The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-15
Now Somewhere I'm the Gulf of Mex
leo Sfeaming in the Direction
of Santiago de Cuba.
COMPLETE LIST OF VESSELS
SAILING IN TWO GRAND DIVISIONS
OF THREE COLUMNS EACH,
With the Naval Fleet Surrounding
BILE Attack--POrto Rico Expedition.

| TAMPA, Fla, June 14.-After weeks of
waiting and preparation, the first army of
invasion to start from the eastern shores
of the United States departed, under the
command of General Shafter, this morning
| at o'clock. The fleet of transports con-
sisted of thirty-fve vessels. four tenders
| and fourteen conveys. These are all now
upon the Gulf of Mexico, headed to the
southwark until they pass Key West, at
least. If the destination be Cuba, they will
continue their present course until Cape
| Antonio, at the west of the island, is
doubled, when an easterly course will be
sailed until they reach the vicinity of San
| tiago
| AS already stated in these dispatches, the
actual embarkation of the troops began on
| Monday, June 6. The work proceeded dill
| gently until late on Wednesday afternoon,
when, after the departure of several ves-
| sells, an important order came calling a
| halt in the proceedings. The CaStine was
! dispatched to at once overhaul the disap-
| pearing vessels and recall them They all
/ came back but one, the City of Washing
| ton, which was reported to be aground
down the bay. 1t has been subsequently
| learned however, that this vessel had out
| stripped the messenger until the coast of
Cuba was actually sighted Neither the
Washington nor Castine returned to Port
Tampa until Saturday. The alleged cause
of the delay was the report that the Hor-
| net while out scouting, had sighted sew
eral Spanish war vessels.
| Ill @IoA ArI4 60 half
Cheerfulness was displaced by keen disap-
! pointment. Two questions were on every
tongue - Has Spain surrendered" HAS
our fleet met with a reverse?" The former
met with the readiest belief. many believ-
ing the words in the order, indefinitely
| postponed" meant peace. The unloading of
| the Florida, which had been run into by
the Miami and seriously damaged last
| Wednesday, gave grounds for the rumor
that all the transports were being unload
| ed. Newspaper men were confidentially
told on Friday night that they had better
| go aboard
THE RUSH REPEATED.
The following day it was openly stated
that the sailing would occur on Sunday
noon. The rush of the previous Monday
was repeated. General Miles and his staff
went to Port Tampa Sunday morning at
$50 to deliver parting instructions. During
a heavy rain squall on Saturday night at
o'clock while the transports were straining
| at their cables, the little tug Captain Sam
steamed from ship to ship megaphoning
the order, stand ready to sail at day
| light" Above the roar of the storm wild
| cheers were heard and a bright flash of
| lightning revealed the soldiers standing in
| the rain, waving their wet hats and hurrah-
| ing. When the morning broke the piers
were lined with transports, the docks were
| crowded with box cars, fiat cars, stock
cars, baggage and express cars. Most of
these were crowded with soldiers. who were
cheered until their ears ached and who
cheered in return until hoarse. Bright-col
ored dresses and fragile parasols in the
| crowds of bluecoats indicated the presence
| of the fair sex. Horses and mules were
kicking up clouds of dust and the sun
poured down it's hot rays On the sweltering
mass of humanity. Thus Sunday passed, the
transports at the docks and those in mid
stream receiving their quotas of men and
the necessaries to sustain them.
| General Miles again went to the Port on
| Monday on the early train. The stirring
scenes continued the mad rush had not
| abated. General Miles, from the observa-
ton end of his ear. watched the crowd as
II
ing at their moorings were plainly in view
as were also many of those at the docks.
The embarkation of animals was progress
ing satisfactorily. Shortly after 9 o'clock
the tunnels of the transports began to pour
forth volumes of black smoke. The Olivette
Margaret, Mateo and Laura were visiting
the fleet, giving water to one, troops to
| another, animals and equipments to an
| other Along the pier could be heard the
voices of the transport commanders as they
gave their orders to cut loose. The gang
planks were pulled in, the hatch-ways
closed, lines cast off and the engines were
put in motion. The vessels backed into the
bay and anchored to await the order to
sail.
THE FINAL SIGNAL.
The Mattewan hove her cable short at
| 10 o'clock. All eyes were Tiveted on the
! Seguranca, the flagship, and when the final
| signal came a mighty cheer arose From
| the lower row of port holes to her tops hats
| were waved in wild delight. The anchor
was quickly weighed and the great vessel
| pointed her PROV down the bay. In a few
minutes the City OF Washington Rio
Grande, Cherokee, Iroquois and Whitney
followed. AS these boats picked their way
through the anchored feet men shouted and
bands played. Every vessel elected a wild
display of enthusiasm. These were the only
vessels to depart In the forenoon, some of
them going over to ST. Petersburg to pro-
cure water.
General Miles evidently becoming impa-
tient. embarked on the Tarpon at 1890 and
went out among the fleet. going as far down
the bay as St. Petersburg and not returning