The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-03
NO TROUBLE AT TAMPA
ROOSEVELT'S TESTIMONY CONTRA
DICTED BY OLD SEA CAPTAIN,
Who Says Rough Riders Did Not
Seize a TranspOrt-NO Confusion
During EmbarkatiOn of Troops.

eating commission resumed its sittings in
this city to-day, Col Charles Bird being
on the stand. He was on duty during the war
In the Quartermaster generals office having
charge of the transportation division He
mad charge in the beginning of the war of
the purchase OF mules, and he believed the
prices paid to have been reasonable, the
average price for leaders being 500 and for
Wheelers $3.50. In moving troops tourist
sleeperS had been secured where possible
and in all cases seat for each soldier was
obtained. In some cases regular sleepers
were substituted for the tourist cars. AS a
rule the railroad companies had been
prompt in responding to the terms of a con-
tract, but in some instances in the South
there had been some delay in the matter
of equipment.
In response to a request from General
Wilson Colonel Bird explained the difficulty
in getting troops from Tampa to Port
Tampa, which was, he said, due to the fact
that the Plant system, which controlled the
only line from Port Tampa, wanted to cut
out the Florida Central road from carrying
any of the government troops or supplies
and in order to accomplish this result had
put a very high rate on shipments be-
tween the two points. In consequence of
this position taken by the railroad COM
pany, orders had been given that not a
dollar should be paid for transportation over
this nine miles Of road until a proper rate
should be made, and as a consequence no
payments had been made for this service
The congestion at Tampa was due to the
fact that more supplies were sent to that
point than could be handled When they
learned of the congestion an order was is
sued for the marking of the cars; and a
quartermaster's agent was sent with each
car. In most cases it was impossible to
send bills of lading. Colonel Bird said the
transports occupied between Tampa and
Santiago had been fitted up only to carry
the men and supplies to Havana and this
was the reason they proved inadequate for
trip OF much longer duration.
Col William s. Patten, in charge of the
supply and equipage division of the quar-
ternaSterS department, was questioned con-
corning complaint made by Knox, the hat
manufacturer, that q fraudulent contract
for hats had been awarded to a PHILADELPHIA
firm, and asserting that the department as
represented at Philadelphia. was rotten
and corrupt" Colonel Patten said he had
had this complaint thoroughly Investigated
by several officers, who had reached the
conclusion that the hats accepted were SUI
perior to those offered by Knox.
Capt. James Mckay, a civilian and an
old sea captain in Florida and Cuban
waters, who, under General Humphrey, had
of the troops to Santiago, proved an impor-
tant witness. He said that complete rations
had been put on each ship, and that the
vessels had not been overloaded. This was
contrary to previous testimony, as was also
a later statement that the vessel which each
command was to occupy had been, desig-
mated before embarking. He emphasized
this fact saying the designation had been
made by General Shafter. and the colonel
of each of the regiments was evidently in
formed in each case. He said there was no
confusion when the troops went aboard.
II say emphaticaliy there was no disorder
and no confusion" he said, land that i'm
without trouble or delay"
How about the Rough Riders, the Roose-
welt regiment" asked Governor Beaver.
"They were assigned to the Yucatan, and
there was no difficulty in their embarka-
lit has been reported to us" continued
sci. Was that true?'
mo, it was not true" the witness re-
piled 1.-THE Yucatan was placed in the
canal and the Rough Riders walked in and
took their places on the vessel, according
to directions They did not seize the vessel,
because there was no necessity that they
CAPTAIN Mckay also said there had been
no confusion unloading the stores. He tes-
tilted that they had been loaded In an or
Derby manner. There was list showing
what articles were In each vessel, and there
had been no mixing of the various kinds of
stores It was true, as had been charged,
that some OF the stores had never been un-
loaded but this was due in the main TO the
Fort tbot the stores were not needed The
tents were not unloaded for lack of storage
room on shore and because they could not
he got to the front Captain Mckay said
there had been no disposition on the part
OF the masters OF the transports to disobey
orders nor TO keep their vessels unneces-
sarilv far out at sea, as had been charged.
There were great many men giving orders
who had no authority to do so and who
knew nothing of the sea or the local condi-
tons 1t was not safe to hold the ships