The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-15

TAMPA. June H-After weeks OF wait
ing and preparation. the first army OF IN
vas,ion To start from the eastern shores
OF the United States departed under the
command of Gen. Shafter this morning at
O'Clock The fleet of transports consist
ed Of thir;y-flve vesse-s, four tenders and
fourteen conveys.
These are ali now on the Gulf OF Mexico
headed southwark. until they pass Key
West ar least. If the destination is Cuha
they will continue their present course un-
til Cape Antoine. al the west end Of the
island Is doubled, when an easteriy course
will be sailed. until they reach the vicinity
of Santiago
As already stated in these dispatches the
actual en,barka,ion Of the troops began on
Monday, June 6. The work proceeded dill
gently until late on Wednesday afternoon
when. after the departure of several ves-
sells an important order came calling a
hait in the proceedings. The Castine was
dispatched at once to overhaul the dlsap-
pearing vessels and recall them. They all
came back but one the City of Washing
down the bay. /; had been subsequently,
learned. however. that this vessel had out
stripped the messenger until the coaS, OF
Cuba was really sighted. Neither the
Washington nor the castine returned 10
Port Tampa until Saturday.
Entire Army Disappointed.
The alleged eacse ot the delay was the
report that the Hornet, while out scouting
had sighted several Spanish warships. Like
a we; blanket came the order TO hat,
Cheerfulness was displaced by keen disap-
po.niuient, Two questions were on every
tongue: Has Spain surrendered" HAS
Our fleet met with q reverse?" The former
MAS the readieSt belief. many believing
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 Funor that all the transports were
being unloaded. Newspaper men were con-
iideniiaEy told on Friday night shat they
had better go on board. The following
would occur on Sunday at noon.
The rush OF the previous Monday was re-
pea'ed. Gen. Miles and his staff went 10
Port Tampa Sunday morning at 6:so to de-
liver parting instructions. During a heavy
rain ssguall on Saturday night. while the
Transports were stralning az their cables.
iAe taie tug Capt. Sam. steamed from
ship 10 chip. mcgaphoaing the order:
stand ready to San at daylight"
Soldiers Cheer tntiI Hoarse.
Above the roar Of the storm. wild cheers
sere heard and a bright aasf OF lightning
revealed the soldiers standing in the rain
waving their wet hats ard hurrahing.
When thc morning broke p.ers were lined
with transports. the dackz were crowded
wish Aex cars. fat cars. stock cars. hax-
gage and express cars. Most II these
we-s crowded with soldiers. who werc
chcc-cd ontn their ears ached. ara Who
clleersa In return tn;n hosrse
Br'EGt coloFed dresses ard fragile nara
SOS 81 the crowis of b5Nocoais Indicated
the presence % the fair sex.
Horses ard mules were kicking 10
clouds q daS;. ard the sun poured down
In hOt rays swe2ssviag the mass ot human
ity. Thus Sunday passed tie transports
a, she dacks ana thos@ ST. miA-s,rsam re-
oeiyias their quotas - mca ana the
necessaries 10 s4Ssa ain thesn.
Gen. Miles again wt7t 20 -he por. on
Monday 81 ;ha early train. The stirring
s-ceeS continued the md rush had not
s>a.tsl. Gen. Miles. frcn the otservatto,
ea3 ot his car watched tAe crcw4 SIS !.
passed near him TIE transports swing
iE< &: their mosri2gs were pgain.y n
vsw As we-e also many O; those al the
docks. Indicating tssat tl9e egnssarkstssr1 Of
sa.una-s was progressing satisfactorily.
Awaiting the order To sail
Shortly aster o'clock The tunnels cf he
transports began pouring for;h columns
90 black sT1g,kss The Marsare:. O.iye;.e
ansi Ms;eo aG4 Laura we-e r.S8tIng the
fleet. giving water "a are troops - an
o;hes-. animals ana equipments 10 aeos .zer-
A's-s ,hs per co>.l1 ha hs4-I tlse vc.csz
- sac ,ra.sspcs. t-efnea1gNlers. IS they gave
t7scys 81 eu5 .eose. T>e Sa-gp.srks we-,s
pnt1css .a tAo hstcAWsys CLOSED. 1inea east
en ae5 ;h@ ens1-es were rus in m3gioa
rs. vessels backed ia,o ;,e nay ana aa-