The evening times., 1898-07-09
HOW THEY HEARD THE NEWS
The Story of Schley's Victory
Reaches the Troops at Sea.
REJOICING ABOARD SHIP
The District Volunteers Informed
Of Cervera's Defeat by n Pilot mt
Daybreak-HOw the District Boys
Left Tampa for the Front and
How They Spent the Fourth.

Tuesday. July 5-Morning 5 a. M
We are in sight of Key West. The Pilot
has just come aboard our ship and brings
the good news of the success of our
forces in Santiago. When the boys were
informed of this victory such shouting
and yelling and throwing of hats has
never been witnessed. With one merry
shout all hands Joined in the camp song:
ITO H With SPAIN
At Sea, on Board Catania, Monday,
July Ave are all well and our folks at
home will be pleased to know that thus
far none of us have had the dreaded
seasickness.
We broke camp early Saturday morning
last and took the train for Port Tampa.
distance of nine miles. We arrived
at Port Tampa by l0:S0 O'Clock and by
p. m. had our equipments aboard and
were ready to pull out. but for some rsa-
son the steamer did not leave till 10
o'clock next morning Sunday. As We
pulled out We were cheered by the crowds
around the wharf and just at that mo-
ment our band started TO play patriotic
airs and when we passed the transports,
Comanche and Unionist, laden with regu-
lars. they gave three mighty shouts for
"Old Glory and the First District Volun-
teers and this made the boys feel good.
We responded. and soon left amid song
and music.
Our voyage so far has been uneventful
and all the boys are jubilant over being
sent to the front, the time being spent in
climbing the ships rigging and going to
and fro from deck to deck.
We go through the same routine as we
did in camp and have our meals in the
same regular way. Each company is
Quartered by itself and hunks in a
well-apportioned place in hammocks one
and half feet apart. Our company the
National Fencibes is quartered on
deck No. and has a good place All
the Cther companies have just as good
quarters as ours. We prepare our meals
IN the ships cooks cabin, and every pos
sible precaution is taken to make our
voyage pleasant and mf1rtlble The
officers are quartered to themselves and
visit our parts at times to See that the
boys have all the necessary comforts
that the ship can afford
1t Is picturesque sight to see the boys
climbing the masts and rigging. and at
any time during the day twenty to forty
of our lads are perched on high
One of our fellows, Kenneth O'Connor.
scaled the ship on a guy rope at Port
blown overheard. Kenneth was the hero
for the time being
Many of the soldier lads are mourning
the loss of their company "mascots" be-
cause most of them had to be left behind
although several of the boys managed to
smusgie some of them aboard Our mas
cot. Harry" the colored lad is with the
Fencibles, riSsed out in regulation uni
form, and continues to help in the culi-
lpna uba ba l.
He will. of course, go with us to the end
and return to Washington when the bows
go home.
AT this writing we are % miles from
Key West and have been on the water
thirty hours. Our boat is heavily laden
and does not travel over 10 or I2 miles an
hour. and as the distance from Port
Tampa is 2iO miles we are booked 10 reach
Key West tonight at O'Clock II is
SAID We Will remain at Key West for a
day or two. when we will set sail for
some Cuban port, but where as yet is
unknown TO us.
AT Key West we are to meet other
transports: also the Yale and Harvard
with the boys from Camp AIger. Then we
will all sail with a convoy of warships 10
face the enemy.
Shortly after we left Port Tampa, when
about 20 miles out, We sighted an English
coasting vessel and as We passed her she
dipped her colors three times showing her
respect for Old Glory.
We sighted two other ships some dis
tance off. but could not distinguish their
colors.
One of our boys, Private Buchanan had
long field glass. and all the boys took a
look, and considerable laughter arose
when some fellow said:
Boys. she is Spanish warship." and
very soon all the men were around us
to view this terror" which turned out
to be another coasting vessel
Another amusing incident was the
sight of the flying fish. which continually
hovered around the ship, much to the
delight of all on board
One unique feature is the way the bows
are supplied with coffee. All the messes
are allowed the freedom of the cooks
cabin; first come first served. and at
times a line is formed awaiting their
chance to enter. and the cooks are about
the most popular people on board. for it
depends on their hustling abilities
whether the boys get their coffee on
time or not. But be 1t said for this regi-
ment. that all hands work in unison and
exchange courtesies, thereby making the
task of each cook easy
On the upper deck of the ship there is
place allotted to the HOSPITAL Corps.
but thus far we are happy to state that
Few. If any. patients find it necessary to
give this place visit Our hospital
corps, in charge of Major Pyles, Liuet.
Cox, with Stewards King. Woolridge and
Walls. have had a comparatively easy
time, but 1t is not expected that they will
long enjoy this ease, for when we strike
the rough sea cases of seasickness will
no doubt occur and the hospital people
say that they will soon fix US all right.
The Emmet Guard is on duty and
sentinels posted on all decks. and it
is to the credit of the boys that these
guards have had no occasion to enforce
their authority. for no misconduct of any
sort has occurred.
At this hour p. m, all hands are on
the upper deck. with the band playing
those strains which are so dear to the
hearts of our troops. We are all assem-