The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 29, 1896, Page 23

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1896. WHEN CLASH THE SHIPS OF WAR The Red Afi ambuiance ship to aid wounded and drowning men during a naval engage- ment is the latest addition it is proposed to make to the United States navy. The sdvocates of this project .are!Surgeon-Gen- cral Rufus Tryon and Hilary A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy. Both believe, and ¥ have facts and hgures to prove their eément, that such a craft would save tiie lives of 50 per cent of the injured, in a raval confliet, who would probably die under the present methods of caring for them. It will be no light task that the ambu- lance ship and her men will have to per- form. Itisdangercusto be in the vicine ity of shot and shell, even though not the target. These men, however, will bave to face death in order to save life, and courage will be quite as necessary a requisite for the man attached to the am- bulance ship as for any member of any miess on board a cruiser. It has always been the case, even under the most advanced methods, that during batile on board ship it has been impossi- bie to render immediate aid to the wounded. It 1s just this sort of aid that saves life, for never is delay more danger- ous than when it prevents a wounded man irom rcceiving the necessary attention. As a matter of fact the hardling of | wounded on' ships-of-war is a subject which is engrossing the atiention of the naval authorit'es of the world. In view of this fact Surgeon-General Tryon's idea is of the greatest importance. The ves- sels to be utilized for this service must be swift steamers of fairly good capacity, so far as room jfor the sick is concerned, and yet not of too large size to prevent quick turning and rapid darting around and among a fleet of vessels. The chief necessiiy for un ambulance ship lies in the fact that it promotes celerity in handling the wounded. That is practically the sum total of the value of the service.- The modern warship, so long as it remains above water, has fair accommodations for such members of its crew as may receive injuries during con- flict. Circumstances, however, render it absolutely impossible even with a care- fully trained medical corps to render aid 858007 48 neces: There 1s always the pbers of the hospital ed by some missile any event, there would bardly s much risk for the members of the ulance ship as for those sel that has been under | t of the crew of such a | t would be preeisely that accorded the d Cross Brigade. It is an unwritten | every civilized nation tbat a | wou man and the man who aids him | are boin to be protected. | Again, it is always the case in na\‘al$ licts that a farge number of the men | he treatm co who are igjured are blown into the water. Oftentimes it also appears that uninjured men fall from therigging inuto the ocean. It is a curious fact that "thiee-fifths of the sailors in the different navies cannot swim, and, therefore, in many instances to drop irom the rigging or (o be accigentally fore-d overboard during battle is just as sure death as to stop a bullet. Now the men on board the ambulance ship wiil be look- be provided by means of asteam spray extracting apparatus, as well as a steam fan blast that will pump in an adequate supply of pure air. In this way the atmosphere of this gigantic sick-bay will be consiantly changed and purified, and thus one of the greatest aids to nature for the restoration of health be secured. There is no questioning the fact with even a semblance of truthfulness that the ing for just such accidents all the time, and | percentage of recovery of injured men on boats’ crews would be instantly dispatched | board if such aid were needed. 2 An instance of the percentage of life that would be saved by having boats in constant readiness to aid men who have fallen overboard and are drowning is shown by the fact that during the last naval battle between Austrian and Italian fleets thirty years ago more than 400 men were drowned who could have easily been saved bad an ambulance ship been in attendance. The facilities for saving men wko zo overboard duringa battie are no greater now than they were at that time. The methods of naval warfare have be- come more deadly, and the percentage of killed is frequently greater, but there is no abatement of the confusion existing on board a vessel while in action, and no matter what ideas are suggested, there is nothing that will change the attitude of men in naval batties from what it has been for a century. These facts taken into consideration, it is held by most competent naval authori- ties that the necessity for the ambulance ship is so plain that he who sails may see. As stated the vessels used for the purpose must be swift and easily bhandled. Of necessity they must also be first-class sea boats, and there is. many a merchant steamer running out of American ports to-day that will answer this description to the letter. It is proposed that the ambulance ships which Surgeon-General Tryon and Secre- tary Herbert would have the United States Government construct or purchase shall be fitted up like naval hospitals. The ships shall be controlfed by *a nayal am- bulance asseciation for the treatment of the sick and wounded at sea.”” The idea is precisely that'of the St. John’s Ambu- lance Association, so called. While the Government would, of