The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-19
SCENES AT THE DOCK.
Colonel Kessler Advised to Call
on General Merriam for
Final Instructions.

Soon after entering the dock building
the soldiers were treated by the ladies of
the Red Cross to a lunch consisting Of
sandwiches, eggs, doughnuts and coffee,
which they very much appreciated. The
ladies who had charge of the lunch were
Mrs Judge Slack, Mrs. Lowenberg, Mrs.
Robert Mckenzie, the Misses Tillinghasr,
Miss Callahan. Mrs. Carroll Cook, Mrs.
Thurlow MCMILLAN, Mrs. Will Bryan.
Miss Carrigan, Miss Cert, Miss Macon
Der. Miss OSullivan, Miss Bates. Mrs.
Carrigan and Miss Steel. These lunches
were not served, however, until little
trouble that had arisen owing to some OBJ
jections raised by Colonel Kessler had
been smoothed over.
1t appears that the colonel thought that
the lunches of the Red Cross ladies were
not necessary. 1t was said by some OF the
men that Colonel Kessler even gave utter
ance to the remark that "hardtack Is
good enough for them. Other soldiers
who were asked about the matter stated
that they had heard nothing of the kind.
and Gidn't believe Colonel Kessler had
said any such thing. One captain, how
ever. before the trouble was settled, what
ever 1t was, stated emphatically that his
men could eat as many lunches as they
pleased, and he would shoulder the re
sponsibility. 1t was also current rumoI
on the dock that the ladies of the Red
Cross were at first refused admission. and
that some of them were let in by the po-
notwithstanding. Montana private
wrote out the following and handed 1t to
a Call reporter, with the request that it
be published:
1.-The members of the First Montana In
fantry beg that they be not judged by
their colonel They know their friends
and appreciate more than they can say
the kindness shown them by the ladies OF
the Red Cross, and deplCre the action of
Colonel Kessler in refusing to accept that
kindness to-day
49,
Pennsylvania the usual scenes incident to
previous embarkations occurred. There
was a lively bombardment with oranges
from the crowd on the dock and from men
and boys in small boats. Brigadier Cen
eral Otis was struck in the neck and was
nearly knocked down. He took. it good
naturedly, however, saying he had been
under fire before
OF course some man had to fall off the
dock into the water to add variety to the
scene. His name was Charles McCarty.
and he might have gone to the bottom of
the sea had he not been rescued by Frank
Smith. who plunged into the bay after
him. Neither man was soldier.
Willie Burns, aged IA years, who was
pany K of the First Montana, was not al
lowed to go on board the Pennsylvania by
Colonel Kessler Mrs. A. S. Townsend.
whose sympathies were aroused for the
Borrowing and respondent lad, at once
started for the City Hall with the inten-
ton of becoming his guardian, so that he
cOUlO De enllSIeu WIFI the regiment ana
sail this moTHing.
About O'Clock Lieutenant Bennett, as
sistant adjutant general on the staff or
Major General Merriam, appeared at the
dock and hunting up Colonel Kesser held
quite an extended conversation with him.
Although no one heard what it was all
about. the report was started and soon
became general that Lieutenant Bennett
had brought orders countermanding the
departure of the First Montana. This was
a dampener on the ardor of the men from
Montana, who were at a loss to under
stand why any such action should be
taken. 1t was some little time before
the contradiction overlook the false re-
port and then the men resumed the even
tenor of their way. 1t has been the GUS
tom hitherto of the commanders of trans
port fleets or large vessels to call at mill
tary headquarters before pulling out into
the stream to receive their final instruc-
tons. 1t seems that Colonel Kessler ow-
ing to his multifarious duties and the
somewhat lively scenes on the dock had
either forgot this custom or had delayed
going to headquarters too long. Major
General Merriam. therefore, sent the in
structions by Lieutenant Bennett
The Pennsylvania pulled out into the
stream at about 5 o'clock, and according
to the instructions received by Colonei
Kessler she will sail at $3.50 this morning