The record-union., 1898-05-19
CHARLESTON'S
SAILING
DELAYED.
Lying OFF Angel Island
at Last Accounts.
1t is Thought to Be Awaiting
Instructions.
General Otis Assumes Charge Of
the Soldiers al the Preside.
Inc Departure of the City Of Picking fof
Manila With Reinfurcements
Delayed Until
Saturday.
General Otis Assumes Charge Of
the Soldiers al the Preside.

SAN FRANCISCO, May IS. - The
charleston had not passed through tha
Golden Gate at . o'clock this evening.
although she left Mare Island shortly
after 10 o'clock this morning. bound
Tor Manila. 1t is generally understood
that her compasses are being adjusted
near Angel Island, but there may be
other reasons for the delay. as this
operation usually requires but two or
three hours. Her commander NAV be
awaiting further instructions from the
department at Washington, as his yes
sci is within easy reach of the Govern
ment tug which plies between this city
and the garrisons at Angel Island and
Alcatraz Island.
Major General Otis, who arrived from
Denver last night, to-day assumed
charge of the organization, Quitting
and the sailing of the troops bound
for Manila. General Otis held a long
consultation with General Merriam
this morning, and the first step decided
upon was the inspection of the City Of
Picking, which is scheduled to trans
port the first detachment to the Philip
pines. Her accommodations were thor
oughly examined, and a few alterations
viii be made, which will delay the de-
parture of the vessel until Saturday
next. When ready for sea the Picking
will carry four 4-pound Hotchkiss
rapid-fire guns, two being placed in
her bow and two in her stern. She is
being prepared for the reception of l.
4OO enlisted men, seventy-two army Of
t1cers, eight navy officers and 112 SAIL
ors. The latter, with their officers,
are to man the Spanish ships cap-
tured by Admiral Dewey.
There are now nearly 1000 men
camped at the Preside, and nearly as
many more will be here by the middle
of next week. The Second Battalion
of the Oregon volunteers. under COM
mand of Colonel Summers, arrived here
to-day from Portland. and We're re
ceived with great enthusiasm. They
are fine body Of men, and are better
equipped than any of the soldiers that
have arrived here from other States.
They were met at the ferry depot by
the Second Artillery Band, and headed
by a platoon of police, the soldiers, who
showed few signs of fatigue after their
long journey, marched up Market
street to Van Ness avenue, thence to
the Preside, where they were enthusi-
astically received by the soldiers al
ready encamped there There were
$50 men and officers in the second batch
of men from the Webfoot State.
Work on the transports City of sgd
ney and Australia is proceeding in a
very leisurely manner. The former YES
sci is being coaled and painted, and a
few carpenters are at work in her in
terror, but that is ALL Unless a force
of mechanics is put at work on her at
once the vessel will not be ready to
leave for a week or more. Little is
being done on the Australia, but as she
is less in need of repairs and alteration
than the other vessel, it will not take
so long to fit her for service when or
ders are once issued to get her ready
for departure.
The health of the men camped at the
Preside is generally good, in spite of
the hardships and exposure they have
! had to endure. There are one or two
cases of incipient pneumonia, and a few
cases of fever, but that is about ALL
| One man from McMinnville, Or, has
| been stricken with some disease re-
sembling measles, but the army physi-
clans are not at all sure that this is
| his malady. He has been quarantined
as a matter of precaution.
! The 600 men who have been stationed
on the second floor in the Fontana
warehouse at Fort Mason evacuated
| their position last night shortly after
! IL O'Clock and spent the rest of the
night on the sands which surround the
! structure. The men had just settled
! down to rest last night when a loud
noise was heard followed by the gro2ns
and ereaking of collapsing timbers. A
| hasty examination was made, and 1t
was discovered that some of the heavy
! timbers supporting the second floor
! were cracking and bending under the
weight imposed upon them. A CONSUL
| tation of officers was held, and it was
decided to remove the men from the
building as a precautionary measure.
| The men marched out in single file. TAX
ing their blankets and camp equip
ment with them. The 600 men filed
out of the building, under perfect disci-
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