The evening times., 1898-06-16
THE Topeka AND COLUMBIA
Two More, Powerful Cruisers
Make Ready for Sea.
CONTRACTS FOR TRAN PORTS
Three Cromwell Line Steamships
Are Chartered for the Transp0r-
The Ships Are the Hudson, Louis
lama and Krickerb0cker.

New York, June 16.-The cruiser Topeka
! received a quantity of ammunition yes
| terday at the navy yard. 1t was brought
from Fort Lafayette on a barge. and the
work of transferring 1t to the warships
was begun at once. The Topeka Is order
ed to sail on Tuesday next. Her destina-
ti0n Is withheld.
The steamship Hannibal. bought for a
collier. is being fitted out as storeship.
Her sailing Is set for Saturday. and she
will be sent to the South. though whether
to Key West or Santiago is not announc-
ed.
The patrol boat Viking. which returned
to the navy yard Tuesday. has also been
coaled. She Joined the fleet at Sandy
Hook yesterday.
The Columbia Is scheduled to sail on
Tuesday next. her repairs and coaling
having been nearly completed.
Five More Transports.
New York. June 16.-Contracts for five
steamships chartered by the Government
for use as transports were signed by Col
onel Kimball, depot quartermaster. yes
terday. Three of the boats belong to the
Cromwell Line, which does a passenger
and freight business between this port
and New Orleans. These are the Hud-
son.t Louisiana and the Knickerbocker.
The other boats chartered were the Ca
tania, belonging to the Tweedie Trading
Company, and the Arkadia, of the New
York and Porto Rico Steamship Com
pany. The three Cromwell liners are
now IN Florida waters, and the others
will be sent there by the end of this week.
With the Lampasas and the Nueces, of
the Mallory Line, chartered on Tuesday.
seven steamers out of the fifteen wanted
have now been obtained.
Major Summerhayes inspected the Car
acas. of the Red d. Line yesterday He
said she might be taken for use as an
officers boat. but that she would not an
swer for a troopship. He said vessels
were wanted that would carry COO SOL
diers. and 800 horses each. This indi-
Gates that cavalry will accompany the
expedition to Porto Rico.
Three steamers of the Atlantic Trans
port Line-the Orinoco. the Michigan and
the America-were also inspected yester-
day by Major Summerhayes. These ves-
sells have been used for cattle, and are
well ventilated. They are arranged SO
tissat a large number of men. in addition
to several hundred horses, could be plac-
cd on each ship.
The Atlantic Transport boats are now
under the British flag; hence. before they
could be used, Congress would have to
give them an American registry. spe-
cial act being required in each instance.
The Naval Artillery Board yesterday
inspected the Rydall Hall and the
Scepter. which may be purchased for use
distilling vessels for the Navy.
Would AveLGe Their Comrades.
New York, June 16-The news of the
death of Sergeant Goode and the other
marines of Colonel Huntington's COM
mand in Cuba was received by sailors and
marines in the navy yard and marine bar
racks with deep regret. They all had a
good word for the dead sergeant, who,
although a strict disciplinarian. was ex-
ceedingly kind-hearted and took an al
most. fatherIy interest in the instruction
and welfare of the recruits under him.
That the war fever has taken firm hold
on the men now in the marine barracks
was clearly proved yesterday morning.
Lieutenant Davis, one sergeant and two
corporals and fifteen marines were or
dered to Key West. When the men as
sembled in the barracks square 1t was
found that two of the privates who had
obtained twenty-fOur hours leave had
not reported. and Captain Porter asked
for volunteers to fill their places.
As soon as the word was passed every
man in the barracks volunteered. Each
one begged to be allowed to CO. Many of
them said they wanted to avenge their
late comrades and repay the Spaniards
for the brutal manner in which their bod
les were mutilated. There was a lively
time for a quarter of an hour until the
men were selected. These two were as
happy as schoolboys. and they We're con-
graduated by their fellows, who reluct-
antly had to remain behind.
Capt. Porter and his men expect to be
ordered to the front at any moment. They
have been ordered 10 prepare to move at a
moments nottce, accompanied by the
band, and all will be fully armed and
equipped. They are armed with the Lee
rifle and have 10000 rounds of ammuni-
ton They have ample supplies. tents.
leggins. canteens. haversacks and proyis-
ions. and in addition are provided with
spades, shovels, axes and rubber blan-
kets.