The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-10-05
On First Trip Brought Sew
eral Hundred From Pen
saco1a Naval Station.
TRANSPORTS CIVILIANS
AND ENLISTED MEN
Monster Sidewf1eel Steamer
Vaudeville Chartered
for the Purpose.

Loaded to her gunwales with
iiveiy, shouting bunch of sailors and
civilian employees, the two-deck
steamer Vaudeville. with a passenger
capacity of more than /. 400 came up
the bay yesterday afternoon at $50
O'Clock, steaming gracefully into the
sip between Palafox and Central
Wharves, tying up for short time at
the latter. and discharging the pas
sengerS: There were more than 500
aboard, 1t was reported. and the only
reason the number was not doubled
was because the schedule was not
generally known. The steamer, how
ever, will be popular hereafter. iudg-
ing from the manner in which the
service was discussed by enlisted men
and civilian employees last night.
The Vaudeville. more than two
hundred feet in length. is said to have
been constructed for daily service be-
tween New Orleans and the citv OF
Mandeviile. La. She was said to have
been formerly known as the Hanover.
after skipper of that name which
fornleriy was in the employ of tho
original operating owners. In one of
the periodical storms which sweeps
over that way, the steamer is re-
ported to have been sent up in the
marshes. but was rescued without
suffering any damage to speak Of.
She was operated in several capac-
tiles over New Orleans way, and
within the past few DAYS, the gov
crnment. casting apout for a suitable
carrier to handle enlisted men and
employees at the navy yard. hit upon
this vessel. which appears to be a
craft now in a service for which she
was eminent1y suited. Equipped with
independent engines, and propelled by
great side wheels, the Vaudeville is
capable of attaining quite a rate of
speed and made the trip from the
naval station last evening in less than
forty minutes, and was not driven at
her capacity at that
1t is announced that the vessel was
procured especially to handle pas
senger traffic to and from the naval
station, and that all who are entitled
to enter the yard, or who are en-
ployed there and can show undisputed
authority to this effect, will be car
ried free on each trip. The boat. as
at present scheduled. will leave the
city berth promptly at Z o'clock in
the morning, and in the afternoon will
leave the berth at the naval station
promptly at 5 o'clock in the after
noon. 1t is claimed that either trip
may be negotiated in less than forty
minutes, with the probability of maxi
ing the time in thirty minutes.
Handle Civilian Employees.
There has been trouble reported in
handling laborers and enlisted men to
and from the naval station from time
to time. The city commissioners, at
their last meeting, received a letter
from the Pensacola Electric Com
pany, which was reply to letter
transmitted to the company some few
days before, and which called atten-
ton to widespread complaint of
the alleged prevailing accommoda-
tions of the electric company The
latter announced that arrangements
had been made to handle the crowd
expeditiously, and that coaches of the
Deep Water Route had been rented
for the occasion, and to take care
of the temporary heavy passenger
traffic" to and from the yard.
To add to the annoyance, it is
stated, the recent storm put the cleo
tric company out of business almost
completely, so far as the Bayshore
line was concerned, and the govern
ment and contractors hunted about
for accommodations. One contractor
chartered about every available