The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-14
MANITOBA A RECORD BREAKER
SHORTEST LOADING TIME OF ANY |
GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT.

OON EMINENT
Was ina Port Less Than Twenty
Hours and Loading Was Completed
in Less Than Eighteen HOurs-Vice
President Egan Delighted anG
Chief Quartermaster Baker More
Than Pleased with the Successful
Expedition of the WOrk-The
Quick Dispatch of the Manitoba
Card for Savannah.
The government transport Manitoba, car
rying Gen. Carpenters headquarters and
staff six troops of the Eighth Cavalry and
signal and hospital corps detachment,
sailed yesterday morning at $40 o'clock
for Neuvitas, Cuba.
Very few people witnessed the depart
ure Of the big steamship. In fact. nearly
everybody interested except those immed-
ately connected with the movement, ex-
pected that the transport would not ger
away before some time later in the day,
and the general expectation was that she
would not depart before afternoon. The
remarkable dispatch with which the trans
port was loaded and sent on her way ex-
GELS anything of the kind that has oc-
CURED in the history of the movement Of
| troops during the trouble with Spain and
furnishes a record for which the Central
Railroad officials and the army officers in
charge of the movement may well be
proud.
On account Of the delay in dispatching
the transport Michigan, due to repairs and
alterations which IL was necessary to make
here, the Central Railroad officials and
Capt. Baker, chief quartermaster of the
Seventh Army Corps, were determined
that there should be no delay in handling
the Manitoba. They were successful to
the full measure of their expectations. As
an evidence of the interest which was felt
In the quick dispatch Of the Manitoba,
Vice President Egan and Agent Trezevant
Of the Central Railroad, Capt. Baker.
chief quartermaster, and Maj. Ruthers,
chief commissary of the Seventh Army
Corps spent practically the entire night
on the wharf directing the operations. The
| immediate supervision OF the loading was
under the direction of Mr. Trezevant Mai
kuthers remained on the wharf looking
after the storing of his supplies until $3.50
o'clock while Capt Baker remained there
until the vessel sailed
Inc Manitoba carried Gen. Carpenters
stan and headquarters, attaches, six
troops of the Eighth Cavalry, signal corps
and hospital detachments twsnty-four Of
hcers, 657 enlisted men, 81 civil EMPLOYEES
OH horses, lSS mules, wagons, camp equip
age, thirty days forage for one thousan nd
animals, ninety days rations ten daye
held rations, and medical and signal equip
ment. The troops got off in excellent
shape being abun6antly equipped with
quartermasters supplies and hospital ma
terlal and leaving no men.
The Manitoba arrived from New York
at 10 o'clock Saturday morning. It was
nearly II O'Clock when she was locked
ana ready for business and half an hour
later work began. Agent Trezevant as
sumed the personal supervision of the
loading until the work was completed and
the vessel had taken her departure The
same force of men which began the work
Saturday morning continued during the
night without relief There was little
sleep for the officers and men of the cav
airy, who were occupied the greater part
of the night in getting their horses and
equipment aboard.
Seeing how nearly the work was COM
pleted the soldiersI added their assistance
IN the early hours of the morning in get
ting the remaining stores aboard in or
der that the vessel might depart on the
high tide shortly after dawn. At 4:30
O'Clock in the morning just seventeen
hours after the work OF loading began,
the job was complete and the vessel was
ready 10 take her departure The pilot
waited for daylight and sailed at 500
o'clock. In less than twenty hours after
her arrival in port the Manitoba was ON
her way to sea again. The troops whom
she carried had barely been twenty-four
hours in the city.
The record is one of which President
Egan and his agent feel themselves enu-
tied to be proud, being, as has been stated,
far in excess of anything of the kind that
has been accomplished since the beginning
of hostilites with Spain. Much credit.
the officials willingly concede, is due to
the energy and activity of Capt. Baker.
the chief quartermaster, to say nothing
of his mastery efficiency in directing the
work of his department.
The Manitoba is one of the largest YES
sells that ever visited this port. She drew
q feet ten inches on her trip down and
passed the bar with ease although the
tide was on the ebb at the time of her ar
rival at the bar. II is worth noting that
the Manitoba was followed to sea by the
British steamship Acara, carrying 15.a7
bales of cotton, being one of the largest
cargoes of cotton ever carried from this
port.
The transport Chester is expected here
shortly 10 take the Fifteenth Infantry now
at Huntsville, to Nuevitas from which
point il win be sent to Puerto Principe
capital of the province.
The departure of the Manitoba should
be very effective card for Savannah" a
well known citizen remarked to a Morning
News reporter last night, 'in correcting
the impression that has gone abroad be-
cause of the conviction of Capt Carter
that his work here is a failure"