $40; inspection. 10:
first sergeants call II 80; dinner. IL: fatigue
call. 80; sick call. a. supper, g. fatigue call g.;
inspection, q call 10 quarters. S:45; taps g. and
then rest till the next morning
The regular buge calls sounded twice
forward and twice aft
THE SHIP KEPT SCIENTIFICALLY CLEAN
The inspection. which occurs at 10 q. M and
at o. daily, is one Of the most important
features OF transport regulations. With nearly
two thousand men packed in between two decks
Oh" of which Is below the water line tho en-