The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-12
Letter From Manila.
Cart Charles +. Baker writes Of the u. S.
Transport Service.
A @Iand Lubber's" Experience in Commanding Great
OCEAN Steame-A Description Of the Magnificent YES
sel and Crew.

General Adna A. Chaffee was making
his inspection.
When It Is remembered that q num-
ber Of the smaller transports have gone
aground aud In some cases been lost
on the coral reefs In the narrow passa-
ves of these southern waters, 1t IL graf.
ifying to the Summers complement
chat the alightest accident is yet to be
recorded against her. Such accidents,
however. TO ships plying In these wa
ters cannot he chargeable tn the negli-
cepce or incompetency Of the Masters
who navigate them. This Is because
the Admiralty Charts fail to record any
survey for the guidance OF the unfor-
tupate skipper who has to rely both
night and day on his own judgment.
The Spanish surveys are In most cases
in error and 1t IL oftener than otherwise
that dangerous coral reefs are found
where the chart indicates as many IL
o hundred fathoms Of water. This
matter has been taken upby the proper
and at the earliest practical
BILE time the information required for
successful navigation between the 10
lands will be furnished.
While the rebuilding Of the trans
ports has been done with . view to the
necessities of the service there is q
striking uniformity in the general de-
sign. A description Of the more i'm
pOrtant appointments Of the Sumner
will, therefore, convey the prevailing
idea In the construction Of the other
transports. In this connection 1t might
be well to state that this ship Is the
only transport turned out by the naval
authorities, the work having been &C.
complished at the Norfolk navy yard.
The Hamburg American Line sold to
our navy the Rhetia, afterwards con.
verted into collier and named the
Cassius. The fsct that the Cassius
was bought from the navy partly &C
counts for the reason why that depart
ment was permitted TO undertake the
rebuilding Of the ship for transport
purposes. The name ."Sumner" Wa
given 10 the ship In honor Of the dis
linguished soldier, General Sumner,
all Of the other first-class transports
being named after his compatriots.
She measures 363 feet over all, with
42 feet beam, and depth under side keel
to top spar deck SO feet, with . perma-
nent ballast Of 4l8 tons. The coal
bunker capacity is $50 tons, with fresh
water tanks for the accommodation Li
100, 900 gallons. When she was
placed In commission ut the Norfolk
navy yard her passenger accommoda-
ton provided for 81 first class passed.
gems, 32 berths main ward OF the hos.
pital, and 983 berths for soldiers. lD
addition to these appointments the
ships entire complement Is provided
for.
The troop quarters are fitted up With
galvanized iron standees, 80 arranged
as to allow the most convenient ad.
justmeu, as well as providing for the
highest state of cleanliness. There are
also, both forward and aft, extensive
lavatories constructed Of the most ap-
proved plumbing with 20 wash basins
and 4 shower baths provided for each.
These quarters and lavatories are found
on the lower and main decks while the
orlop deck accommodates coal bunkers,
boilers, dynamos, main and auxiliary
engines, cold storage, water tanks,
baggage and commissary store room.
In addition to ample quarters for the
petty officers and employees Of the
stewards department there Is an up
to-date steam laundry, pantry, petty
officers mess room, and an elegantly
finished dining saloon with 20 chairs
for first class passengers on the main
deck. The hospital and q large num-
Der of state rooms, as well as the fore
castle for sailors and fremen, are built
on the spar deck, the bridge deck &C
commodating life boats, chart and
steering looms.
There is also provided q large mum.
Der Of steam cooking boilers for the use
of the soldiers. The refrigerating
chambers easily accommodate $4,000
pounds Of fresh meats. while the ice
plant turns out 1000 pounds Of ice per
day. The engines are compound, 22oO
horse power, and under full steam on
q favorable sea will drive the ship al
an average speed Of twelve knots. She
has single screw, ten inch bilge keel,
tramp bow, we'll decks fore and aft, 10
paiuted white to the waterline, with o
red, white, and blue smok e-.tack. The
house flag IL the insignia that desig-
mates the Quartermaster's department,
ingeniously worked on background
of white, running diagonally between
corners Of red aud blue, with the letters
u. 8. A. r. s. worked above and be-
low the insignia. This flag goes to
the breeze at the main mast. The au-
tomato steam steering gear, the electric
fash and search lights, electric dough
kneader, and the minute egg machine,
are among the up-to-date equipments
with which the ship Is provided.
This modern craft IL lighted from
stem to stern with incandescent lights,
and every room is provided with an
electric fan. The troop quarters are
furnished with hot and cold air by
means Of large fan machines erected
on the port and starboard of the spar
deck, fore and aft. The drinking wa
ter In these quarters Is chilled through
process of pipes. The capacity of the
condensing machine IL something over
5000 gallons q day, sufficient under or
dinary conditions for the ships re-
quirements.
The dining saloon, companion hall,
quartermaster's Office, and all estate
rooms are fitted In mahogany. Chef
fonieurs are substituted for steamer
trunks, nickle plated toilet furnishings
for those of antique style, and comfort
able deck chairs for the less comforta-
ble steamer benches. The baths are
Of porcelain, nickle plated plumbing,
with hot and cold, fresh and salt water.
The Sumner Is indebted to the Wo-
mans Army and Navy League for an
organ, and to the Christian Endeavor