The Monte Vista journal., 1899-12-02
reRR,sLg EXPERIENCE.
sslAisss Nearly Loss TAsir Lives -
Worthless Transport.

8oldlAGs Nearly Lose TAoif Lives -
Worthless rraasport.
Manila, Nov. 2s.-when the trans
port Aianauense anchored In Manila
bay this morning, thirty-three days
from San Francisco. there were sew
ernl feet of wuter In her hold, and 4U
Rrimy. greasy. hungry, exhausted sol
diers and sailors had been passing
buckets Of water since November 11th
night and day.
First Assistant Engineer Dunleav!
was under arrest, and according to the
official report of Colonel Webb Hayes,
the chief engineer would have been un'
der arrest also II there had been any.
one to replace him.
The cOlOnel's report declares that the
captain OF the vessel told him that tht
only thing which brought them
through was the fact that the mel
were greenhorns and failed to realix.
their danger, while experienced SEA
men would have deserted the ship and
taken to the boats In mid ocean.
The Manauense II . chartered ship
Tying the British Dag. She belongs to
Q arm Of which Senator Perkins Of Ran
Francisco Il alleged to be 4 JUNO,
member. The officers say the nrm
bought her for Sa5. .OOO, and they claim
Efforts were made to sell her to the
government for $4,000. She started
from Ban F1ncisco accompanied by
the transport Peking, which carried
the remainder Of the regiment, and en-.
countered heavy seas to Honolulu,
without accident.
After starting II developed that she
was under-manned and soldiers had to
be detailed to act a. hremen, coal PASS
ers and waltefR, and to do other work.
Before reaching Honolulu. the crew
concluded that the ship was not safe,
and the majority agreed to desert.
Though they were closely watched,
many Of the crew succeeded In gettins
away. and the Manauenae left Homo
lulu with lesa than half her crew. The
captain Of the transport. November
18th. told Colonel Hayes that the YES
sci had sprung . leak. and an inves.
tigation resulted In finding several feet
OF water In her hold. The steam
pumps were tried, but failed to work,
and there were no hand pumps on
hoard. However. forty-six buckets
were found. others were improviseti.
and the soldiers not employed In work
Ing the ship were organized Into i've
shifts. and stripped and forming lines.
they began bailing. the officers work.
'"S wan thC iuVu lWSsihk Tue DuCheu
which were sent up TO the deck by n
windlass. The longest time a shift
could stand was two hours, and, often.
the period was not longer than half -.
hour. The bdiling continued until the
ship anchored here.
The same day the leak was discover.
ID. the machinery collapsed, and the
electric lighting plant and distilling.
cooperating and refrigerating plants
failed to work. There were no lamps,
and the few candles found were ex.
hausted after few days. During the
last week OF the passage the Manau.
ense was In utter darkness at night.
She had been rolling in heavy seas all
the way. but November 22nd, she en-.
countered typhoon and pitched and
tossed alarmIngiy.
Throughout the remainder Of the
voyage the engines OF the Aanauense
failed frequently and the ship would
roll for few hours. while the engines
were repairing. Then the steamer
would proceed again for a few hours.
After the storm the water supplied to
the ship at Honolulu had to be used for
the boilers. and there was little or none
Tor drinking. In fact. II Ii asserted
that during the Inst week Of the voy.
age the men lived almost entirely on
whisky. beer and haritack.
The officers and soldiers wcrc entire
" exhausted when they reached Ma.
Mia. They declare that the enGineesr
were grpealy Incompetent. The o68cers
also say that the beha vior Of the troops
was beyond praise. For days they
wor.ed In the dark. sufYocating hold.
with water sometimes up 10 their
shoulders. and planks xwnshIng about
IN mnnner dangerous 10 life and limb.
The officers took the lead In hailing and
encouraged the men.
The captain Of the ship promised the
mon - c'.'ifs day for bailing. but h.
now PROPOSES 10 nay them dollar nnd
half: The soldiers talk OF attaching
the ship.