The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-21


ried Mules for service in the Brit
ish-BOer Wnr-TO Make the Trip
Again without Unnecessary Delay.
BALTIMORE. Sept Z1.-From BaIu-
more TO New Orleans, TO South Africa
and return TO Baltimore, was the trip
ended yesterday when the National Line
steamer Michigan, Capt Sidney W. Wat
kins. went under the chutes Of the Baker
Whiteley Coal Company TO take In bunk
ers and make another run over the same
course. ON this trip the Michigan spent
siXty-five days under steam and Travelled
Il. US3 miles without accident or injury TO
machinery, life or limb.
On June %. the Michigan. under orders
TO proceed to New Orleans To load mules
for the British Army in South Africa.
left Baltimore Arriving on July o the
work of preparing for the animals began.
and on July 10 she was going down the
Mississippi with LILO Of them under her
rOOmy decks. Il was the largest number
Of animals taken out to South Africa by
any vessel since the beginning of hostln-
ties with the Beers. and the landing Of
all but six, which died and were buried
at sen, was also a record. other vessels
losing them by the score and carrying a
AsiA SlA--Al4tA ilLLAlbfl- NallstlA N aAhila0
experience Of years I'm carrying cattle
from Baltimore TO the London market
was valuable in the care Of the mules.
On August 70 the Michigan arrived at
Cape Town. Outside the land she ran
through so many seals that Ter twin
screws struck them. and the effect was
felt on board. To the surprise Of Captain
Watkins and officers II was seen that
mcn-of-waT and all merchant ships In the
harbor Of Cape Town, as well as the town
itself. were radiant in bunting and flags.
on board the Michigan IL was the opinion
that the war with the Beers was over.
and that all the Publication was in honor
of that event Not 10 De outdone, Captain
! Watkins soon had a rainbow of flags from
bow 10 tanrail over the trucks of the
/ Michigau's four masts.
Before the anchor was down It was
learned that the great enthusiasm was in
I honor Of the arrival at St Simon's Bay,
distant about thirty miles. Of the Duke
| of Cornwall and York on the royal yacht
Ophir on his visit 10 the colonies Of Great
Britain. Orders came for the Michigan TO
proceed at once TO Port Elizabeth. AIgoa
! Bay. and she went ont Of Table Bay with
! colOrs flying for the heir apparent u the
| British throne.
Port Elizabeth was reached on August
I p All the mules were landed and three
/ days afterWard the Michigan received or
( ders 20 proceed direct 10 Baltimore An
error IN the cablegram mace il appear
| that the stalls and fittings for the mules
were 10 be taken down and on the trip
/ II was complied with. but they will have
/ to be erected again before the Michigan
| sails for New Orleans on Monday TO take
another cargo Of lively mules from that
! port 70 his Ma1esty.s army in South Afrl-
ca.
on the outward trip the Michigan cross
| ed the equator on August in longitude
81 degrees west Before the line was
! reached Neptune had sent on board for
! the names OF those who had never before
I invaded his COmlniONs. Steward HaSsOu
/ compiled with the request by order Of
/ Captain Watkins. and the ceremony
which was about to take place was an
nOunccd by the ringing OF the bells and
| footing of whistles. Neptune hailed the
/ ship, the engines were stopped and revers-
/ ed and "A hOrny-handed man, with whisk>
| ers made Of rope-yarn, accompanied by his
! wife and court. came over the side. Those
/ who had crossed the line before and re-
| ceiVed their equatorial baptism were pass
I ed. Steward HdssOn was the barber, dis
| guised, as were all the officers Of the Cere-
I mony. His lather was made of black lead,
| soft soap and tallow, mixed until Il re
! sembled harlequin ice cream. Officers
! Mulley and Brown were the bears and dis
! ported themselves in a lake made by q
| large sail raised above the deck and filed
! with water. Eight horrible looking pO-
/ licemeu were drawn from the crew Boat
| swain Mate Ashby represented Neptune
| and the carpenters mate was Mrs Nep-
| tune
| An being ready. the names Of those who
! were 20 pay tribute 70 Neptune were call
/ cd out. First was Major Wykeham Jones.
I of the British army. remOuut officer. in
/ charge Of the shipment Of mules. lie took
| his treatment gOOd-naturedly, and was
| followed by Harry Ham mOud- Of BaIti-
| more, son Of William Hammond. OF $50
| EutaW Place, who went out on the Michi-
! gan
! As a souvenir Of the occasion, Mr. Ham
! moud brought home the great wooden ra-
zor with which the barber did his work
/ Several Of the crew received the gentle
] attention Of Neptune and mis- court. bat
| the ceremony was delayed waiting for
| Second Engineer Donald and Fourth En-
] gincer Smith. They did not show up, but
/ after an hour or two were found nearly
| smOthered In the coal bunkers. They beg
| ged Neptune not 10 put them n such an
| uudignined position and promised 70 set
] up two bottles each Of Scotch r let Of
| HIS Majesty consented, all the paraEher-
! MALTA was removed from the deck. the
grand march was made, which ended with
| Neptune and his wife and court going
| over the side into the tropical sea.
] MeSsrs. Donald ana Smith forgot their
promises, and having crossed the line, did
not fear a repetition Of the court Of Ncp-
| tune upon their return.
! Upon bis departure from the Michigan
at Port Elizabeth Major Jones gave a
| champagne dinner TO all the officers Of the
Michigan and congratulated CdBtaiu Wat
kins upon the splendid record made BIZ his
ship In carrying so many animals and los
ing so few on such voyage through the
tropics.
DR.. J. r Jones. Of New Orleans. went
out with the Michigan as shiD's medical
officer for the round trip. and Or. Arnold
! Frank was veterinary surgeon.
Coal and feed for another large cOnsign-
ment OF mules will De taken on here and
on Monday the Michigan vii sail for New