The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-05-28
GONE TO REINFORCE DEWEY.
wild Scenes of Enthusiasm MARK tine De-
parture of the First Army TO
Embark for Manila

SAN Francisco, May 26.-The start
was made for Manila late yesterday
afternoon, and the first American army
TO sail for a foreign shore is now on
the broad Pacific.
At four o'clock Brighten. Anderson
sipnalled from the Australia for the
CITY of Sydney and City of Pekln to
get under way Immediately. The Sig
nal was seen from the shore and the
waiting crowds commenced to cheer
wildly. They knew what it meant as
we'll as the sea captains for whom the
signal was intended.
No time wa lost on board the trans
ports. The crews worked with a will
and in a short time the anchors were
I'D and the vessels were 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
cheering like mad.
The bay was alive with small craft
of every description, and huge ferry
boats were pressed into service to ac-
commodate the eager crowds n carry
them 20 the head 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 the patrl-
otic citizens on sea and shore was some
thing terrific. Every team whistle IN
the city appeared to be blowing; can
non were fired, and the din lasted for
fully an hour.
As the Australia passed Alcatraz
island, in the lead of the other ships,
the battery of United States artillery
stationed there fired a salute to Gen.
Anderson. The colors were dipped in
recognition and the steamships
sounded their sirens. Boats, small
and large. followed as the ships moved
forward, and not until the heavy
sweIls of the Pacific were encountered
did they turn back.
1t was shortly after five o'clock when
the vessels entered the ocean and the
sun glinting over the city gave the de-
parting soldiers a last view of the
country, to fight for the honor of
which they We're to sail over 6.OOO
miles. When last seen the transport
fleet was steaming slowly to the south
west.
After the pilots were dropped the
vessels went ahead at full speed, and in
Six days, if all goes well, they will en-
ter 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 yesterday after
noon the townspeople felt relieved that
it was all over.
The three transports carried close
onto $500 men. The expedition which
is under command of Brighten. Ander-
son, consists of four companies of reg
ulars under command of Maj Robe;
First regiment California volunteers,
Col. Smith; the First regiment Oregon
volunteers, Col. SUNNI RS; a battalion
of 80 heavy artillery, Maj. Gary; about
100 sailors and IL naval officers.
The fleet is loaded with supplies to
last a year, and carries a big cargo of
ammunition and naval stores for AID.
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 Saturday. and if the
steamships of the Northern Pacific
company are chartered and put under
an American register, it will take some
time to put them in order.
1t is thought here that the feet which
left here yesterday will not keep COM
pany with the Charleston after leaving
Honolulu They all carry enough coal
to steam at full speed from Honolulu
to Manila, while the Charleston, in or
der to economize coal, will not go
faster than ten knots an hour.
DnIIHUT THE n