coarse, extend pa- ternal protection over such an ambulance service aia would be extended to the wounded whether friend or foe. The am- bulance ship would truly be a ship of mercy. The plan that is suggested for the ship is to devote the spar deck, that is the deck where there is the greatest amoun? ot air, to the most serious cases of both officers and men. Tie addition located on the remainin vessel. between decks, ariificial ventilation wiil | sious, shock, chills and prostration. an ambulance ship, properly equipped, would be fully a half greater than at present. Admitting that there might be isolated cases of ships that would find it possible to give the wounded proper aid, the difference in the quarters assigned to the injured, which are known on board ship as the sick-bay, and those of the ambul- ance ship is so great as to render com- ment unnecessary. In the first place, the sick-bay is always located in the bow of a man-of-war, even though the medical de- partment of the navy has for years pro- tested against it. Owing to the hawse- holes, this is one of the parts of the ship most likely to be flooded in heavy weather. Itis the one place in which the air ports must be kept ricorously closed while the vessel is at sea. Excepting that portion vicinity of the engine-room, it is the noisiest place on board a man-of-war. When the anchor goes down or the anchor-chains follow the engine in its rounds, even the one exception noted in point of noise can no longer be considered. one who has ever crossed the Atlantic Ocean knows that the bow of the steamer is the one place where you are pretty near sure to be seasick, because the motion of the boat is so perceptible there. The effect of the motion of the ship at such a point upon persons who are ill or suffering from injury is very delete- rious. Naval surgeous say it is impossible for them to aid a wounded man or to treat him propery in the modern sick-bay. Thus it is plain to any one that, leaving aside the question of the necessity of im- mediate aid for injured men, the very change of quarters, or rather, the caring for the wounded in a proper part of the ship, isof itself a tremendous argument in favor of the ambulance ships. A practical example of what aid without delay will accomplish was shown last Avril at the time the Old Dominion steam- ship Wyanoke, which runs between New- port News and New York, collided with tte man-of-war Columbia, near Newport News. A number: of persons who were injured by the collision were aimostim- mediately picked up by the cruiser’s boats | wards will be | and taken aboard .the Columbia for treat. decks of the | ment. As itis always more or less close | as partial drowning, burns, scalds, contu- Their cases were quickly diagnosed of the ship which is in the immediate | if it only attended to thg complement of \ Cross Ambulance of the Sea Will Mir\ister to the Wounded Warriors’ Needs. was ot the unnecessary delay of a moment in caring for them, the requisite supples were right at hand, and the result was that every one of them completely re- covered. The affiictions of these persons who were picked up by the Columbia’s boats were exactly those which mary of the patients of ambulance ships wouid suffer from. The Wyanoke injured were treated in the Columbia’s sick-bay. The injured on board an ambulance ship would be free from the fetid air of the sick-bay, in an atmosphere that was kept constantly purified. Under these conditions then how much greater would b their chances for recovery? The combination of imme- diate aid, plenty of room and pure air at sea for the sick and injured would be so powerful that the injured would often laugh in death’s face, where now they cringe at his approach. The duty of the officers and crew on an ambulance ship would carry them into dangerous places at all times. Stiil it is believed by naval medical authorities that rarely would it occur that either the am- bulance ship or her men would find them- selves 1n danger of destruction and death. The agents of the Red Cross So- ciety in their recent mission in Turkey encountered about the same percentage of danger that woul!d fall to the lot of the ambulance ship and her crew. Of course it would be absolutely im pos- sible for an ambulance ship to care for all the wounded during an engagement un- less that engagement were simply between two vessels. The truth of tnis statement is shown by the fact that the ordinary battle-ship, whose complement is fully 500 men, will have, within 8 few mirutes of the time action begins, 30 men killed and 120 wounded. This is not a theory, but a careful calculation from facts that have been collected by officers of the navies of the world. For instance, in a conflict be- tween the Chinese and Japanese fleets that took. place off the Yalu River Sep- | tember 14, 1894, one shell that was fired at long range from the Chinese ship Tsi Yuen, killed 7 men and wounded more than 50 on board the Japanese flagship, Every shell that is fired does not, nat- urally, create the same havoc on board sbip as in the instances quoted. Bat, in these days of modern gunnery, it is fair to assume that at least a third of the pro- jectiles aimed by one warship at another do some execution. This is considering big shells alone. Add to their work the! death that would be spread abroad by the rapid-fire guns and it can be seen that the ambulance ship would have plenty to do one craiser. A