The record-union., 1898-06-16
The Transports Carrying About
$500 Officers and Men.
No Definite Date Yet Set for the Sailing Of
the Third Expedition, Though the
Fleet Is Expected to Sail About
the TWenty-Fifth Instant.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 15.-Shortly
after noon the announcement was made
that the steamer Senator, which had
been lying at her dock all night taking
on cargo and undergoing repairs, was
ready to so into the stream and about
L o'clock the order was given to cast
off. At the same time Major General
Greene ordered the transports Colon,
China and Zealandia, which had anch-
weigh their anchors and to proceed up
the bay to join the Senator, which had
continued her voyage oceanwards with
out coming to anchor
Thousands of people had assembled
along the docks to witness the de-
parture of the fleet, and when the sig
mails ordering the vessels to get under
way We're observed, a mighty cheer
went up. Added to the cheering Of the
people was the blowing of Whistles and
the ringing of bells. Every steam
vessel in the harbor with steam up
blew long blasts from their sirens, and
every factory and mill in the manu-
featuring districts saluted the vessels
With blasts from their whistles. Bombs
We're exploded and cannon were fired,
and amidst this hubbub the four state
II vessels bearing their loads of hui
manity and munitions of war passed
down the bay
The excitement was intense. The
water front was black with people.
and the waving of flags and hand
kerchiefs presented beautiful sight.
The vessels in the harbor dipped their
colors as the transports passed by, and
countless yachts and other small craft
trailed behind the big steamers as
closely as safety would permit.
The transports themselves were pic
turesQue indeed. Every available
space was occupied by a soldier. High
up into the rigging they climbed; every
port hole was filled by a smiling face.
and the guard rails We're hidden be-
meath struggling masses trying to get
points of vantage to get one last
glimpse of the city and the thousands
of people who have treated them so
kindly since they have been in this city.
The soldiers We're as jolly a lot as
could be found, and to see their happy
faces one could scarcely imagine that
many of them were going away to
fight for the honor of their flag in a
foreign l&hd, and that many of them
possibly would never return. The men
cheered themselves hoarse, and waved
their hats and handkerchiefs until their
arms ached.
The small bay craft continued on
down the bay with the soldier boys.
every now and then saluting the big
steamers, which We're picking up their
speed at every revolution of the pro-
pellers At last only the more power
full of the consorts could keep up with
the big liners, and one by one they were
dropped behind. Tugboats and ferry
boats, chartered for the occasion, fol-
lowed down the bay to the Golden Gate.
The afternoon was well-nigh gone
when the transports reached the ocean,
and only a few of the ''good-by boats"
were with them, but the men were still
perched in the rigging and waving
their good-byes in response to the Wav-
ing adieus of the people on the decks
of the smaller boats. The send-off that
was given the boys was one that Will
linger in their memories to the grave.
The four vessels will make fast time
to Honolulu, where they viii recoai
and proceed on their way to join the
first fleet of transports which left this
city three weeks ago to-day, bound for
IDl,s Is Aafa fa6 hnf
the China will reach Honolulu first, but
after leaving the Paradise of the Pa
cific superior speed will count for lit
tie. as the faster boats Will wait for
the slower. so that the vessels will
reach their destination about the same
time.
Assigned to the China, Major Gen.
eral Greene's flagship, and the largest.
fastest and finest vessel of the fleet,
are the First Regiment, Colorado Vol
unteer Infantry, 1,O22 men; half a bat
TALON of the Eighteenth United States
Infantry. $50 men, and a detachment
Of United States engineers. twenty
men.
The Colon took four companies of the
Twenty third Infantry and two come
panies of the Eighteenth Infantry, both
of the regular army, and Battery a
of the Utah Artillery. In the battery
were 121 men, and in each of the in
fantry companies seventy-f1ve men be-