The San Francisco call., 1899-04-30
Transports Grant and
Sherman Here.
CAPTAIN KELLEHER RETURNS
REMARKABLY STORY OF AN
ARMY OFFICERS ACTIONS.
Second Lieutenant Conger Assumes
Command of the Steamer Grant
and Rules All on Board
With an Iron Hand.

The United States transports Grant and
Sherman steamed into the harbor yester-
dav afternoon from Manila by way of
Nagasah Both bring soldiers and sol
diers' wives direct from the scene OF
American operations in the Orient Among
the notables on the Sherman are Briga-
dier General Harrison Gray Otis OF Los
Angeles and Major w. O. Owen who was
in charge of the general hospital here.
While in Manila he was in command of
the big convaIescent hospital on Corre-
gidor Island There are scions of three
well-known New York families on board
in the persons of sons of Senator Hale,
Secretary of State Hay and Congressman
Dalzell
The steamers lay off Powell-street wharf
during the afternoon. Just before DUSK
they were ordered into quarantine by DR..
Brooke, the Federal Health Officer. Ihey
were taken at once to the station OH An
gel Island, where they Will remain until
eli danger of infection is past. The trans
ports were Quarantined because or small
Dox developing during the voyage. John
Kav. a fireman on the Grant, died on the
22d inst and was buried at sea. Inc body
was thrown without ceremony lnrous II
the ash chute Of the steamer Wnlle she
was going at full speed. rms acQoh was
taken il is affirmed, by Second Lleuten-
ant Conger. l. S. A. without the knowl-
edge of the ships officers, who were pre-
pairing to give the body decent sepulture.
A case of varioloid or smallpox also ae ae-
veloped on board the Sherman, hence her
detention in quarantine 1,.
The first-class passengers on the Grant
Ms. Car! Reichman, Miss Charlotte
Re!chmau (chilD. Mrs. j. Il browne,
Harry Browne Child, MIS-. Dr. AshGuIil Sd,
and infant. Charles W. Mason. John san
ford tJov1 Major Potter, Fourtecntn
United States Infantry: Captain :. l..
Mudgett First North Dakota ReS!ment,
FfiTst SIC California Regiment; lieutenant
Bowles, L. 5. A; Lieutenant Johnson,
First Tennessee Regiment; Lieutenant
C0uger. L. 5 A; Lieutenant Redmond,
First North Dakota; Lieutenant Hender-
son. First Nebraska; Adolph Rlchter ;
Lieutenant W. II. Spiller, ships surgeon; I;
Mrs. Jesse NJ. Baker, PennsylVanlai WI WI
liam Sears: {. NJ. Pratt; Captain b. W.
Hodges L. S. n, formerly OF the Boston,
who has been in charge OF the navy yaru
In addition to General OTIS. there are
on the Grant Lieutenant Estes and wife,
CAPTAIN Eastman and ll3 soldiers, or
whom thirty-eight are i'll, besides fifty
four of the lndianas 5 crew. Private II.
Ritchie of the Third United States Artil-
lery died April q of consumption ana was
buried at sea. The remains OF PrlVate
Prybles of the Astor Battery are lying in
state on board, being en- route 10 New
York City. Representatives. OF the AS
tors sent a magnificent casket to Manila,
in which the remains could be brought
home for inteTment.
From passengers on the Grant came
stories of the remarkable conduct of Sec
ond Lieutenant Conger during the voyage
home. 1t all developed through his inter-
probation Of departmental regulations.
The lieutenant has been in the service a
short time, and lately was attached TO the
Eighteenth Infantry. regulars. The Grant
left Manila March 25 in command Of Cap
tain Arey, and with Captain Baker quar-
teTmaster. When they were eight days at
sea Second Lieutenant Conger, /. s. A.
announced himself commanding officer of
the ship. He sent orders in writing to
Captain Arey. On the Sd inst the lieuten-
ant called a meeting of the men and noti-
fed them that he assumed command and
was the superior officer of the ship. He
ordered the men to do guard duty and
then placed those on board under military
rule.
1t is claimed the STRIPPING lieutenant was
ordered to report for instructions in this
city This means he will be allowed full
pay during the voyage and mileage at
the rate of cents each for 5000 miles
When the Grant stopped at Nagasaki
for coal Lieutenant Conger said every one
on board must procure a pass signed by
him before he could leave the ship. The
order was not Obeyed, although some
passes We're issued signed by Conger's
name, made by a red rubber stamp. Tho
next step was to arrange the seats in the
dining saloon, each officer according to his
rank. All civilians were excluded from
the officers table.
He blew hot and cold regarding the
men of the Indiana's crew, first saying
he feared an outbreak from them and
later saying if anything happened in the
ship he would call upon them for assist
anCe. He issued an order that the en-
listed men who had paid for first class
passage could not use the baths or other
accommodations. This order was later
rescinded when the men made a stand
against IT.
There were twelve monkeys and fight
ing cock on board. He ordered the SEN
tries TO capture them and throw them
protestation from the officers wives on
board. The strongest monkey of the lot
caught the log line and drew himself
aboard again. When near the rail he was
again thrown overheard and was drowned
with his companions. The fighting cock
belonged to one of the men, who tried tC
save him. but could not do So
The Grant is the largest vessel thai
ever entered the Golden Gate. and is the
finest transport afioat. She was originally
the steamer Mohawk of the Atlantic
Transport Line and was used for carry.
ing cattle. She was purchased, with si1
sister ships Of which the Sherman is one
and was fitted up at an expense of over
$50 900. She is built of steel with double
steel bottom; four continuous decks, one
smokestack and four masts and cost
originally 81 .250 600. She is provided witt
twin screws, three double-ended Scotch
boilers and triple expansion engines Of
4S-inch stroke, capable Of driving her a.
IA knots an hour. She is 455 feet long, a
feet beam, 40 feet depth from upper deck
with gross tonnage of $50 and a load
displacement of 1900 tons. She weigh!
about $4,000 tons.