The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-06-15
IA
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 zlzssIis 5 z.e<z,ssz..,. l,,, 0 S / THE ARMY OF IHYASI0H Actually Sails From Tampa Under Command of Ma jor General Shafter. NOW IN GULF OF MEXICO START MADE YESTERDAY MORNING AT9 O'CLOCK,
NOW IN GULF OF MEXICO
START MADE YESTERDAY MORNING
 Az O'CLOCK.

After Weeks of Waiting and Prepara- Vessels, Four Tenders and Fourteen Convoys-List of Vessels and the Troops They Carry-The Conveys a Very Formidable Squadron Causes of the Delay.
 Tampa, Fla, June 14.-After weeks of waiting and preparation the first army of invasion to start from the eastern shores of the United States de- parted under the command of General Shafter this morning at o'clock. The fleet of transports consisted of thirty five vessels, four tenders and fourteen conveys. These are all now upon the Gulf of Mexico, headed to the south ward until they pass Key West at least. If the destination be Cuba they will continue their present course until Sdp6 AIltOllU, dI L1lC WCoL Ol tllC AolSihoJ is doubled, when an easterly course will be sailed until they reach the vicinity of Santiago
 The actual authorization of the troops began on Monday, June 6. The work proceeded diligently until late Wednes- day afternoon, when, after the depart ure of several vessels, an important order calling a halt was issued. The Eastine was dispatched to overhaul and zN4ADgafl the disappearing vessels. They all came back but one, the City of Washington, which was reported to be aground down the bay. It had been subsequently, learned, however, that this vessel had outstripped the messen- ger until the coast of Cuba was actual ly sighted. Neither the Washington nor the Castine returned to Port Tam pa until Saturday. The alleged cause of the delay was the report that the Hornet while out scouting had sighted several Spanish vessels
 Like a wet blanket came the order to halt Cheerfulness was displaced by keen disappointment. Two questions were on every tongue, Has Spain sur rendered?'' "Has our fleet met with a reverse?" The former met with the readiest belief, many believing that the words in the order Indefinitely post poned" meant peace. The unloading of the Florida, which had been run into by the Miami and seriously damaged last Wednesday, gave grounds for the rumor that all the transports were be- ing unloaded. Newspaper men were confidently told on Friday night that they had better go aboard. The fol lowing day it was openly stated that the sailing would occur on Sunday noon.
 The rush of the previous Monday was repeated. General Miles and his staff went to Port Tampa Sunday morning at 6:30 to deliver parting in- structions. During a heavy rain squall on Saturday night while the transports were straining at their cables, the lit- tie tug Captain Sam steamed from ship to ship megaphoning the order Stand ready to sail at daybreak." Above the roar of the storm wild cheers were heard and bright flash of lightning revealed the soldiers standing in the rain waving their wet hats and hurrah- ing. When morning broke the piers were lined with transports, and docks were crowded with people. Thus Sum- day passed, the transports at the docks and those in mid-stream receiv- ing their quotas and the necessaries to sustain them. General Miles again went to port Monday on an early train. The mad rush had not abated, General Miles from his car watched the stirring scene.
 Shortly after g o'clock the tunnels of the transports began to pour forth volumes of smoke The commanders gave their orders ot cut loose and the vessels backed into the bay and an- chored to await the order to sail All eyes were riveted on the Segurancia, the flagship, and when the final signal came, @ mighty cheer arose. From the lower row of port holes to her top, hats were waved in wild delight. The an chor was quickly weighed and the great vessel pointed her brow down the bay. In a few minutes the City of Washington, Rio Grande, Cherokee Iroauois and Whitney followed. As these boats picked their way through the anchored fleet, men shouted and bands played. Every vessel elicited a wild display of enthusiasm. These were the only vessels to depart in the forenoon, some of them going over tc St. Petersburg to procure water.
 General Miles, evidently becoming impatient, embarked on the Tarpon al 12:30 and went out among the fleet, going as far down the bay as St. Pe- tersburg. In the meantime other