The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-08
SOLDIERS FOR SANTIAGO.
THIRD REGIMENT WAITING FOR
THE MINNEWASKA.

Col. Rays Men Camped Near the old
Water WOrks-CrOwds of visitors
watched the Camp Pitched-Maj.
WyIIy in Communicative Trans
ports Rio Grande and Leonn to
Sail First-The Minnewaska Delay
ed. But Expected to Arrive To-
morrow and VIII Carry the Entire
Third Regiment.
At noon to-day, If there are no changes
In the plans arranged for the movement Of
the troops now in Savannah, the trans
port Rio Grande will cast loose her moor
ings and start from the Ocean Steamship
docks on her long trip to Santiago. on
her win be two battalions of the Fifth
United States Volunteers under command
of Col. H. H. Sergeant. The other battal-
ion, it is Planned, will sail on the trans
port Leona, which is expected in some
time to-day, and which should follow the
Rio Grande within twenty-four hours
The Fifth Regiment, which arrived early
last night from Columbus, Miss, is en-
camped at the works Of the Georgia Car
Company. Its equipments, beyond those
carried by the individual soldiers, are at
the dock ready to be placed aboard the
transport early this morning
Last night the men slept on
the floor of the car sheds,
with their blankets for pillows, with
couble guard surrounding their camp to
prevent any from struggling into town. 1t
was probably the last night that some of
them Will ever pass on their native soil.
Months may pass before any Of them
will be in the Eand of their birth
again But though they realize the dan
gers of the post to which duty calls them
not one hesitates. They are willing to go
to Santiago, or Porto Rico, or to the Phil
ippInes if the government sees fit to send
them. Wherever the fortunes of war cast
them they are satisfied
Probably two miles away from this
camp. ON the old water works tract on the
river front. the Third regiment is camped.
Five hundred tents, like mammoth mush-
rooms. dot the enclosure. Here for two
or three days Col. Rays men viii await
the coming of the Minnewaska, on which
they viii follow the Fifth to Santiago.
Here, too, there have been no leaves of
absence.
Hundreds Of visitors spent yesterday
watching the men a their work, but only
a few officers had the privilege of com
ing into the city. To-day there may be
some relaxation of this rule, but there
is evidently a strong dissemination TO have
the discipline broken up to any extent
With no definite news as to when the
transport Will arrive. Col. Ray prefers to
keep the men within the bounds OF the
camp.
All that is known is that the Mime
waska which left New York on Thursday
afternoon for Savannah, broke down
while in the bay and returned to have her
pumps overhauled. Il was expected that
she would get off on Saturday, but no in
telugence has come to that effect. If she
sailed on Saturday the transport should
be in Savannah by tomorrow afternoon,
at the latest. Within a few hours after
she makes her wharf the Third Regiment
can have its effects hauled over and be in
readiness TO embark.
All three of the transports, there IS rea-
son 10 believe. come thoroughly equipped
for their work The Rio Grande, which
arrived yesterday afternoon shortly after
! O'Clock, needed only water and ice. Five
thousand gallons of the former and thir-
ty tons of ice will be put on her this morn
ing A new ice chest was found to be the
only carpentering necessary. Hooks and
hammocks were in position for about 700
men, and if rushed, troops could have been
taken on her a few minutes after her ar
rival. 1t is presumed that the other
transports Will be in equally complete con-
dition and that there will be no delay af-
ter their arrival
The Rio Grande is one of the Mallory
line of steamers, but has been in the gov
ernment's service since the war broke out.
She Is now known as transport No. %,
and those figures of large size adorn her
sides and smoke stack. The steamer is
$50 feet in length, and of 1855 gross and
2,0i7 net tonnage. She is commanded by
Capt c. p. Staples with a crew of forty
ona officers and men. She sailed from
New York on Aug. H. reporting at New
port News where orders awaited her TO
come to Savannah.
The Minnewaska is understood to be a
considerably larger vessel and capable of
carrying the entire Third Regiment.
Col. Ray is averse to having his regiment
broken up by dividing it between two
transports, and being the senior officer
had the choice. He accordingly gave the
Mississippians the right to use the first
transports. This was quite satisfactory
to the men of the Third. as a number OF
them have relatives or friends in SaVan-
nah whom they are DESTROYS of seeing
II only for an hour or two before their
departure.
The Fifth Regiment men are unac-
quainted here, and are glad of the oppor-
tunity to move first An extremely small
proportion of the men of either regiment
have ever been to sea and the sickness
that is in store for them during the prob
ably three days run to Santiago is pitifu
to contemplate.
COL. RAYS MEN IN CAMP.