The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-03
Did Not Seize
Transport.
WAS GOOD ORDER.
Witness Contradicts State
ment About Rough Riders.

& Washington. Dec. 2.AThe war inves-
tigating commission resumed its sit
4ting in this city today, Col, Charles
bird being on the stand
During the war he was on duty in
the quartermaster generals office, hay
Stng charge Of the transportation divis-
ion. Witness said that the congestion
at Tampa was due to the fact that
more supplies were sent to that point
Than could be handled. When they
Niearned Of the congestion, an order was
Issued for the marking of the cars.
and a quartermaster's agent was sent
with each car In most cases il was
impossible to send bills Of lading.
"a Col. BIRD said that in many inStan-
GEES 1t was necessary to be quite arbl-
trary in obtaining some vessels.
Gen. Dodge questioned Col Bird
nbout the deficiency in the matter OF
lighters, bringing out the fact that he
Mao suggested to Gen. Miles the use
BIZ pontoon trains When Gen. Shat
Ter sailed, he was supplied with SIX.
lighters, but he had failed to take more
than two.
Col. Crosby T. Miller. also of the
quartermaster generals office. having
charge of all the army transportation
except that by rail and by water. fol-
lowed Col. Bird. He said that over 1000
wagons had been purchased for the use
OF the army and it had been impossible
at the beginning Of the war to secure
any without some delay All the or
ders had not been filled yet
referring to the matter of transpor-
tation at Montau5 Point, Col. Miller
said that all had been furnished from
washington that had been asked fer.
Capt. James Mckay, a civilian, and
an old sea captain in Florida and GU
pan waters, who under Gen. Humphrey
mad charge Of the details Of the trans
3 portatton Of the troops to Santiago.
proved to be an important witness. He
said that complete rations had been
put on each ship, and that the vessels
had not been overloaded This was con
trary to previous testimony, as was
also later statement that the vessel
Whlch each command was to occupy
q had been designated before embarking
He emphasized this fact, saying thar
Ghe designation had been made by Gen.
E smarter and the colonel of each Of the
4 regiments was evidently informed in
ffeach case He said there was no con-
fusion when the troops went aboard
say emphatically there was no
ulsorder and no confusion" he said
and that in all cases the regiments
delay"
How about the rough riders. the
4 Roosevelt regiment?' asked Gov Bea-
+. yer.
They were assigned to the Yucatan
ana there was no difficulty in their en-
barkation."
1T has been reported to US" said
. Governo- Beaver, that they seized the
/ vessel Was that true?r
No, /! was not true" the witness
replied. ''''-7
The Yucatan was placed in the can
al and the rough riders walked in
and took their places on the vessel, ac-
cording to directions. They did not
seize the vessel, because there was no
necessity that they should do so"
Captain Mckay denied that there hae
been any refusal to land medical stores
1t had been impossible to obtain labo
assistance in Cuba, the natives refus
ing even to assist in landing food 70
themselves. He was satisfied that am.
pie 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
Da1qiuiri, and not one, as had been re
ported.
Captain Mckay took exception to
reference iii Admiral SIMPSONS report
as to what lie called the wandering
proclirities Of the Transports
AS matter of fact" he said, eff
the transports developed any wandering
proclivities, this fact was due to naval
orders
He then related that naval vessel
had made the rounds the first night
after arrival to allow the officer in
command to notify the transports that
change had been made in the direc-
tions foi landing. He thought Captain
Hunker lad given this Information, and
he had stated that they were to pur-
sue a south, southeast course He had
said nothing as to how long they should
steer in that direction. This course
pursued indefinitely would carry them
six points off the coast.
This order led the transport officers
generally to conclude that they were to
sail to Porto Rico, and as a matter of
fact the Knickerbocker did sail 80
miles and got lost for 12 hours on aC-
count of the order, only coming back
when she found that none Of the fleet
was with her
Captain Mckay had not completed his
testimony when the commission ad-
journed for the day.
Boston, Dec. DIR. Conner, the only
member of the war investigating COM
l.