Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-03
ARRIVED At TAMPA.

-
and Hardships of the Trip Owing to
Mismanagement by the Southern Pa
cifc Railroad Great Time Through
Texas-Arrived in New Orleans
on T~uesday-All Well.
Special to the New Mexican.
Tampa, Fla, June 3.-Colonel Lor-
EMO Wood. with his Rough Riders, the
LIST U. s. volunteer cavalry arrived In
Tampa this morning, 1,o87 strong, all
mounted and with a pack train Of 200
mules. The regiment went into camp
at West Tampa. The men are well ar
med and equipped, well mounted and
made a fine soldierly appearance.
Special Correspondence to the New Mexican.
On the way from San Antonio to Tam
pa, May 80, 1s9s.-The Southern Pacific
has again showed its hoggish nature,
and the Fighting First has a large
kick to register.
Under instructions from the War de-
partment, Colonel Wood made arrange.
ments with this rotten G.. P. Hunting
tons corporation to transport the regi'
ment to Tampa, Fla, and was assured
that the railway would be ready to carry
us through on Sunday. Reveille sounded
at 4 a.. m. and in Il short while the
troops had broken camp and were pre-
pared to move. The Arizona squadron
started for the railroad depot at 1920 a
m. and were loaded and away by noon
Colonel W ood then ordered the New
Mexico squadron to out, but as the
| railway company failed to furnish cars
| for the troops promptly the order was
co~untermanded and we did not leave
camp until 5:45 p. m. On arrival at the
depot we found stock cars for our horses
awaiting us, but no passenger cars. AT
| ter loading the horses, we camped in thu
| street and had a light lunch $3.50 p. m.
of hard tack, beans and beef. During
this time the third squadron, under Ma
| ior Dunn, had been coming in and b,
midnight the last horses were LOADED
and still no passenger cars. At $50
this morning the delayed cars arrives
and we at once got aboard, but did no
get away until after s o'clock. A shor
ration breakfast was served just befor
leaving San Antonio.
However, the men stood it with calm
ness, hoping for a better deal when W
get to Tampa.
All the delay and confusion coul'
have been avoided had the Southern Pa
cifc officials dealt squarely with Colone
Wood. If they had told him the car
could not be had until today, the troop
would have been held in the camp an
properly rationed and the horses give
better attention. But being afraid c
losing their contract the agents of tn
C. p. Huntington corporation resorte
to a mean trick to induce the colonel {
start the first two trains of troops an
thus put him in aposition whore he coul
not rescind the contract and take hi
troops wei another road. The South
ern Pacific road is vastly inferior to tina
of the Santa Fe. The cars wherein tn
regiment was transported were dirty
old and stuffy and extremely uncom
Portable; the service was poor and tn
officials insolent.
The contrast between these cars an
the chair and tourist cars of the SAINT
Fe is very striking and has caused muc
disgust on the part of the men.
Had Colonel Wood formed any idea c
the treatment he and his men We're t
receive at the hands of 1.-THE Grea
North American Hog" he certainl
would have gone over another road.
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt was III
firing in his efforts to get the men o
safely and promptly and when the las
horses were loaded at midnight he cam
over to troop E and dropped down o
the bare ground, without a blanket, t
sleep. The only accommodation b
would accept from the men was a nos
bag which he placed as a pillow unde
his head. There in the dirt, and wit
no cover except the starred canopy c
heaven, the sturdy Teddy, unmindful c
the myrads of mosquitoes, slept sount
ly until morning.
viva Cuba Libre!' Viva Tedd
Roosevelt!' como"
En- Route to Tampa, New Orleans
June 3.-Arrived here in good shape
Despite all hardships and hunger, hea
and dirt, the men are in good conditio
and jubilant at going to the front. Ha
a great trip through Texas. Crowds {
people, flowers and lunch at many st;
lions. The regiment was enthusiastic
ally received everywhere. More new
from Tampa. Como
nun m nnY nHYmYnA H