Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-27
KEY WEST AND TAMPA.
Continued from page j.

gone along rapidly. The old fort, to De-
sure, with its ancient cannon, is Of
small account but the new fort is of
substantial character and win mount
some formidable guns. Already one s.
inch rifle has been placed in position
to command the vide range beyond the
bar. and others are now being rapidly
put in place, a contingent of men hay
ing been sent down from Tampa fo@
that purpose.
sll night long the great search lights
on Fort Taylor sweeps the horizon. and
it's white mark on the sky can be picked
up 80 miles at sea by the boats in COM
ing from the blockading line. Other
searchlehts on the warships are con
stantly at work. many boats being utl
lied in night target practice.
The great problem now, both al Key
West and at Tampa. is that relating [,
The movement Of the troops. Navai
men are in the dark as 10 what the al
mnistfation will do and army men
certainly find the naval tactics strange
and mysterious.
At Tampa. there are now about 1000
regulars ana many thousands Of VOL
untccrs. There are daily arrivals of
troops at Tampa. Port Tampa and
Lakeland. but some ii the volunteer
regiments have not vet received their
complete accoutrements, though thu
latter will soon be forthcoming.
The southern portion Of Florida IS
beginning ID realize how difficult 0
matter it is TO supply this great army
Of new residents with necessaries and
comforts Here at Key West after !
dry season Of five months, the rain has
come at last and renewed the drinking
water supply. This, at least, was An
oprortune visitation Of providence,
and. with it all, the soldiers are making
merry.
At Tampa. they are tentng in tn
sand hills about the town. strictly dis
ciplined, kept closely to regulation diet.
with not much amusement, anxiously
waiting for the order to move on Gu
la. This. it is generally believed by
army men will not be received al am
early date: for there is. first Of all the
.,s.,ta .,f E-larS5, axra,l;,i.," j., Ia,
heard from, an expedition to supply
Gen. Gomez with arms and ammum-
ton: there are score or more add
tional transports to be harbored in
Tampa Bay, under guard of the gun
boat Helena: additional thousands Of
troops are to be'mobilized in southern
Florida and the problem Of armins
them has become. it is said one of CON
siderable seriousness.
At Key West, vthc troop ship Panther,
which left the Brooklyn navy yard
nearly month ago. is still at her an
chorage For Several weeks the ma
rines sWeltercd under the burning sun
in their close quarters. but finally they
We're sent to camp ashore, During thel
period of confinement on the troop ship
there was Shall epidemic of measles
a score or more Of cases being removed
to the naval|hospital But no more
sturdy body 4 men is found among the
present campaisners than the troop
ship mon. 4,
Work win soon he begun on one Of
the small islands adjoining Key West, !
in the construction of a building that |
may answer the purpose Of either a |
hospital for the wounded or a quaran- !
tine station. 1t is intended to observe
the strictest quarantine just as soon
as a landing in Cuba is effected by the |