The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25
WAITED ALL DAY
 FOR THEIR SUPPLIES.
Somebody Blundered and Left the Oregon Soldiers Standing on
 the CheerleSS Wharf.


 Oregon Soldiers Standing on
 the Cheerless Wharf.
 Somebody blundered in arranging
 for the movement of the Second
 Oregon Volunteers, and in consequence
 1t was nearly o'clock last evening
 when the Australia drew out from the
 Oceanic steamship dock with the
 headquarters, staff and band, and the
 First and Second battalions of the
 regiment on board, besides Brigadie1
 General Anderson and staff.
 The troops reached the dock about
 a. n., and arms were stacked while
 they waited for their baggage. They
 waited until nearly dark before the last truckload arrived. When the regi- ment marched away from the Pre-
 sidiO the trucks had not arrived, and
 when they finally did reach the camp
 ground there were not enough to
 transport half the baggage. Besides all the camp equipage and personal ef- fects, 400, 900 rounds of rifle and 100, GOO rounds of revolver ammunition and six months rations for 750 men had to be hauled to thAAustralia. Whether the quartermaster' department failed to provide sufficient transportation or the draymen neglected to send all the teams necessary does not matter now, but it worked great hardship on the men.
 Before they started they were given a cup of coffee only, expecting to have breakfast as soon as they reach ed the boat, but for some unexplained reason they were kept on the dock through all the long hours of waiting. Shortly before noon the Red Cross Society learned of their plight, and as soon as a wagon could be procured at headquarters in the ferry depot it was loaded with sandwiches and dispatched to the succor of the half-famished sol diers in charge of Mrs. Judge Slack and a corps of assistants. Another wagon load of provisions and steaming coffee soon followed and from that time until the ship drew into the stream the ladies kept a steady supply of provisions moving to the men.
 And how those soldiers cheered every wagon load, the members of the soci- ety collectively and individually, and the people of San Francisco who had contributed to the success of the hu- mane work.
 lIC pdlIlOS NIldl A4IclI ht1 lIIC ClilUciI h- ation of the First Infantry was lack ing. Few near friends were present to bid the men farewell; their severing of home ties took place when they started for San Francisco, and hardly a dozen ladies followed their husbands. sons and brothers here.
 The terrible crush that occurred at the Mail dock Monday was also lack ing. This was due to the perfect ar arrangements made and executed by Captain Dunleavy, Sergeant Tom Ma honey and the harbor police force. Chief Lees rode down to the dock at the head of the detachment that es- corted the troops. and it is to be fer vently hoped that he profited by what he saw.
 East street was filled with people, but there was not the slightest disorder and a broad passageway to the en- trance of the dock was kept clear for the passage of the column. Nobody but those having business on the dock and the few close friends of the sol diers were allowed to pass the gate AS a result the men had ample room to move and there was no interference with the work of loading the ship. Per feet order prevailed within and without the gate.
 The men became desperately tired of | the delay, and knowing that 1t would | be hours before they got away some of l the more adventurous spirits deter | mined to take a farewell glimpse of | San Francisco. The guard and police | mbined at the gate was a hopeless | problem, so various eXpedients were 1 to in order to gain brief free dom Several made their escape | the superintendent room, but this means of exit was soon discovered | and a guard with fixed bayonet soon closed it.
 couple of the men dropped on to the lower stringer to the spring piles alongside the dock and crawIed along to the shore end. One of them reached | the street in safety, but his comrade was gathered in by the guard.
 Another, after he had been marched | 1n board, concluded he wanted another drink, so he slid down the forward | lawser to the bulkhead, darted through | he crowd and got his refreshment, then climbed back before the guard could 1vertake him.
 HS holIelcy' OH HeA way lo HIdre sland, saluted the troopship with three piercing shrieks of her siren. The moni- or was a great curiosity to many of he men and they cheered her as long IS she remained in sight. Shortly after he Iroquois, formerly the tug Fearless, along and also saluted the Australia. But the breaks in the mo- lotonous wait were few.
 At 6:S0 o'clock the last truckload of baggage arrived and was rushed on board. Then came a scurrying for de- inquents Several men were rounded ID in neighboring resorts In poor con- lition to withstand seasickness, and .wo7 whose names could not be aScer-