The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-14
Third Regiment OF for
Santiago.
Thousands Chesred the Departing
Soldiers.


Rain and muddy streets and damp
wharves could not keep Savannah from
doing honor to the Third Regiment of
United States Volunteers on their de-
parture for Cuba yesterday. From the
Merchants and Miners new wharf up by
the Central's grain elevator, down to its
old wharves, at the extreme eastern end
of the city, every available spot was oc-
cupied.
Thousands Of spectators filed the
wharves, every window and balcony was
crowded, and steamships tugs and sail
ing vessels were invaded. Half the city
had turned out to send a last greeting to
the soldiers as they passed out bound for
Santiago. Cheers greeted them from ev-
cry foot of the river front. whistles of
every tone saluted them stentorously, and
as the great transport with its cargo of
humanity passed out of the range of WIS.,
ion, many hearts turned homeward sad
dened by reflections of what might be In
store for the thousand boys In blue, who
had lined the deck of the Minnewaska
and yelled and waved In wild enthusiasm,
eager for strange scenes and new duties.
1t was 4:S0 o'clock exactly when the
transport reached the channel of the river,
in tow of the tug McCauley. She was
drawing about twenty-three feet Of wa
ter, although it was an hour and a half
before high tide and there was an addI-
tional rise of foot and a half to come
in the river The start was made earlier
than many expected in order
to have the benefit of the rising tide on
her way down the river. On two tides the
big ship could have gone out drawing
over "A feet of water, and probably on the
same tide for that matter. For an nour or
more the ladder had been up and admis-
sion to the vessel had been refused. On me
Baltimore wharf two to three hundred
friends of the soldiers had gathered, only
those fortunate enough to have passes be-
ing admitted. Looking down the river the
wharves could be seen black with The
masses of people waiting patiently for the
coming of the transport.
On board the Minnewaska excitement
reigned. The supreme moment had come,
that to which they had been looking for
ward for days, the hour of departure.
home wrapped it in paper and threw 1t
Down to friends to mail il for them Grave
faces here and there among the volunteers
showed the pangs that many doubtless felt
at the separation from home. But the
great majority allowed the stimulus of the
scene to Danish gloomy forebodings.
Laughter and cheers came down from the
upper deck, twenty feet above the water,
where the men were congregated like
swarming bees. Jokes and words of cheer
were bandered with friends below,
In the eyes of many of
whom tears wavered, almost ready to
drop.
A sergeant with a guitar picked off the
notes of Home, Sweet Home" and
private with a harmonica Joined in the
air. For moment there was a hush. A
silence seemed about to fall upon soldiers
and spectators. But the band aft struck
up Dixie and tidal wave of hurrahs
wiped out all saddening thoughts. Then
the music of the Star Spangled Ban
ner" fioated out upon the water, and once
more there was an ebullition of enthus-
iasm.
. AS the little tug strained at her cable
and the mammoth hulk of the transport
slowly edged from her berth, some one
on the Essex began firing Roman candles
and two women came running down the
wharf waving flags. They were late, but
they got a royal reception of noise. A
thousand hats or handkerchiefs were in
the air, a thousand pair of threats gave
themselves free vent. and from down the
river came an echo which told of the re-
ception awaiting the regiment there.
As the transport paused before enter
ing the channel a small boat shot out
from the wharf. Two soldiers were in it,
ala
rope was thrown and with wild acclaims
from their comrades they were hauled
aboard, the one with the bouquet hugging
1t to his heart as he was
pulled through the hatch, only TO turn a
second later and throw a kiss TO some one
ashore His gallantry awakened more
cheers. 1t was a close call from being
classed as deserters.
The Chattahoochee passed by on her
way out, just the Minnewaska was pre-
pairing TO leave her wharf. and gave a sa-
lutte of three whistles. This was the first
of many. The Essex followed as the
transport passed her and from then on
down the river every boat supplied with
whistle gave expression to the senti-
ments of its crew. There was not a wharf
that did not hold its hundreds, cheering
Justify and damaging hats and handker-
chiefs in reckless endeavors to attest their
good will to the boys of the Third Flags
were waved from many offices. 1t was a
two-mile serenade without much melody
but overlooking with affectionate regard
and best wishes.
Down toward East Broad street came
the most unique welcome of all. the ehrill,
wierd, long-drawn-out siren whistle of the
Spanish cruiser Almirante Oquendo
whose wreck now graces the coast of San
tiago. Taken from the ruined war vessel
by Capt. Avery of the tug Cynthia as a
souvenir of his visit, the whistle was
placed on the tug Cambria to salute the
Minnewaska. Few of the thousands who
listened TO It's shrewish tones knew that
the whistle had come from the very port
10 which the Third Regiment was bound
and that il was a relic of the greatest OF
modern naval battles. 1t was singulariy
appropriate that the first use TO which the
whistle should be put after that fateful
morning when the Oquendo steamed out
OF the harbor Of Santiago TO her doom was
that of cheering on their voyage outward
regiment Of Southern soldiers whose
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