The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-03-01
Searsport Correspondence.

A letter received from Capt. ID. S.
doodeil, DR., who is I'd officer of U. S.
transport Hancock, dated at Manila Jan.
7th, says: ION our way over here from
San francisco we stopped at Honolulu,
ana knowing one of our SearspOrt boys,
Geo. Patterson, was there hunted him up.
1t was no great trouble, for the first man
L asked told me where I would find him.
Everybody knows George Patterson. [
went up to the corner Of Fort and King
streets and saw fifteen fine looking cabs,
each with driver / saw one gentleman
that looked to be the proprietor, and as
soon as got close to him knew it was
George (although l had not seen him for
thlrty-two years.. l asked if he knew a
party by the name of Patterson. He re-
piled, Your humble servant" He then
said, 'Cab, sir?'' I said, ''you don't
know me-" and told him | was from
Searsport, but he could not make me out,
and had to tell him who l was. Then
L had to get into his best rig, which
would make the citizens of Searsport
stare, as finer rig never went through
the streets of the old town. He drove me
all around the city, took me to all the
places of interest, all through the Kings
palace, etc. and by the way learned that
George was great favorlte of the old
king. In our long talk he informed me
that he left the ship Moonbeam, which
was commanded by Capt. Norman Dun
bar, at Honolulu, twenty six years ago,
| and landed with just five dollars in his
pockets. Now he is the possessor of near
ly half hundred thousand, and still it is
coming his way. At Que of his houses he
showed me a brood of hens which Capt.
| Charles Mcclure carried around Cape
! Horn and presented to MIN some time
| ago. He is very proud of his ''chicizs.''
Capt. Goodel sends us a sketch of the
| Hancock, which appeared III the Houolu-
| lu Advertiser.
BIG TRANSPORT HANCOCK ATTRACTS
MANY ADMIRERS.
The remodeled army transport Han
cock was the centre of attraction yester-
day on the waterfront Hundreds of
| people looked over the handsome ship.
| They inspected the vessel from stem t.
| stern and then remarked that it was d
| pity the Government d d not have some
transports like her during the war with
Spain.
The Hancock is fitted with a magniti-
cent retrlgerating plant, and enough meat
can be carried in the cold storage to feed
a regiment for six months Had the Han
COCK and Warren and few more trans
ports like them been on the Atlantic coast
during the fighting in Cuba there would
have been no "embalmed beef" scandal.
The soldiers kitchen is feature of the
Hancock. All the latest appliances for
sanitary cooking are to be found there
and nothing has been overlooked that
would tend to turn out the food in the
very best order. Then, there is an so-
lated hospital, dispensary and diet kitchen
The hospital is covered with dome sky
light, which can be removed, and there is
then room to lower the patient on
stretcher down into the hospital. In the
dispensary there is everything required
by the hospital staff, while the diet
hlLoHtu Is unique. LII IL lOOu Oru6r6Q
specially by the doctors will be cooked,
and care has been taken in the arrange
ments that the food shall not be contain
mated in any way. All the dishes and
cooking utensils are nickle- plated and all
the furnishings are the best.
The tr0opship is furnished with an ar
mory, magazine and specie tank. In the
armory there is room for the arms of a
regiment, while the magazine can carry
enough ammunition to last regiment a
year. The cash for the troops in the
Philippines will be carried in the specie
tank. Besides the other arrangements
for tie comfort of the troops there is Il
crews galley and a ships galley, lavato-
ries and bathrooms finished in enameled
ware, while the officers quarters are fin
ished in corresponding style. While she
was on the drydock biIge Seels were
placed on the Hancock, and now she is
the steadiest transport in the fleet.