The record-union., 1898-12-03

be made. and no payments had been
made for this service.
The congestion at Tampa was due to
the fact that more supplies were sent
to that point than could be handled
When they learned OF the congestion,
an order was issued for the marking
Of the cars, and a Quartermasters
agent was sent with each car. In most
cases 1t was impossible to send bills of
lading
Colonel Bird said that he and the
Secretary of War had co-operated to-
gether In chartering vessels for water
transportation. In some instances 1t
had been necessary to be quite arbi-
trary in securing some vessels. Mr..
Clyde of the Merchants and Miners
lire had held out very strenuously. on
the plea that the vessels We're needed
In his own business The rental paid
for the chartered vessels were consid-
cred very low, the rate being Is cents
per gross ton per day on vessels of
1900 tons and over, but during the
latter part of the war 1t had been neces-
sary to increase the rate. Colonel Bird
also said that the transports between
Tampa and Santiago had been fitted up
only to carry the men and supplies to
Havana, and this was the reason they
proved inadequate for a trip of much
longer duration.
Colonel William S. Patton, in charge
of the supply and equippage division of
the Quartermaster's Department. was
the first witness OF the afternoon. He
said that no outside influence had had
any effect upon his office In the matter
of awarding contracts for tents, cloth
ing, etc.. and that only on very rare
occasions had contracts been awarded
except upon competitive bids
Captain James Mckay, a civilian and
an old sea Captain in Florida and Gu
ban waters, who, under General
Humphrey; had charge of the details
of the transportation of the troops to
Santiago, proved an important witness.
He said that complete rations had been
put on each ship, and that the vessels
had not been overcrowded. This was
contrary to previous testimony, as was
also later statement that the vessel
which each command was to occupy
had been designated before embarking
He emphasized this fact, saying the
designation had been made by General
Shafter, and the Colonel of each regi-
ment was evidently Informed in each
case. He said there was no confusion
when the troops went aboard.
II say emphatically there was no dis
order and no confusion said he, land
that in all cases the regiments found
their quarters without trouble or de-
lay"
How about the Rough Riders, the
Roosevelt regiment?" asked Governor
Beaver.
They were assigned to the Yucatan,
and there was no difficulty in their
embarkation"
tinued Governor Beaver, 'sthat they
seized the vessel Was that true?"
NO; it was not true" the witness
replied, "The Yucatan was placed in
the canal, and the Rough Riders walk
ed in and took their places on the yes
sci, according to directions They did
not seize the vessel. because there was
no necessity that they do so.,,'.
Captain Mckay also said there had
been no confusion in unloading the
stores. He testified that they had been
loaded In an orderly manner. There
was list showing what articles were
in each vessel, and there had been no
mixing of the various kinds Of stores.
1t was true, as had been charged, that
some Of the stores had never been un-
loaded, but this was, due in the main to
the fact that the stores were not need
ed. The tents We're not un1oaded for
lack of storage room on shore, and be-
cause they could not be gotten to the
front.
Captain Mckay had not completed