Evening star., 1898-07-23
LAST DAY IN TAM PA
Further Details of Departure of the District
Regiment
"We1I Do Our Duty" Said Lieut.
Skfnner-Amusfng incidents
Aboard the Catania.

pany E, when asked If he had anything to
say to the people of Washington before
the District regiment left for Santiago,
except that we District of Columbia men
will do our duty
Some of the boys of Captain Lockers
company, the one left behind the day the
Catania slipped her mooriugs," were
standing On the pier at Port Tampa,
grouped around Lieutenant Skinner. their
former teacher in the High School, shaking
hands In the goodbye ceremony.
THE stately officer changed in a mo-
ment to good old High School teacher"
wrote one of the boys present, and we
told him to come back with a curved sword,
and bet you he will
That day, the I'd of July. was a me
mcrabie one in the history of the District
regiment Reveille sounded long before
dawn that Saturday morning. Roll cali and
mess were over by o'clock, and at 4:l5
came the cali for throwing tents. AT
o'clock every company was lined up ready
to start. That was quick work.
No more lounging on the hot sands OF
Tampa; no more blank cartridges to shoot,
but the front ahead and Santiago, 1t was
a long line of freight cars that screamed
over the hot nine-mile track to Port
Tampa. Rough boards were laid across the
freights for seats, and they bumped like
stony roller coaster The boys sang and
cheered. The yell "Ho, for the 'front.'
frightened the very sharks in the harbor.
1T was a jim-crackety ride said Dis
trict "non-com;" "better'n Pullman cars"
The Catania, long and black doomed up
among the other transports at the pier. 1t
was 11:3o o'clock. The regiment was lined
up awaiting orders. The steamers hold was
already full stocked with provisions and
water. The soldiers had to tuck up their
particular possessions anywhere Capt.
lockers Engineer Corps watched wistfully
on Picnic Island. They were given permis
sion to see the Catania off after mess.
Every man pitched in and helped the cook
then dashed into line, crossed over to the
pier and stormed in on the District boys.
as might the famous Six Hundred.
Rescued From Sharks
One of the fellows dropped his hat and
kennette O'Connor the adopted son of
Charles Warren Stoddard who happened
to be the only District boy on the sick list
made the boys lower him. dived into the
water and got the hat from the sharks
amidst cheers from his company.
When he got on deck again he was
well,' said one of the boys.
Captain Graham of Company is one of
the popular captains The men crowded
around him and Lieutenant Skinner and
wished them good things from curved
swords to leaves and stars.
The Catania in all her commercial career
was never subjected TO so rigid an inspec-
Lockers company writes:
The Catania was more comfortable than
the other transports. There was plenty of
room for the boys There were two floors
five companies on each floor, and space for
one on upper deck. Running across the
ship on the two lower decks were long rows
of standing beams, sixteen inches apart,
with hooks for the hammocks, which will
also serve the troops in Cuba
'Shafters transports We're more crowded
and they had hunks. The District of Co.
lumbia officers, of course, were fixed up in
the cabin. The Catania has steel Sides
The soldiers inspected the other trans
ports in the harbor and found the Catania
of the best. On board one fitted out
with batteries of regular artillery they
discovered the kitchen.
Made Happy by the Cook.
The cook was rolling dough
Good morning" said the boys, pleasant
ly Making biscuits?"
NO answered the cook; pie
The boys mouths watered. They looked
around and 'let their eyes come in contact
with a big pan of rolls"
Private Armes had been company cook
the day before; his rolls hadn't looked
like that. But the cook very busy.
The boys stood there silently.
Your rolls and bread look nice" they
finally said.
The cook glanced up. Help yourselves.
help yourselves. Here's some butter too
and don't want my meat; you can have
that, too
The boys were radiant. That was mem
orable day-July 2. The evening was also
memorable. The coffee of the District boys
made it so.
Adventure in the Dark.
1T was dark when we left the Catania"
writes Private Armes. George and were
lodging the posts and creeping underneath
the hammocks, trying to find the hatch
when all at once the electric lights went
out, leaving the ship in total darkness. We
pushed on, humping into things, when all
at once both my feet landed in something
hot. There was a YELL louder than mine:
What in h Is the matter with you,
there? Who are you? What are you do
ing?
Then the lights struck me standing there
in two big buckets of hot coffee! 1 thought
it best to move to another quarter at double
quick time. l looked back a little later
and was much relieved to see the boys
drinking the coffee in spite of the dust
from my shoes"
The Catania did not start that night
Sunday morning at 10 o'clock her whistle
blew; her gang planks cleared.
There were no cheers, neither was the
band playing" wrote Private Armes: all
was silent. l watched the transport steam
ing out of sight until she slowly faded
around the point far down Tampa bay"