The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-08
CAVALRY TO EMBARK TO-DAY.
THE MICHIGAN TO SAIL For PORTO
RICO THIS MORNING.


Gen. Humphrey Ordered to Report to
Washington TO Go 10 Havana as
chief Quartermnster of the island,
The Transport Pat in Good shape
for the TrOops-The Michigan win
Bring Several Batteries of Artil-
Iery to This Country and Take
Cavalry Back-Repairs TO BE Made
on the Transport.
The transport Michigan is being rapidly
put ia shape for the embarkation Of the
six troops of the Fifth Cavalry Regiment
which are here, ready to sal for Ponce
Porto Rico.
The delay in the movement OF the cav
airy from Savannah has been due 10 the
fact that the transport was not in readi-
ness for receiving them after what she
has been through with. and after bring
ing two battanons from New York 70
Savannah
The work on the transport in the way
of cleaning her up and getting her in
readiness for the horses and troops was
about completed yesterday, and she viii
be ready to receive them this morning.
The heavy freight belonging to the cav
alrymen was put aboard the transport
yesterday afternoon. but none Of the men
or horses were loaded at that time.
The Michigan was in readiness to start
on last nights tide at midnight, but II
was thought better not TO load the horses
until this morning, as the work can be
done better in the daytime. The cavalry
men will begin putting the horses aboard
early this morning aud win have them
all loaded before noon.
It is expected that the Michigan will
leave Savannah on her voyage for Porto
Rico at noon to-day. 1t will be high tide
in Savannah at O'Clock. and the Michi-
gan will probably go out a couple of hours
before that time. She draws only twenty
one feet of water, and will have no trou-
bic In getting 10 the sea at any time be-
tween noon and 6 O'Clock in the evening.
Gen. c. r. Humphrey. quartermaster on
Gen. Miles staff, who has been here for
several days looking after the removal OF
these troops has given the Michigan
thorough inspection, and says she is in
splendid shape for carrying the troops ana
horses. 1t was contemplated short time
ago to put the Michigan in dry dock and
have about $4,000 worth Of improvements
put on her. Being freight steamer when
the government bought her, she had no
quarters for officers, and they have used
such as have been improvised and put IN
since her purchase. Then, too, her high
pressure cylinder head was broken Just
before she left New York, and that is at
present useless. The Michigan came to
Savannah entirely under her low pressure
oyclinders, and her high pressure cylinder
viii not be repaired until she has made
two trips TO Porto Rico and comes back
again. She will take the cavalry to Ponce
and return to New York with two or three
batteries of artillery. She will then come
direct to Savannah and carry TO Porto
Rico the five troops OF the Fifth Cavalry
Regiment now remaining in Huntsville,
Ala. After having performed that SER
vice she viii probably go into dry dock
to be repaired and perhaps remodeled.
1t is said the loading of the cavalry
horses will be an interesting sight, and no
doubt all those who can get anywhere
near the transport this morning will be
there to see il. The Ocean Steamship
Company is quite strict. however, and few
people are allowed on the wharves, as a
crowd always interferes with the business
on hand.
Gen. Humphrey received orders yester-
day afternoon to return TO Washington for
the purpose of going to Havana as chief
quartermaster in the Island of Cuba. He
VIII no doubt be sent there at once on ac-
count Of the fact that Col. Charles w
Williams, the depot quartermaster now
there, is suffering from yellow fever
Gen Humphrey was chief uuartermas-
ter of Gen. Skaters expedition to Santi-
ago from its inception. He was a lieu
tenant colonel in the regular army and
was made a Drigadier general on Gen.
Miles staff. He remained with Gen Shat
ter's army in Cuba until the return TO
Montauk Point. and has since been as
signed to many important duties Gen.
Humphrey. under these orders, will prob
ably be in Cuba within the next ten days.
the orders indicating that he will be hur-
rled there on account of the sickness of
the depot quartermaster.