Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-15
ARMY OFF AGAIN.
This Time II Has Certainly Sailed
from Tampa.
'THIRTY-FIVE TRANSPORTS.
Fourteen Warships 10 Protect The Fleet,
and -Four Tenders.
IS THE DESTINATION CUBA :?
If So the Expedition Will Land on The
South Coast Near Santiago.
THE MANY vExATIOUs DELAYS
Graphic Picture OF the Loading, I'm
loading, and Reloading of the Ves-
sells, and of the Final Rush In Get
ting Away.
ting Away.

shores of the United States finally de-
parted, under the command of General
Shafter. this morning at o'clock. The
fleet of transports consisted of thirty-hye
vessels, four tenders, and fourteen con-
voys.
These are all now upon the Gulf OF
Mexico. headed to the southwark, until
| they pass Key West at least. Sould the
destination be Cuba, they will continue
their present course until Cape Antonio,
at the west end of the island, is doubled,
| when an easterly course win be sailed,
until they reach the vicinity of Santiago.
1t has been definitely decided that IL
this expedition lands in Cuba at all the
! place Of Decentralization will be on the
south coast, near Santiago.
AS already stated in these dispatches,
the actual embarkation Of the troops be-
| gan on Monday. June 9Th. The work pro-
ceeded diligently until late on Wednes-
day afternoon, when, after the departure
| Of several transports, an important order
| came. calling a halt in the proceedings.
The Castine was dispatched to at once
overhaul the disappearing ships and re-
call them. They all came back but one,
the City Of Washington, which vessel
was reported TO be aground down the
bay. 1t has been subsequently learned,
! however, that this vessel had outstripped
| the messenger until the coast Of Cuba
was actually sighted. What gives color
| to this is the fact that neither the Wash
| ington nor the Castine returned TO her
| anchorage at Port Tampa until Saturday.
CAUSE OF DELAY.
The cause of the delay was the alleged
report that the Hornet, which was out
scouting, had sighted several Spanish war
| vessels.
| Like a wet blanket came the order to
| halt. Cheerfuness was displaced by keen
disappointment. Two questions were on
| every tongue--"Has Spain surrendered?
| HAS our fleet met with a reverse?' The
| former met with the readiest belief, many
| believing the words in the order, ''indefi-
| nitely postponed" meant peace. Those
| who followed each event closely were as
| sured that such was not the case. While
| horses and mules were being disembarked
men and equipments were moving aboard
| in steady stream. The unloading Of the
! Florida, which had been run into by the
Miami, gave ground for the rumor that
| the transports were being unloaded.
RUSH REPEATED.
| Newspaper-men had been told on Fri
| day night that they had better 80 aboard.
| The following day it was openly said that
| the sailing would occur on Sunday at
noon. The rush of the previous Monday
was repeated. General Miles and his
| staff went to Port Tampa Sunday morning
| at 6:3O to deliver parting instructions.
During a heavy rain-squall on Saturday
night at s o'clock, while the transports
We're straining at their cables and the
wind was shrieking through the rigging,
the little tug Captain San steamed from
| ship TO ship, megaphoning, in deep tones,
| the message: "Stand ready to sail at day
light" Above the roar OF the storm wild
cheers were heard, and bright flash OF
lightning revealed the soldiers standing
in the rain, waving their hats, and hur-
raining.
General Miles and his staff, from a pri-
yate car far down the pier, could witness
all the scenes of lie embarkation. From
this point Of vantage messengers went
scurrying, while uniformed dgnitaries
hovered near during the entire day. The
| busy piers were lined with transports.
| The docks We're an ever-changing scene
| of box x-cars, fat-cars, stock-cars, bag
gage and express-cars. Most of these
were loaded with soldiers. who cheered
until their ears ached, and who cheered
again until hoarse.
Bright -colored dresses and fragile para
soils i'm the crowds of bluecoats indicated
the presence Of the fair sex. Curiosity
had attracted the women, as IL had most
of the crowd. Some were sobbing, while
others were taking In the sights, with
tears coursing down their cheeks. Horses
and mules were kicking up clouds of
ha SIln down
rows on the sweltering mass of humanity.
Thus Sunday passed, the transports at the
docks and those in midstream receiving
their cargOes OF life, and the necessaries
to sustain II.
MILES AGAIN ON HAND.
General Miles again went to the port
on Monday morning, on the early train.
The expedition would surely sail before
dark The stirring scenes continued. The
mad rush had not abated. General Miles,
from the observation-end Of his car.
watched the crowd as II passed near him.
The transports, swinging at their moor
ings were plainly In view, as were also
MANY of those at the docks. The embark
alton OF animals was progressing saus-
factorilY.
The passing crowd craned their necks
IN catch a glimpse of General Miles, who
sat in an easy chair, without coat al
times partaking of refreshing drinks.
shortly after 9 o'clock the raking tunnels
of the transports began TO pour forth
volumes of black smoke. The stokers
were preparing their fires, which before
had been partly banked. The Olivette.
Margaret. Mateo, and Laura were visiting
the fleet giving water TO one, troops to
another. animals and equipments to an
other. Along the pier could be heard the
stern voices of transport commanders, as
they gave their orders 10 cut loose. The
broad gangways were pulled in the
hatchways closed, the lines cast on and
the ponderous engines were put In motion.
The vessels backed into the bay and an
cbored TO await the order for their GO
ing The Matteawan hove her cable short
az 10 o'clock. All eyes on board
her were riveted on the Segu-
ranca. the flagship, and when the
final signal came a mighty cheer arose.
From the lower row OF portfolios to her
snar-tops hats were waved In wild de-
Ught The anchor was quickly weighed
and the great vessel pointed her PROV
Down the bay, while from the surrounding
Sessels rose a concert of cheers. In few
minutes the City OF Washington. Rio
crande Cherokee lroquois, and Whitney
foIIowed. AS these boats picked their
wav through the anchored fleet men
shouted themselves hoarse and bands
nIaved with a vim. Every vessel elicited
si,d aisplay of enthusiasm, and the boys