The herald., 1898-06-30
llFRAIO'S War CORRESPONDENCE
oee Interesting Letters From Major
III Romeyn
TRANSPORTS IN TAMPA BAY
HE IMPORTANCE OF THE DUTIES OF THE
OLIVETTE
Which Supplied the Fleet With Water-Roster Of the
Vessels and Troops in Skaters Expediton-A
Prompt Mail Service
Wtom Our Own Correspondent in the Field,
ON BOARD STEAMER OIIvETTE,
= t'-|1l TAMPA RAW Time 70


OEill waiting, But we are promised that
With no new complications. we shall leave
N = day or two at the latest. 1t Is now
&4cially stated that the last delay was
GAubed BY the report that two Spanish
1fu1oefp had been seen by and had chased
0oe~or more Of the blockaders, and 1t was
tot thought best to expose our transports
- danger Of capture or destruction from
Hat source.
j &. v.'s' ship the 0''vs''' has much
81 Petersburg is a nice little hamlet,
.1G1ng on the west shore of the bay and
about eight miles from the end of the mole
Hf Port Tampa. Not far back from the
9Sore - large spring of fine water, one of
fhpoe for which Florida Is celebrated and
which. like most Of the things of value in
Douthern Florida, Is owned by the Plant
System. From this and an artesian we'll,
"a the water used by vessels In the harbor
except very small proportion. which Is
B9oduced by condensation on board, is
0upplied. For what is used by the govern
Dent am told, one cent per gallon is paid.
Owing 20 Z shallowness of water near the
More. . pier runs out nearly half a mile
Und = six-inch pipe conveys the precious
6slid to IT. termination. where huge hose
Unattached and, through a port is carried
u board.
Tor distribution to other vessels. after
running alongside. three or four lines Of
toae are passed across and then the steam
4uuap u started. About 1900 gallons per
( Aour are thus transferred.
q ~ prevent possible pollution Of the
g1>r1ng guard is now stationed there,
N44y Of the vessels are, Notwithstanding
tAelr great capacity. very crowded, as
many - 100 men being on some. But all
keep well and in very good spirits, though
faxkous to be OF for somewhere. There is
aid by people familiar with the locality
/. ~ be tome danger from sharks. and fish
= xfAaAn among 1.-THE gang hooked one about
-FOUR feet long this morning, but hundreds
Z Of the men are to be seen in the water al
most any hour. and this no doubt helps to
keep down the sick report.
There was commotion among those on
ths boats lying out in the bay near the
mouth OF the canal two days since, when
dense column of smoke tinged with
1ames was seen bursting apparently from
one Of the vessels lying near the head OF
the canal. As every one has more or less
ammunition on board fire is thing OF
double dread, and we drew long breath
only when we found that a small frame
building on shore was burning So careful
are some of the commanders that no smok-
ing II allowed on board, and as the Olivettc
coca about delivering water many come on
board and smoke as If life depended on it
Music helps to while away the dull time
and bands play frequently. At night when
the VESSELS are lighted up and all else is
etilIed some band strikes up, most fire.
Quently an inspiring march, or next in fire.
quency national air. and as the strains
cease from all the surrounding vessels
cpme round on round of cheers
Most of the vessels are now out of the
canal and grouped as closely as consistent
with safety not far from its mouth. AS a
measure of economy in the use of coal,
they are towed out by tug, which is con-
family IN use for that or other purposes
On board OF each Is sergeant and squad
OF men belonging to the signal service. and
Wig-wagging" goes on at all hours of the
day.
A Burning Question
ON BOARD STEAMER OLIvETTE,
Tampa Bay. Fla, June 10, 1S9s.-Some OF
the steamers of the much -talked-of expedi.
ton got of down the bay early this morn
Ing, and are now anchored near Egmont
to join them.
Hut at the risk of getting off an Irish bull
one might say that the water question was
the burning question of the hour, and YES
seIs cannot go to sea till this want is sup
piled. None of the fleet are calculated tc
can l25many passengers as are now as
n WI them, and everything which car
Ned for storing the valuable flute
- ;x,to
towing tanks with capacity of 800.
IN allons. have been delivering water al
morning, and now a p. m) we are er
ke for another load. and leave three yes
b with the ''want water signal flying.
The last of the fiotilla cannot get off be
!, X6fe tomorrow morning. as some of the
horses and mules. which had to be taker
\ ~ on account of the heat in the packed
sshefween decks" where they were slowed
~ not yet on board, and several Of the
T 6tet have not coal on board. The men ar,
netfing impatient, some of those from Mo
< III having been afioat for 10 days or more
Viii no opportunity to go ashore, though
1H&1g within few hundred yards of lapt
Sk&fIe in harboY; and the lower decks, while
AZ vessel is at rest. are not cod-storag,
f0oms:
u may not be just the correct thing for
1&6dsman to criticise seamanship, but tn,
41&t that one Of the best vessels has beer
cjif down to the waters edge in a collision
t{A that another has been aground twic,
W1ay seems to indicate that something Il
wrong, and that someone is not very anxious
I t0*eet to Cuba. There was some hurryint
<Innother case, an hour since, when one O
y ~ largest vessels, in tow Of a tug, partes
& ~ 6aWser, and. broadside on, went rapid,
fling before wind and tide down acros
\; bows of another. The anchor wa
IS fily dropped and caught, but broke GU
AZ o8r the strain caught again. and again
Il ~ Its hold There were loud shouts fo
and the tug was hurrying to pick up thu
f4d hawser when the cable was run on
q y 10 give more level strain on IT, and
81 "a 70 the relief Of all who were looking
" &h0 anchor held, and the vessel swuni
q n. only few yards from the bows O
n 1srday was very hot day, and jus
= rtGhtfa1l furious thunderstorm al
tfoke over the bay. lightning wa
aat cont innons for an hour. and rain fel
1<0{t, None OF the vessels wer'
Fl <hos,Gh tWo n the slip broke loos'