Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-17

cruiser Buffalo as she hung in the air
suspended for dry dockage.
s'She will be ready in few days.
said he, with mercy smile, "and then
what time we shall have here"
1.-THE cruiser Buffalo. you must
know" said he, sis the ship which has
been appointed to go to Manila with
a cargo of wives and sweethearts who
long to visit the boys in the Philip
pines.
"It is the first time in the history OF
the United States, and probably in the
history of any navy continued the
Admiral, with a sympathetic smile,
that the tears of women have moved
the hearts of the heads Of the navy
department.
'It began in September. The Secre-
tary of the Navy was beseiged with
, begging letters from men and from
women. The men wrote, asking that
their wives might be allowed to ac-
company them to Manila. And the
wives wrote short, pathetic little let
tiers, pleading to go to Manila. Wom-
en- of gentle birth offered to ship as
servants. They would cook, sew, take
charge of the rooms, do any and all
impossible things, if only they might
follow the boy in blue to his distant
post.
After a time their pleadings soft
ened the heart of Mr.. Secretary of the
Navy and, having obtained the neces-
sary permission from the President.
and having secured a sufficiently large
bundle of red tape, he telegraphed Mr..
Commander of Construction and Re-
pairs of the Brooklyn navy yard to
make ready the Buffalo for Manila.
WHEN SHE STARTS.
TT was thought at that time that
the Buffalo could start the 25th Of No
vember and reach the Philippines dur
ing the holidays, but there was more
to be done upon it than was at first
supposed, and it will now be January
before she can go in commission.
"The Buffalo is very comfortable
transport, particularly comfortable.
She was once the 81 Cid, Of the Nor
gan Line, and she was known as
comfortable steamship. She is now
fitted with battery of rapid fire guns
and behind these implements of war
there will be every accommodation for
the comfort of women and children.
There will be very few children
aboard, if any. The line is drawn at
grown-up people, but a few exceptions
will be made, it is understood.
1T is not definitely known just how
many can be shipped, or when one Is
speaking of the fair sex one might say,
accommodated But there have been
numerous applications; so many, in
fact, that the staterooms are now all
engaged, and the next cargo of wives
and sweethearts must wait until later
in the spring.
THE regular business of the Buff
falo is the transp ortation of marines
and seamen, but finding there was a
little vacant space, they decided to in
clude the soldiers wives in the cargo
of the able-bodied seamen.
mo better boat could possibly have
been chosen for the long journey, for
the Buffalo is a large, square-rigsed,
three-masted steamer, with the regula-
ton military build. She is of splendid
proportions, and will make good speed.
No modern ark could serve in trans
port service better The clean, graceful
cut of her hull promises speed, and
three large square-rigged masts will
sail her anywhere, were the steam to
give out. She's clipper and will take
the women there in quick time. They
will be awfully5 tseasick and very anx-
ious to reach their destination, hut the
Buffalo will have comfortablSl8 aloon
for them and they can enjoy their lit
tie card 'parties and tLeir entertain
ments on the way over.
A FINE TRIP.
would like to go with the Buffalo
to Manila? That is strange question
to ask man who is fond of ladies
society,"" and Admiral Philip smiled a
queer smile. 81 am always ready TO
do the duty which my country assigns
to me. and if am asked to go on the
Buffalo to Manila I shall not object.
But truth to tell, / haven't been asked
and l do net expect to be.
ut is strange in this busy place to
see the preparations that are being
made for the comfort of the ladies'.
The hunks will be long and wide and
soft. There will be carpets on the
floor, there will be great saloon,
where meals will be served on swing
ing tables. and not an inch of space
will be wasted.
Like all transports, the Buffalo has
great kitchen, with it's score Of
cooks, scullions and walters. There is
the bakery, where the bread is baked