The record-union., 1898-06-27

Four Thousand Men Embarked on
the TRANSPORTS Yesterday.

| SAN FRANCISCO, June 26.-Four
thousand men comprising the third ex-
pedition to the Philippines embarked
early this afternoon and soldiers now
swarm in the holds and upon the decks
Of the steamers Ohio, Indiana, City of
Para and Morgan City. Tomorrow the
steamer Valencia will receive her COM
plement of the military, and these five
transports, bearing the bulk of the ex-
peditionary forces, will probably sail
to-morrow forenoon, to be followed on
Wednesday by the steamer Newport,
upon which General Merritt is expected
to depart.
Camp Merritt presented a busy scene
this morning. The orders issued to the
troops which are to compose the third
expedition to the Philippines last night
served to keep many of the men awake,
so excited were they over the antici-
patton Of an early start for the Philip
pines All night long the camp cooks
worked to prepare the last breakfast
in the camp for the departing soldiers,
and to get ready the one days cooked
rations with which the order to embark
said the men must be supplied. This
work required the aid of many pri-
Yates, and the noise caused by hurried
possible.
During the morning hours carloads
upon carloads of people were landed
near the regimental camps, and it is
said to-day that at least 5000 people
visited the camp before orders to
march were given. Very few of the
visitors to the camps went out empty
handed. Many were the packages con-
tanning little necessities and delicacies
| packed up with the luggage of the de-
parting troops. Many of the men who
had not received comfort bags" from
the Red Cross ladies, or who had lost
| them. were supplied with these little
! necessities to healthful soldier life this
morning, and the absolutely necessary
abdominal bandage was furnished
those of the departing men who had not
received them. Bouquets of beautiful
California flowers We're distributed
among the men in large quantities,
and many a rifle barrel was made
pleasantly heavier by floral decora-
tions.
Shortly after II o'clock the sounding
of bugles announced to the civilians and
soldiers alike that the time for parting
had come. and that the soldiers must
form for the march to the water front
where the transports awaited them.
Along the entire extent of the five
mile march am escort squad of police
was obliged to force back the throngs
of people. to make a narrow lane FOR
the progress of the departing COM
panies. The soldiers were cheered at
every step, goodbye and good wishes
We're mcmentarily shouted, hand flags
were waved, flowers were thrown and
almost as much emotion was visible as
was the case when the First California
Regiment boys marched away.
1t was a long, hot tramp this morn
ing over the cobble stones, but willing
hands brought glasses of water fer
thirsty soldiers, and each enlisted man
would have required an orderly to carry
all the Parcels which were pressed upon
his acceptance.
When the triumphal march ended and
the soldiers We're taken on board their
respective transports, they were given
tremendous ovation by the thousands
of people who swarmed on and around
the wharves. 1t was an emotional as
well as physical relief when the em-
barkation was an accomplished fact
/Coptinnad on CavoV,th d. e,a