New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-29
BROOKE'S EXPEDITION OFF.
SAILED FOR PORTO RICO YESTERDAY
FROM NEWPORT NEWS.
lnY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE. !

Newport News. Va. july - -Gencral Brooke's
entire expedition is now urder way to Porto
I:Ico. ard with weather in It's favor the first
ship. IN" st Louis. should arrive of the island
not later than Tuesday morning. providing Cen
cral brooke decides to get there In advance Of
the feet This. # IS said good authority Is
his intention. and unless he changes his deter
mlnatlon. formed before Ealing he Will be able
70 confer with General Miles at the time stated
The auxiliary cruiser 81. Louis having aboard
Major-Cicneral Brooke General Sheridan. chief
q stan. and the other officers OF the command
ing generals stan. with the Sd Illinois Regiment
- Volunteer Infantry. the first TO sail.
Weighing anchor at 2,3O o'clock The transport
Massachusetts, arrived off old Point from New
por, News about ten minutes later and steamed
straip-lt out to sea not stopping AT all The
Roumanian and the City OF Washington fol
lowed the Massachusetts, from this port in half
an hour and stopped at ola Point only long
enough to receive orders proceeding almost In
the wake OF the other ships.
The Seneca followed shortly after. but the 81.
Paul did not get away until $50 o'clock on ac-
count of delay in emberking the ith Ohio Vol
unteer Infantry.
CAMPED on THE WATER FRONT.
Tho 3d Illinois and 4th Onto did not succeed
IN emharking last evening. and bivouacked along
the water front
The property IN which the Illinois ard Ohio
men camped IL private park. sloping toward
the river and the camps presented n unique
appearance. gith all ~ the shelter tents illu
minated by lighted candles.
Colonel Colt commanding the 4th Ohio or
dcrod tents struck at q o'clock this morning.
and allowed hts men liberty but Colonel Ben
nit of the Sd Illinois dld not break camp until
b the hour Of going aboard the lighters and
would not permit his men 10 move from their
places. anticipating trouble in getting them to-
Ccihcr 2cain
Three lighters carried the latter regiment TO
old Point at o'clock Colonel Bennitt being the
last man To go aboard As the reGimental band
struck up Dixie" with the first movement II
the lighter. the troops aboard The transports at
the piers and the people on the wharves cheered
Justify ard from the camp Of the ohio men
came patriotic fare'vclls from the soldiers and
citizens there Colonel Bcnnitt. who was IA
vorlte with everybody here. stood on the deck
of the last tug TO move. and received an ova-
ton he was carried off.
As rapidly as the lighters arrived alongside
the cruiser St Louis at Old Point the troops
went aboard and were assigned TO their places
for the trip
PORTO KICAN COMMISSION ON ST LOUIS.
The eight members OF the Porto Rican Com
rnission-Antonio Matte. General Lluveras.
Seniors Matteo Fajardo. Rafael Marcuash Do
minPo Collazo Emilio Gonzales Jose Budet.
Juan Bezosa-and DR.. Del Vale. and the former
Consul TO Mexico w. p. Sutton. went down to
oid Point with Colonel Bcnnitt and went aboard
the -. Louis
In the mean time all activity at the
piers where the transports were loading the
last Of the supplies and equipments.
The CITY Of Washington. with half OF the 4h
PENNSYLVANIA Infantry-thc lst Battalion and
rort ~ ,he od-eft the wharf this morning
and anchored In the river The Massachusetts
followed with the New-York cavalry and one
troop Of Pennsylvania cavalry and the signal
and ambulance corps The Roumania received
four batteries last night. but was Obliged to
,voit for a carload Of ammunition until o'clock
leaving for Old Point at that time with the
CIV of Washington. The Seneca. with the Sd
battalion and the other half OF the ID Battalion OF
the ith Pennsylvania and the bulk Of the United
States mail for the first Porto Rican expedition
sailed at 3l5 from Old Point The departure
OF each Of these ships was the signal for patrl-
o,,c outhursts from the crowds the piers
and the soldiers responded with n will
General Brooke and his STAFF went aboard the
81 Louis this afternoon shortly before the de-
parture OF the ship In fact. the cruiser was
completely loaded by IL o'clock, and only waited
for the commanding general to go aboard be-
fore pulling out
SAILED AT TIME DESIGNATED.
The reports sent out from Newport News to
tho effect that the expedition is now three days
bohind are incorrect. 1t was stated on Monday
that Thursday was the day selected for the de-
parture OF the transports. and this statement
wao made on the authority OF Major Wilson
and General Agent Parker OF the Chesapeake
and Ohio. who had direct charge OF the embark
alton.
Never for a moment have the Army officers
anticipated departure before Thursday. 1t Is
o,so statsd on the same authority that the sec
Continued on second page.