Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-04-09
Our Boys Sail For The Isthmus.

NETWORK, April3. -The embarkation
of the first detachment of United States
troops sent to a foreign country for SER
vice since 1848 took place to-day. The
Pacific Mail steamship City of Para had
swung at her anchorage in the lower
bay ever since she received orders to
take Government troops to the Isthmus
of Panama, and her officers and men
greeted the dawning of the day of her
departure with unmixed pleasure.
There had been sounds of preparation
all night. Heavy armory chests were
dragged here and there, and cases of cut
lasses and small arms were slowed away
for the use of the United States sailors
who win follow the marines. Boxes of
clothing, kits of soldiers, great bundles
of canvas for tents, cases and barrels of
provisions and all the manifold evil
dences of preparation for voyage,
which might have anything but a peace
full termination, were scattered about
the decks. Busy little navy yard tugs
had been steaming alongside the long
black hull of the steamship all night
with naval stores, and the energies of
the men were taxed to the utmost But
as morning progressed the decks were
gradually cleared, the hum of busy pre-
paration died away, and the steamship
was ready to receive the marines.
Large crowds of ladies and gentlemen
from this city and Brooklyn were present
to witness the departure. Promptly at
1920 O'Clock the line was formed on
Morris avenue, and Colonel Haywood
drilled the battalion few moments in
the manuel of arms. The battalion was
quickly formed and the order Fright,
forward; tours, right was given by
Colonel Haywood. The drums began to
roll, tire bugle sounded, and the crowd
shouted "They are off. =
As the line was cast off the tug moved
quickly out into the stream and the 200
soldiers on board broke forth in pro-
longed cheer. The cheer was repeatedly
answered by the people on shore. The
tug headed down the bay to transport
the men to the steamer City OF Para.
The men all seemed in excellent humor,
and were fine-looking body All were
clothed in .sheavy marching order
They carried breech-loading rifles with
bayonets. A smaller tug took on board
the baggage of the troops and followed
the transport down the bay. At |
o'clock the gangway of the steamship
was lowered and the troops marched on
board in double file. They were inn
mediately assigned to their quarters.
At little time after 2 o'clock the steam
ship weighed her anchors and dropped
down the bay. As the tugs bearing the
troops steamed toward the ship the
vessels in the harbor dipped their flags
and the tugs answered the salutes BY
whistling. Commodore Chandler will
send down another detachment on Mon
day on the Acapulco. 1t will number
about $50 men.
Captain Reid, of The Boston Navy
Yard, who is going on Monday, says:
Il have spent good deal of time in
Panama, and hardly think there will
be any heavy fighting. The elements
there are rough, and are composed of
the rag-tag and bob-tail of everywhere.
As soon as any one gets enough money
to hire sufficient number OF men he
starts revolution and tries to seize the
government The armies are like MODS
and have but little organization.