The Portland daily press., 1900-04-09
They Came and Went at the Rate Of
Eight a Day.
How Canadian Troops
Drilled at Sea.
They Stood the Long Voyage
Very Well.

since the arrival Of the steamer Pomer-
anian Of the Allan line at this port on
Friday, more than the usual large crowd
have visited the wharves for the pur-
pose of taking q look az this big craft
which mas inst returned from Cape
Towp. The ofiicsrs and crew Of the steam
er have teen teen during the last two
days BY mary people anxious TO learn
the condition OF affairs In South Africa.
On Saturday the steamer swung around
from one Of the upper docks to which
she had tied up on the previous day
and took her position at one of the coal
wharvss Of the Grand Trunk at the sx-
treme end OF the row OF sheds. Here she
remained all day. In common with all
Of the other officers and the crew OF
over 100 men, Capt Fairfull Is mailing his
headquarters aboard the steamer. Capt.
Fairfull Is one of the most popular mas
tiers commanding the feet OF the Allan
line, aud on Saturday he was greeted BY
large number OF friends.
A fine dinner was served to the officers
aboard the steamer at O'Clock and there
were also present as invited guests few
Of the leading officials Of the Allan line
who are In the oity.
Pnrser 5turrett OF the Pomeranian, who
IL one Of the youngest Of the officers OF
the steamer, talked in most interesting
manner during the afternoon with q re-
porter of the PRESS. "Ws took ont from
Halifax to Cape Town s22 troops and 300
horses" he said. "These troops formed
the Northwest Battalion of ths Canadian
Mounted Rides and were under the
command OF Col. Herchmer. The MAORI
ty OF them were young men aud all of
them stood the effects of the voyage in
excellent style. Nine OF the horses died
on the trip. Even while these troops
were on our steamer they were subjected
to the same rigid discipline "a when
ashore. Every day they had to go through
some sort Of drill; and as thsre were so
many Of them on the steamer, arrange.
ments had to be made 50 that they could
take turns at drilling duting the day.
This drilling began at 8 O'Clock every
morning and continued until o'clock
In the afteIn All were served with
coed rations and the result Was that,
days, they were in Aue condition and
ready to depart for the front just as soon
as they were landed. The horses were a
little weak from the effects of the trip
and while We remained IN Cape Town
all Of this tine was spsnt In recruiting
the condition OF those animals who ware
turned out in the pastures to feed on
grass. The horses were san 10 Tire pas
lures and when we left the officers were
making arrangements to take them to
the front. All Of the troops, too, who
had tesn taken by US were also at this
place when We left. They were still In
good condition.
"Just as soon as we had landed the
troops and the horses, we moved out into
Table Bay for a distance Of three miles
and in that spot We laid until we start
ed on our return. From our position
we were able to see several steamers
taking away prisoners to SiInon's Bay,
which is about 90 miles from Table Bay.
/ have never seen 80 much activity In
my life and probably there will never
be such lively times In South Africa
again. The average number OF transports
a day which were at Cape Town was so
and they were arriving and sailing at
the rate of eight day.
1.-The weather was very mild, but on
one OF the days when we were there the
was heat excessive. OF course as We
were out at sea we got the benefit Of
some breszea None Of the ships pso-
pie went ashore, although one or two
Of US might have stepped eff on to the
deck once or twice. We have surely
been pretty close In our staying aboard
for the last few weeks, as we did no. 60
ashore from the very day that ne lift
Halifax with the troops until We reached
Portland on Friday afternoon. 1t took
"a days to go from halifax to Cape
Town. We stayed over 1t Cape Town
Tor ten days and then altar leaving that
port, arrived In Portland after q trip
Of rs days. So, you sss, that We were on
the sea continuously for slightly more
than two months. 1t was u good sx-
rerlence for as. We are all well today"
The Pomsrauian expects to get away
for Liverpool by Thursday. She will
take a large cargo.