The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-31
SOLDIERS TORE UP THE SHIP.
SECOND ILLINOIS DEFIED Disco
PLINE ON THE MICHIGAN.

Used Life PreserVers Tor FOOT
stools. and Made the Vessel Filthy.
The QuartermaSter Threatened To
Report the Colonel to Mai. Gen.
Lee-An Official Report That May
Lead to an Investigation.
According to the official report of Capt
Charles T. Baker. assistant quartermaster
In charge of the transport Michigan, which
was forwarded to Washington last night
the Second Illinois Regiment proved 10 be
the toughest and poorest disciplined crowd
of soldiers that has ever sailed on any
transport from this or any other port The
receipt Of Capt. Bakers report may lead
TO a further investigation and charges
against Col Hotchkiss in charge Of the
regiment.
In beginning his report, Capt. Baker al
ludes to the published charge that the
Michigan was too filthy to put the men
aboard for transportation from Savannah
10 Havana. He proceeds to emphaticaily
deny it and makes charges seriously re-
fiecting on the lack of discipline enforced
by the regimental officers lie says in his
report;
1.-The ship was thoroughly cleaned from
stem to stern before the First and Second
Battalions of the Second Illinois came
aboard The quarters fitted up were free
from any Objectionable odors, having been
well washed, dried and disinfected. Inc
decks arranged for the horses had been
washed down and whiteWashed. The galley
had been renovated aud was in first-class
condition. The state rooms, while not COM
modious were as neat and clean as the
most aesthetic could wish. The service of
the stewards department was excellent
and the fare for both officers and men OF
the very best.
THE two battalions came aboard eigh
teen hours before we left port. During that
time the widest confusion prevailed. No
one assumed 10 be in command. After
a careful inquiry l was told by one OF
the officers that Col. Hotchlkss would be
in charge OF the men 10 Havana and that
any request ] had TO make would be dl-
rected to him. l reported to the colonel the
manner in which his men were going in
and out Of the ship, also called his atten-
tion 20 the confusion with which the horses
were being put aboard and the danger
there was in allowing 1t to continue. Later
orders were given by a number of the com
rnissioned officers for the men to Vacate
the space around the gang way so that the
horses could be taken in faster and with
less trouble. but not one of the men obey
ed. The shouting, yelling, hurrahing and
disorder ReneIdHy GO0AlDueQ AilIpllS lpUN
the entire time the animals were being
Foaded There were a number of accidents
and it is only a wonder that several of the
horses were not thrown from the gang
way and killed
''All of the Nth of the Michigan at the
time and during the passage to Havana
was Of their own making. l assert most
positively that the Michigan was a clean
ship when these men came aboard.
The army transport regulations provide
for the routine during the passage and in
port No smoking is allowed between
decks; the soldiers are not permitted 10
sit in the lifebOats, nor climb the ropes,
or in any way interfere with the nayiga-
ton Of TIE ship. The commanding Off
Ger Is required TO have a detail of men
to clean the quarters vacated and is ex-
pected at all times to keep order and good
discipline
Il beg TO report that these regulations
were not complied with; that no effort
was made to carry them out, except ia the
matter of inspection, and that duty was
performed in rather an indifferent manner.
On the first inspection we found fifteen
or more of the men smoking between
decks. They would cover the cigarettes
with their hands, throw them in the gut
ter or continue smoking as the officers
passed by. One feeble attempt was made
to punish one of the men, out he was
him. The disregard for orders became
so offensive TO the master and officers of
the ship that Capt. l.. A. Jeffrey sent ms
the following remonstrance:
II have the honor, as master of this
ship, to respectfully cal your attention
TO the smoking now going on between
decks by the soldiers. Also 10 ask that
steps be taken keep the men out of
the life boats. They refuse to obey the
army transport regulations, and are In
suiting to the crew ia the performance of
their regular duties. The vandalism they
are praeticing on the vessel generally ana
their continued interference with the dis
cipline of the crew seriously endangers
the safety of the ship so long as it is al
lowed to continue
Previous to the receipt of this COM
munication had addressed the following
letter 10 Col. Hotchkiss:
Repeated reports to you in regard 70
the men of your command smoking be-
tween decks ard requests that you cause
this practice to cease have been hereto
fore disregardeo. l have the honor again
an this manner to request that you will
take Immediate and urgent measures e
stop this smoking. The further neglect
of this duty, explicitly required by The
transport regulations, will be PROMPTLY re
ported to the major general command
ing"
Quarermaster Bakers protest seems tc
have had but little effect He continue,
in his report:
1T is at all times prudent and wise t.
Keep sharp watch out for fire on boarf
ship at sea, but in this instance th,
necessity for every precaution was greater
by virtue of the tact that the fire appar
atus was out of working order. Had ,
IRE broken out on this voyage the chance
were that every one on board would hav,
nerlshed IN the flames With a thorough
knowledge of their dangers. the men q
the Second Illinois refused to obey ever
order issued against smoking between
decks and persistently continued the prac
sice to the end of the trip In the troo
quarters The electric lamps were smashe
70 afford the men amusement. This van
dalsm was practiced 70 such an avten
that the chief engineer found il impossi
Die 70 supply the necessary light Liz