difficulty that has been carefully con= sidered lies in the removal of the wounded There from the cruisers’ decks to “those of the ambulance ship. Itis believed, however, | that this difficulty has been surmounted by an arrangement that is as admirable as it is simple. It merely consists in plac- ing the injured: manon a mattress in a | hammock, lashing him to the hammock, | and then by means of safety hooks at- | tached to the end of /a stretcher-bar, and to the hammock rings, lowering him with from the ambulance shi side. c This action can be performed, unis- sisted, by two men, so-far as transporting the injured nmian from the vlace where he falls to the boat’s cretv is concerned. It can also be accomplished very expedi- tious'y. Any one who has ever seen the sailors of a man-of-war .go aboard by p which [ies along- NOVEL OCEAN AMBULANCE—TRANSFERRING THE WQUNDED .IN ACTION. sidé -can easily understand “the .modus operandi of transferring the wounded. The necessity of the ambulance ship 13 being strenuously urged by Surgeon-Gen- eral Tryon and the Secretary of the Navy. It is the present intention to secure an apordpriation therefor at the next session of Congress. The accompenying iliustra- tion gives an excéllent idea of the naval the aid of the stretcher-bar to the bpat | means of a whip or spar rigged over the | ambulance and what it can accomplish. FIRE DEPARTMENT ON BIKES NOW. The Bicycle a Vehicle of Practical Use for the Volun- The citigs of the United States "are to lead the world in the introduction of a - complete tire department on bicyeles” At the present moment a Racine (W) firm ‘of bicycle-makers is preparing to equip, in_every detail, a first-class fire depart. ment with wheels. These wheels are not sifply for the firemen to ride when they like, but “the fire apparatus itself is at- teched ‘to them, and when the alarm isounds the firemen, instead of being - drawn to the scene of flame and smoke by _plunging-horses, wiil scorch both them- selyes and their apparatus to the point of destination; -* This is no inventor's dream, but 4 fact that is as practical as a grindstone. The “idea of applying the bicycle principle to the rapid locomotion of vehicles has been given profound consideration by many persons. The.equipmentof a fire depart- mwent apparatus with a bicycle attach- ment is one of the fruits of this campaign of thought. Accuratd representations of fire ap- Paratus mounted on bicycles will be seen v the illustration accompanying this rticle. In every instance pictured ma- chines have already been constructed pre- cisely as shown. The most notable fea- ture of the apparatus, and by far the most elaborate, is the bicycle chemical engine. It is built on the tandem pattern, al- teer Service. three wheelmen. The engine is exactly similar to that in use by many of the fire departments in the country. Itisequipped with the regulation . lanterns, fire uxés, crowbars, pike poles, etc. The engine carries also the regular chemical flnid. has attracted wide attention among thpse who have had their attention drawn to it, and really promises to become exceed- ingly poputar. The attention of veteran firemen the country over has been turned to the picy- ¢le fire apparatus, and the consensus of opinion seems to be that no adequate reason can be advanced to prove that it is not practical. The picture heréwith shows conclusively that no reason exists why the idea, as illustrated at Racine, is not as practical as the purchasing value of a $20 gold piece. It will e observed that the tiremen in the rear who help propel the machine are riding in a fashion that indi- cates a gigantic tricycle, rather than a bicycle.. The rider in front is the one who is scorching, and 1f appearances justify opinions, he has by no means the lightest task to perform.. ¥ The hose cart with its clanging bell, when equipped with the bicycle attach- ment, becomes again the hose reel. It is propellea by three riders, in much the same manner as the chemical engine, Being mucl: lighter, however, the pace is though there. are accommodations iorli-r greater and itis hikely 1o beatthe engine It| to a fire by about half time. There never was a team of fire horses, fast as they go, tnat could get an apparatus to a fire in as | short a space of time as it can. be moved there when it derives motive power from the bicycle. There is small danger of ac- cident, except to the leader or- pilot, and he can scorch to his heart’s content with- out danger of molestation by persons in blue coats and brass buttons. The one: factor of the fire department which probably finds a greater sphere of usefulness than any otheris that enemy of flame which looks not a little like a water- cooler, but is in reality a chemical fire- extingmsher. The extinguisher is fast- ened between two wheels of what looks more like a tricycle than gnything else. =y | A aLATm ey g\ EATINGUISHER FIRE “BICYCLE BRIGAD.E ANSWERING ALARM. Benind the extinguisher and its wheels is a bicycle that is part and parcel of the ex- tinguisher apparatus—or rather it is only partof a bicycle, for it is the hind wheel and the two front wheels which look so like a tricycle, that form the major part of this fire department bicycle. For speed there has never been anything like it seen in the fire department. In al- most any building of consequence these days there are several fire extinguishers, 80 the work of the chemical fise-extin- guisher connected with the fire depart- ment may not be considered 6f much im- portance. ‘The extinguisher and the man who runs it, however, ‘are not unlike, in the pubtie mind, to the situation to which the man from Texas referred when he gave utterance to the famous truism con-- cerning firearms. Then there is the hook and ladder.’ This is the miost difficult apparatus of ail the fire department to move. It is always very longz and very unwieldy, hard to manage apd invariably a little late tn get- ting where it is wanted. To make a quick turn with a hook and . ladder even though the best tillerman in the world was at the Wheel is a task which no one who knows cares-to attempt. It would seem, therefore, that a-decided difficulty confronied the two wheelmen who ride at the head of the bicycie hook and ladder apparatus, A number of runs have been made, Lowever, and not only has the apparatus steered well, but com- petent judges who had the opportunity to witness the’ new contrivance's perform- ance declare that the prejudice against the bicycle hook and fadder truck is alto- gether unfounded. While it is absolutely necessary, of course, for firemen and apparatus to reach the scene of the outbreak of flame in the trading district, or thatsection of the city where the retail stores mostly congregate, in the shortest possible time 1tis often even more important that the fire patrol should be first on hand. Thisis better known as the insurance patrol, and the duties of the members consist of covering with tarpaulins all the goods which are insured in the building where the fire has broken out. These duties make it advisable for the insurance patroi to reach a burning build- ing in advance of the firemen, if possible, in order that they may perform at least a portion of their task before streams of water begin to play upon the biaze. The upper right hand corner of the accom- panying illustration shows how the up-to- date insurance patrol will journey to a fire. It will be observed that each man has a large roll of tarpaulin tightly secured to the bicyle. It 1s so fastened, however, that it can be detached at a second’s notice and is, in reality, in much betier shape to handie than the tarpaulins as they lie in the patrol wagon now in gen- eral use. . There has been for many years the strongest rivalry between fire companies, particularly those of volunteer depart- ments, as to which should first reach’ the scene of conflavration. The bicycle will add to rather t:an lessen this spirit of rivalry, for it will now be the best rider, instead of the best runner, who is cham- pion. There seems to be no doubt that this, one of tne strongest efforts to maxe the bicycle a vehicle for practical use as well as pleasure, will meet with decided success. . - The Alps Under Foot. The mystery is gone from the Alps— none but climbers know how completeiy. Every mountain and point of view of even third-rate importance has been ascended, most by many routes. Almost every gap, between two peaks has been traversed as a pass. The publications of some dozen’ mountaineering societies have recorded these countless expeditions in rows of vol- umes of appalling lengtb. Of late years vigorous attempts have been made to ca~ ordinate this mass of material in the form of climbers’ guides, dealing with particular districts, wherein every peak and pass 1s dealt with in strict geographical succession and every different route and all the va- riations of each route ‘are set forth, with references to the volumes in Which ‘they have been described at length by their dis- coverers. Nearly balf of the Alps has been treated in this manner, but the work has taken ten years, and, of course, the whole e guires periodical revision.—Scribners’ Magazine. There is 2 man in Massachusetts who treats his horses with the same consider- ation they would receive if they were hu- man beings. In life they receive the best of care, and in death they are buried in a private cemetery. This cemetery pos- sesses the distinction of being the only one of the kind in the world. It is the most peculiar form that philanthropy has yet taken. It promises to prove popular, how- ever, with thos> who have the interests of the horse at heart and prefer to remember him ds being place under ground rather than as a roast, steak or sausage. Benjamin F. Poole of Rockland, Mass.,: is the man whose tender heart inspired this unique idea. Neither is he satisfied with the honor that devolves upon'the horse in being buried like a person, for he believes that to pay the proper respect to its memory monuments should be erected. The picture herewith presented shows Mr. Poole’s 1dea as it will look when ecarried into effect. 2 When it is considered that it requires genuine self-sacritice these days to give a horse what might be termed .Christian burial, Mr. Poole will be viewed in the light of an equine philanthronist. 4 Five of the horses which have been laig: to rest in this oddest of cemeteries are, M. Poole believes, worthy of special com- mendation. The first of these wes a Mor- gan thoroughbred named Dick. He could trot in 2:40. Major, the second, was to the horse world ‘what an honest man is said to be to the human sphere. Mr. Poole saysof him= “He was one of the most honest horses ever owned by any one. Very few persons ever passed me on the road when I was driving him. He could trot in any hare ness a quarter of a mile at & 2:50 gait.”” Kittie, a chestnut mare, ranksNo. 