The evening times., 1899-02-04
PREPARING TIE SHERIDAN.
Third of the Big Transports to Start
for Cuba Seen.

New York Feb. 4.-The United States
Army transport Sheridan arrived at
o'clock yesterday afternoon in the berth,
at the end of Pacific Street, left vacant by
the departure of the Sherman for Manila.
She was brought up from the Erie Basin,
where she has been since November l un-
dergoing alterations, in order TO facilitate
the work of preparing her for her long trip.
1t is the desire of the Army Department,
il is believed. to have her sail next Thurs
day just week after the Sherman. But
Judging from the appearance OF the boat
il may be another week before the Sheri
dan is in first-class shape.
This boat is the old Massachusetts Of
the Atlantic Transport Line, and is the last
of the trio OF big ships selected TO form
the nucleus of permanent transport sery-
ice Theoretically the three transports.
the Grant reported at Gibraltar on We'd
nesday: the Sherman. which sailed yeSter-
day. and the Sheridan, are of the same
size and arrangement. They are supposed
to be fitted up exactly alike. But the
Sheridan will be superior to the others in
that she viii receive the benefit of The
experience acquired in noting the way in
which the boats already gone met the de-
mands made upon them.
Can't w NJ. Coulipg, L. S. Y, is the
uuartermaster in charge OF the transport.
During the war he was attached TO the
Berlin. In the latter part Of Decemb-r he
was assigned to the Erie Basin to person
ally supervise the work of reftting the
transports. He has had charge OF the
work on the Grant and Sherman, and has
remedied in the Sheridan all the dsfects
discovered in the two former boats.
Captain Coulling would not hazard the
opinion that the Sheridan would get away
next week The navigating officer is Capt
H. L. Higgins.
The Roumania will sail from the other
side of the Government transport pier al
noon today She is the dead ship" hav-
ing been chosen by the Government to
bring the bodies of the soldier dead in
Cuba and Porto Rico to the United States
The undertaker's party consists of about
seventy-five men, and the cargo will be g
thousand or more metal-linsd coffins.
The Obdam, which has been in drydock
at the Erie Basin, will come up to take
the berth left vacant by the Roumania
She is to go into the regular weekly SER
vice to Porto Rico and Cuba, and is
scheduled to sail on Wednesday next.
The transports Sherman for Manila and
Berlin for San Juan, Ponce, and Santiago
which dropped down to Gravesend Bay
Thursday night and anchored, proceeded
yesterday morning on tnelr voyage, the
Sherman clearing the bar at sos a. m
and the Berlin at $50 a. m. The Sherman,
which was formerly the passenger liner
Mobile of the Atlantic Transport Line at
tracted much attention by her glistening
white sides, freshly painted. She has on
board 1900 men to re-enforce the army
of General Otis in the Philippines, COM
posed of one battalion of the Seventeenth
Regular Infantry and the Third Regular
Infantry, under command of Colonel Pag-
ct. She also carries full miscellaneous
| cargo, including a large quantity of am
munition. The Berlin goes on the regu-
lar trip OF the transport service and car
ries the mails and a general cargo. Among
her passengers are Coils. w. p Hall and
f. E. Nye, Majors C. L. Woodbury. and
j. D. Twiggs, Lieuts. Walter Cox, Crom-
we'll Stacey, and l.. B. Case, and sixty-hve
non commissioned officers and privates.