The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-11
CHESTER SAILS AT LAST.
TIE FIRST ENGINEERS NOW ON THE
oN war TO PORTO RICO.

-.
Before she started Her Machinery Had
Been Got Into Good Shape-No Moro
Trouble Expectsd-A Flood Of kilograms
About Her Greetings Down tho Bay.
The United States transport Chester. with
tho First Regiment OF Volunteer Engineers,
202 mules. nifty wagons. two ambulances. sub
slstence stores and forage aboard, sailed for
Porto Rico shortly before 8 O'Clock yesterday
morning. At z O'Clock on Tuesday night the
Chester could steam only backward. Tho OBJ
server at Sandy Hook did not specify. in re-
porting tho departure Of tho transport,
whether she WIS proceeding stern flrst or bow
first. In the absence Of specific Information on
that point tho Quartormaster's Department
took Il for granted that she is proceeding to
Porto Rico as any well-behaved steamerw would.
with her bow in front.
Machinists worked on tho Chester's maohin-
cry until daylight yesterday morning. Then q
test was made, and Il was found that the chip
would really go forward or backward. After
she had boon moved forward from hor anchor
aRe of Robbins Reef Light for nearly 100 ynrds.
one of the soldler-engineers, 30 IL was said at
the Army building yesterday, poked his head
into the engine room and shouted:
Now you've got her going In the right direc-
ton. keep her going. for Heavens sakel II she
stops you may never get her going that way
again."
The transport was saluted all the way down
to the Hook by passing vessels. II she had been
q battleship she couldn't have had q more
rousing send-oR. The officers and men OF The
regiment lined the rails and sent back good
natured answers to the Rood-natured jibes
about the transport that came from the passing
harbor craft. Dow in the Narrows the Captain
Of q tuEboat shouted:
Better set your sails. She's like an old maid
-crotchety-and may take It into her head to
stop any time"
Get outl you're jealous."' came from the
transport. You're sore because you haven't o
100000 beauty"
Somebody at Quarantine suggested that the
machinery was made in Spain and that was the
reason It kicked up so. But the machinery
really worked very we'll after the machinists
succeeded in getting 1t to work. When the re-
pairs were finally completed tho chief
engineer said he was satisfied he would have
no more trouble.
Col. Amos s. Kimball. Deputy Quartermaster-
General. who has supervision over all War De-
partment vessels at this port. was swamped
with kilograms yesterday morning In reference
70 the Chester. Washington wanted to know II
the Chester had sailed. and II not II she ever
would sail. Other kilograms were from rela-
tives and friends Of members OF the regiment.
| These kilograms came from all over the State,
| and Col. Kimball had to detail one clerk to re-
ply to them. One telegram was from q woman
In Albany, who said she had q son in the reGi-
ment and wanted to know II the Chester was
really a safe transport. To all these kilograms
Col. Kimball sent substantially the anne an
swer. that the Chester had sailed and that she
was a safe ship. Col. Kimball based tho an.
swer. on the report made to him by the trans.
port feet Captain.
For the benefit Of those who have husbands
or sons or brothers on the transsort it may be
stated that Col. Kimball has one son and two
sons-in-law on transports somewhere on the
Pacific bound for Manila. He appreciates the
anxiety felt by those who have relatives ABOARD
the Chester and he learned the condition Of the
ship before he answered the kilograms.
Besides this, Col. Griffin. commander OF the
regiment and Viee-President Of the Genera
Electric Light Company. said Just before the
transport sailed that she was perfectly safe
and that the machinery having been repaired
the Chester would be quite able to make tn,
voyage. Col. Griffin. It was stated. made a per
sonal inspection Of the machinery before th,
ship sailed.