3 mn the jist. - She, ber owner says, was a horse of whom the ladies were fond. So kind ‘and- gentle an animal, he believes, is en- titled to all the consideration after death that this one received. The fourth aud fifth of the horses Mr. Poole so greatly admired were Fannie and Nellie, a pair of matched driving horses. Each weighed 975 pounds. Fainiedied in 1896. It might be asked, how long did Mr. Poole own these animals to which he gave such tender care? These figures answer the'question: D:ck, 5 montbs; Major, 21 years old, 14 years; Kittie, 18 years old, 12 years; Fannie, 15 years old, 12 years; Nellie, 16 ‘years old, 15 yeors, By any one who carefully considers all .| the facts toid Mr. Poole’s charity will be appreciated. It isa factthat a dead horse is ofien worth more tkan a living one, for these are the days when horse-meat, cleverly disguised, is no straunger to the butcher-shop. Every horse that Mr. Poole “has buried in his cemeterv renresents a net loss to him of §25 10 $100. Regardless of this fact. Mr. Poole hopes before many monibs to be able to mark the resting place of each animalin an appropriate and artistic manner. v The designs far the horse monuments are varied in the extreme. Of course the equestrianstatue is the one wifich-is gen- erally favored. There are, however, a number of designs which show that care- ‘ful thought has been given the subject. For instance, one design represents a horse in an attitude of slumber in his stall, ~ Burial Ground. carefully blanketed, while along one side of the bianker, in letters of marble, are the words, ‘‘Requiescat in pace.”” Another is in bas-relief upon a blozk of marble. 1t represents the open door of a comfortable- looking barn, and just inside the door, held by an invisible hand, is seen a meas- ure of oals. "Outside, what is supposedly snow seems to be falling. Just about en- tering: the barn is an old and decrepit horse. Underneath the design are the words, “Home at Last.” Perhaps the most unique design of all— and thisis also in bas-relief—is that of a gigantic sheaf of oats. Each separate oat isshown with wonderful clearness. ‘On each side of the sheaf is an-inscription. idea of the bereafter. His plan embraces both a statue and a bas-relief. The statue, which is at the summit of a pedestal sur- mounting a square block of granite, is that of a horse rearing. On the granite block in bold relief is this scene: A meadow or fiela with the grass growing freely. On the outside of the fence which surrounds the field stands an aged horse with his bead over the top rail, gazing at the luxuriant pasturage, with feeble imi- tation of the look that Moses must have given the Promised Land. Just the other side of the fence and looking at the old horse in a very coltish manner is what appears to be a very young horse, to whom life has no sorrows whatever. ,Un- derneath the picture are these words, ‘‘What death accomplishes for the horse. ” Another design, one of those shown in the accompanying illustration, is of the equestrian statue order, and repre- sents a dock-tailed horse with the left foreleg raised as if impatiently waiting for the signal to be off and away. One inscription is: “This variety of dats [” 18E OBDEST OE ALL CEMETERIES: An Eastern Horse Crank Starts a ]’ri\)a‘ce_Equir\e This statue surmounts an oblong block of marble. On the side of this block’ is a figure of a horse apparently in active mo- tion. Above and beneath it are these words: ‘Man’s noblest friend. His race isrun.'” A favorite idea of the designer seems to be that emblem so oiten chosen for funeral purposes, the horseshoe. One clever ar- tist bas placed a giant horseshoe on a pedestal. Upon the pedesfal’s side he has drawn the cap 6f a jockey encircled by the variety of whip thatall horsemen know so well. Another idea 1s an ordinary slab of marble on which is cut a horse-collar, broken, with the name and age of the horse underneath. = In all the plans for the benefit of the ONLY HORSE CEM.ETERY IN THE WORLD. is what the horse receives after he dies.” The second inscription reads, “What may be looked for in the horse heaven.” One designer has evidently been in- spired by what he has read of the Indian horse which the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has conceived none have contamed evidence of the slightest consideration for the animal aiter death. This, therefore, is ap entirely new de- varture. The idea of a private cemetery for horses stands alone. So far as known there is only one man who has ideas ap- . proaching those of Mr. Poole. While he - had no private cemetery for horses, when a borse that served him faithfully for - many years died he bad a casket made for it, covered the casket with black broad- cloth, placed silver handles thereon and to the cover attached the customary plate, with the name and age of the deceased animal. He placed the eguine remains in a grave and erected a fence around it. This happened at Penobscot, Maine. M:r. Poole’s ideas are certainly largely in advance of those of his fellows. He says they are due,to the fact that he sees no reason why & borse is not entitled to re- spect after death in proportion to its ine . teiligence and faithfulness, “It is my .- own idea, I believe,’ he said to the writer. “Somehow I could not feel right1f I didn’t know where those horses tuat worked for me faithfully so many years were laid to. rest.” . 2