The evening times., 1900-03-03


PHILADELPHIA. March 3.-The Sana-
tator is the latest addition to the Navy 1t
is fitted for offence and defence, but in
stead Of dynamite or rapid-fre guns or
other bloOd-spilling devices it carries ap-
paCatus for generating disinfecting gases.
War against the yellow fever. the bubon-
ic plague smallpox. and kindred disease
germs is its purpose The most novel, eff
Cient. and altogether interesting vessel
ever Quilt for the United States Bureau Of
Marine Hospital Service is now lying in
completely finished form at the dock Of the
Kensington Engine Works. Beach and Vi
emma Streets. at which institution it was
constructed for Uncle Sam. II will be a
part Of the mission OF this unique ship to
run alongside infected vessels. and through
hose and pipes. project into all their COM
partments sulphur fumes and other gases
in such volumes as TO deal certain death to
all the germs that lurk therein.
Another function Of the Sanator will be
the disinfection Of persons and clothing as
wen as ships. In this latter process in
fected persons will be brought on board
the Sanator by side ladder near the for
ward end Of the deck house. and enter the
disrobing quarters. there being one Of
these on each side The clothing viii be
lowered through matches 10 a compartment
of the hold, where il Will be sorted and
disinfected, in the latter process going
through steam cylinders. The persons be-
ing treated meanwhile will pass from the
disrobing room to the bath ROOM. and
thence to the dressing rooms to secure
their renovated clothing. and altogether
they will have occasion to remember SO
long as they live the vigorous processes by
which they become immune from con-
tagiCn.
The efficiency of floating disinfecting
plant. which was nothing like this one in
completeness. was demonstrated at Mon
tauk Point I'm the fail Of 1898. when the
Protector. also built al the Kensington
Engine Works. cared for the soldiers who
came from Cuba at the close OF the war
with Spain. Working in connection with
the returning troops and transports the
Protector was potent in preventing the
spread of contagious diseases.
The Protector and the Sanator are the
only vessels OF the kind owned by the Gov
eTnment. and no other ration has adopted
the plan.
The Sanator is a grea. Improvement over
the first boat. which WAS not provided
with power Of her own. but had 20 be
towed from place to place. She is a low
power steam vessel, capable OF making a
maximum speed of eight knots an hour
Her dimensions are: Length. l6I feet 8
inches over all. 81 feet beam and depth OF
hold. Il feet inches.
The hull Is Of wood and sheathed vita
copper to a mean draft Of eight and q half
feet. Wood instead of steel was adopted
because the latter material would COrrode
from the bichloride Of mercury. one OF the
disinfectauts used in considerable quantity.
The superstructure or deck-house Is
about ninety feet long and twenty -four
feet wide. and is devoted 10 robing dis
robng, and bathrooms. officers quarters.
mess hall and galley In the hull are two
cross bulkheads forming between them the
infected compartment into which will be
taken all baggage. clothing, and other
things to be disiufected Protruding into
the room are the forward ends OF two
cylindrical disinfecting chambers. in which
the effects Of the troops are subjected to an
intense heat. with doors. cars, and tracks
for their expeditions handling.
In this apartment is also a vat contain
ing bichlOride OF mercury for the INNER
sion Of certain articles requiring special
treatment. Immediately forward in an
other section. are two large furnaces for
generating sulphur fumes. an eXhauster
and an engine.
With pipes and hose running from the
furnaces, the sulphurous gases may be
forced into any quarter-even TO the holds
of other vessels needing attention.
The space aft of the infected COmpaTt-
meut is the largest In its forward end
are two steam chambers for the formal
dehyde gas and the ammonia generators.
Still aft OF these are two electric storage
batteries for light. believed to be the first
ever installed in vessel for the United
states. The boat is also provided with a
dynamo. Powerful steam pumps and ca
pacious water tanks are conveniently To-
Gated to insure protection from fire to the
boat, her crew and the troops undergoing
disinfectiOn.
A novel feature OF the marine architec-
tUre Of this queer vessel is the fact that
her pilot house is in the extreme after end
Of the deck house instead Of the forward
end, In order to allow ample working space
for two derricks and the sulphur hose and
pipes on the upper deck. Aboard the boat
are two iS-foOt dingies and a yapor launch.
The SanatOr will soon 80 into commits
sion.