The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-03

der and no confusion he said, land tina
in all cases regiments found their quar-
tiers without trouble or delay"
ROUGH RIDERS EMBARKATIoN.
How about the Rough Riders-th'
Roosevelt regiment" asked Governo
Beaver.
They were assigned to the Yucatar
and there was no difficulty in their en-
barkation.''
1T mas been reported to u.s." contin-
ued Governor eBaver. that they seized
the vessel. Was that true?"
mo, sir: it was not true" the witness
replied. THE Yucatan was placed in
canal and the Rough Riders walked in
! and took their places on the vessel &C
! cording to directions. They did not seize
the vessel, because there was no necessity
I that they should do so.'
STORES LOADED PROPERLY.
! Captain Mckay also said there had been
no confusion in unloading the stores. He
| testified that they mad been loaded in an
/ orderly manner. There was list showing
| what articles were in each vessel, and
there had been no mixing of the various
kinds of stores. 1t was true, as had been
charged that some Of the stores had
never been unloaded, but this was due,
in the main, 10 the fact that the stores
were not needed. The tents were not I'M
loaded for lack of storage room on shore
and because they could not be got TO the
front
IGNORAMUSES GIVING ORDERS.
Captain Mckay said there had been no
disposition on the part of the masters of
the transports TO disobey orders or TO
keep heir vessels unnecessarily far out al
sea- as has been charged. There was a
great many men giving orders who had
no authority to do so and who knew moth
ing of the sea or the local conditions. 1t
was not safe to hold the ships close to
the shore.
He also denied that there had been
refusal TO land medical stores. 1t had
been impossible TO secure labor assistance
in Cuba, the natives refusing even to as
sist in landing food for themselves
He was satisfied that ample facilities
had been provided for landing the troops
and supplies and that there would have
been no difficulty if all the lighters had
been available AS it was, four lighters
had reached Daiquiri, and not one only,
as had been reporeed.
Captain Mckay took exception to a ref
erence in Admiral Simpsons report to
what he called the wandering proclivi-
ties of the transports
LAS matter of fact" he said, 'if the
transports developed any wandering pro-
civities, this fact was due to the navy
THE KNICKERBOCKERG GOT LOST.
He then related that naval vessel mad
made the rounds the first night after ar
rival, to allow the officer in command to
notify the transports that a change had |
been made in he directions for landing |
He thought that Captain Hunker had Civ |
en- this information, and he had stated |
that they were TO pursue a south-soutn- |
east course. He had said nothing as TO
how long they should steer in that direc-
ton. This course, pursued indefinitely, |
would carry them six points off the coast
This order led the transport officers gem
orally to conclude that they were to sail
for Porto Rico. and, as a matter of fact
the Knickerbocker did sail thirty-ive
miles and got lost for twelve hours on ac-
count OF the order. only coming back
Nnen ne lOunu lndI none OF the meet was !
with him.
Captain Mckay had not completed his
testimony when the commission adjourn
ID for the day.
MORE ABOUT THE LIGHTERS.
General Dodge questioned Colonel Bird
lbout the deficiency in the matter of light
rs. bringing out the fact that he had sug-
;ested to General Miles the use of pom
Don trains when General Shafter said he
vas supplied with six lighters, but he had
allied 20 take more than two.
Colonel CROSBY Miller, also of the quar-
eTmaster generals office. having charge
+ all the army transportation except that
y rail and by water. followed Colonel
iird. He said that over 1000 wagons had
cen purchased for the use of the army
nd it had been impossible at the begin
ing Of the war to secure any withou.
ONE delay.
AS a matter OF fact, all the orders had
ot been filled yet. Even greater difficulty
ad been experienced in getting ambu-
inces."
Colonel Miller said there had been occa-
ional delays in the performance of his
uties in getting decisions from the quar-
ermaster general. but there had been no !
tempt 70 control contracts. So far as
q knew. there had never been any pri-
ate information in operation to control
ontracts in the interest OF individuals