The record-union., 1898-05-26
Great Demonstration as the Vessels
Steam Out Of the HarbOr.
The Fleet Loaded With Supplies 10 Last a
Year and Also Carries Big Cargo
Of Ammunition and Naval
Stores for Dewey.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 25.-The
start was made for Manila late this
afternoon, and the first American army
| to sail for a foreign shore is now on the
broad Pacific
AT o'clock this afternoon Brigadier-
General Anderson signaled from the
Australia for the City of Peking and
City of Sydney to get under way imme-
diately. The signal was seen from the
| shore, and the waiting crowds COM
menced to cheer wildly. They knew
what it meant, as we'll as the sea Cap
tains for whom the signal was in
tended No time was lost on board The
| transports. The crews worked with a
will, and in a short time the anchors
were UP and the vessels We're under
way.
Then the $500 soldiers, who had been
| impatiently awaiting the signal to
start, let themselves loose. They
climbed to the rigging and swarmed all
over the big ships, shouting and cheer
ing like mad The bay was alive with
small craft of every description. and
huge ferry boats were pressed into
service to accommodate the eager
crowds and carry them to the heads Of
the Golden Gate, that a last farewell
might be said.
The big transports steamed slowly
along the water front, and the crowd
on shore raced along to keep them in
sight. The noise made by patriotic cit
liens on sea and shore was something
terrific. Every steam whistle in the
city appeared to be blowing, cannon
were fired and the din lasted for fully
an hour AS the Australia passed AL
catraz Island in the lead of the other
ships the battery of United States ar
tillery stationed there fired a salute to
General Anderson. The colors were
dipped in recognition, and the steam
ships sounded their sirens
The boats, small and large, followed
along as the transports moved slowly
forward, and not until the heavy sweIls
of the Pacific Ocean We're encountered
did they turn back.
1t was shortly after o'clock when
the vessels entered the ocean, and the
sun glinting over the city gave the de-
parting soldiers a last beautiful view of
the country to fight for the honor of
which they were sailing over 5000
miles. When last seen the transport
fleet was steaming slowly to the SOUTH
west. After the pilots We're dropped,
! the vessels went ahead at full speed,
and in six days, if all goes well, they
will enter Honolulu harbor and join the
Charleston.
The strain of expectancy during the
past few days had been severe on both
soldiers and citizens, and after the
noisy demonstration this afternoon the
townspeople felt relieved that it was
all over.
The three transports carried close on
to $500 men. The expedition, which is
under command of Brigadier- General
Anderson, consists Of four companies
of regulars under command of Major
Robe; the First Regiment OF California
Volunteers, Colonel Smith; the First
Regiment of oregon Volunteers Colonel
Summers; a battalion of fifty heavy
artillery, Major Geary; about 100 sail
ors and eleven naval officers.
The fleet is loaded with supplies to
last a year, and carries a big cargo Of
ammunition and naval stores for Ad-
miral Dewey's fleet at Manila.
1t is not probable that any more
troops will be dispatched before another
week. The Zealandia is being put in
shape to carry soldiers. but none of
the other transports are in port. The
China is not due here until May 2Sth.
and If the steamships of the Northern
Pacific Company are chartered and put
under an American register, it will take
some time before that fleet can be put
in order.
1t is thought here that the fleet that
left here to-day will not keep company
with the Charleston after leaving Hon
olulu They all carry enough coal to
steam at full speed from Honolulu to
Manila. while the Charleston. in order
to enconomize coal, will not go faster
| than ten knots an hour. If the trans
ports do not wait for the cruiser they
! may be expected to arrive at Manila
about June Goth.
CONTINUED on Eighth Page.)