Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-09-01
OFF FOR PORTO RICO.
The Seneca, Bearing Evacuation Com
mission, Leaves New York.
HAS THE POSTAL BOARD TOO.
On the Long List of Passengers Are Twen-
ty-four Women Nurses For tho Hos
pitfalls on the Island-Has
Good Sized Cargo.

New York Sept 1.-The United States
transport Seneca, in command OF Cap
tain James F. Decker, left her dock at
Columbia stores, Brooklyn, at about
o'clock in the afternoon for Porto Rico
and Santiago. Her sailing orders, ac-
cording to her quartermaster, Major
H. Robbins, are that she goes direct to
San Juan, thence within "a hours to
Ponce and from there to Santiago, from
which place she will return to New
York.
OF the two members Of the commits
sion for the evacuation of Porto Rico
Admiral Schley with his staff, got on
board Of the Seneca at Tompkinsville,
while General William w. Gordon
boarded the vessel at the dock, accom-
panied by his son, William w. Gordon,
Jr,, who goes as his aid. Others on
board the Seneca were Colonel John H.
Beacon, captain Of Sixth infantry and
lieutenant colonel of volunteers, who
will relieve Major George Anderson as
adjutant general of the department OF
Santiago; Captain w. ]. Sewall, son OF
Senator Sewall Of New Jersey, who was
assistant adjutant general on the staff
Of General Graham, now going to re-
port to General Miles for assignment to
duty.
Twenty-four women nurses, OF whom
there were Misses Eliza V. Suckley OF
Bridgeport Emma Charlotte Miller ct
Brooklyn, Minnie Wilson Of Brooklyn,
Florence E. Otto of Brooklyn, Lucina
M. Goodsell of Rochester, Mary Emma
Ellis Of Little Falls, Eleanor c. DECKER
son Of Bullville, Sadie G. Payne Of
Brooklyn, Mary c. Menningir of Brook
lyn, Mabel Mortimer Of Brooklyn, EN-
ma A. ElngNst Of jamestown, also
Misses Mcpherson, Burnett Romell,
Higgins, Groves who came from Bos-
ton under the care of Sisters Frances
and Alexia of st. Margaret's Episcopal
Sisterhood of Boston, are aboard for
Porto Rico to give their aid in the hos
pitfalls.
Postal ComInissiOn Abroad.
Major James E. Stuart. chairman of
the postal commission for Porto Rico, IL
also on board and with him Commits
sioners Charles F. Trotter John M.
Masten. William Mooney and M. A.
Macdonald. Major Stuart was for rs
years chief postal inspector for the
western states, with headquarters at
Chicago, up to the time of the war. He
has been with the Second Illinois volun-
teers, under General Fitz-Hugh Lee, at
Chickamauga. Thirteen postal clerks,
the names Of whom are John F. Nc
Kenna, Lewis J. Robinson, John H.
Weber, assigned to Guayama: H. Van
Alstyne, H. B. Lemcke N. l.. Merritt,
DIR. C. l.. Ayres, assigned to San Juan;
J. w. Whitney. William J. Lawn, T. ].
Mackey, Jr., Charles 2. Landau, as
signed to Mayaquez, and Charles E.
briggs and H. Clifford, assigned to San
tiagO. are on board also.
A slight clash occurred on the pier a
little while before the sailing time be-
tween the assistant quartermaster in
charge and the postal clerks. The quar-
termaster said that the orders for the
transportation of the postoffice employ.
ees were not made out in proper form
and for awhile refused to permit the
men to board the vessel. Victor ]. |
Bradley, superintendent of the railway
mail service for the middle states, who |
came to the pier to see after the en-
of the postal clerks, finally |
succeeded in persuading the quarter
master that the papers were regular,
and the men were allowed to embark.
No provision had been made for them,
however, and up to the departure OF
the steamship they had not been as.
signed to quarters.
The postoffice committee upon its ar
rival at Ponce will Immediately set
about the work of establishing first
second and fourth class postoffices in
all parts Of the territory now in our
possession. According to Mr.. Bradley
It will not take more than three weeks
10 get the Porto Rico service in working
order
The Seneca was crowded up to the
last minute with friends and relatives
Of the passengers. General Gordon did
not arrive at the landing until late. and
went Immediately to his cabin, where
he was surrounded by the members of
his family, who went with him to the
steamship to say goodby. AS a cargo
the ship carried n large quantity of
hospital and medical stores
and forage for 60 days for the army
horses and mules in Porto Rico.