Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-09
ON BOARD CATANIA
-
District Boys Experiences as Their
Boat Lay OF Key West.
WILD OUfBURSTS OF ENTHUSIASM
When They Heard of the AnnihiIa-
ton of the Admirars Fleet.
IT n r w T PTS Me NM AZ
THE W SOME DELAY

From STAFF Correspondent.
On Board the United States Transport Ca
tania, Of Key West, July 5.-We have been
rocking all day in a broling sun waiting
for some aggravating pumps down below 10
be fixed. We have had tine additional ag-
gravation Of seeing six or seven transports
go out, crowded with enthusiastic troops
going to join Skaters forces at Santiago
and complete the work Sampson began so
brilliantly yesterday.
All the troops on the transports including
the District regiment, had heard the good
news of the utter humiliation of Cerveras
heet and the enthusiasm was unbounded.
Colonel Harrfes and Chaplain Dudley had
been ashore, heard the good news and has
tened back 20 let us aboard know 1t.
AS the gallant transports, with their
crowds of enthusiastic troopers came up to
the anchorage of the Catania on their way
out to the Bahama straits each tried to ex-
Gel the previous passer-by in the character
and amount of the enthusiasm.
Cheered and Cheered.
They all knew the District boys, either
personally or by reputation, and as they
passed they checred and cheered, while the
band played Dixie My Maryland" "Old
Kentucky Home" and other popular airs.
A significant thing in connection with the
sailing of the ftotilla was that only two
men-of-war accompanied them. The Will
mngtCn and Machias acted as conveys, and
their crews were no less fervent than the
volunteers in their greeting to the District
troops they sailed by our anchorage.
Colonel Harries had been notified to go
out with the rest, and was no less disap-
pointed than the men when informed by
our skipper that he was not able to join
the other transports on account OF defects
to his machinery.
About pm. the interest and attention
of all on board was raised to a keen pitch
by the appearance in the offing of an I'M
usually large steamship, which proved to
be the transport Iroquois, coming up to
Key West from Santiago with the wound
ed, who Were hit In the first engagement
which took place in and about that point.
Skaters Wounded Men.
1t was an impressive, ympathy-arousng
sight-those poor fellows with bandaged
heads, arms in sings and other evidences
of wounds, which they had received in the
service of their country. Yet when they
were hailed by our boys to know who they
were, there was ring of unmistakable
pride in their voices as they answered back
the hail, We are Skaters wounded
There were more questions, chiefly as to
the news, for they had been about four
days out from Santiago, and when they
heard the story Of SIMPSONS latest victory
shouted back across the water to them,
they went wild with joyful excitement.
We've got Manila, too" shouted some
one from the bridge of the Catania.
This was the occasion for another great
blrrSf Of b,,ci l,o
veterans, and our men Joined them in the
cheering.
As this is written it is still matter of
doubt as TO when we will get away The
latest news from between decks was 10 the
effect that there was still another pump to
fix, so we scarcely expect to sail tonight
ID. I. NJ