The San Francisco call., 1898-06-28
ESCORTED THE
 SHIPS TO SEA
A Fleet of Small Craft Accom- pany the Transports Out
 of the Bay.
BY J. J. COREY.

Afar out on the boundlesS Pacif1o four huge transports are blowing their way to the hemisphere of the rising sun. Yesterday they swung idly at anchor in the balmy waters of San Francisco Bay, their decks, rails and rigging alive with happy, careless, shouting blUecOats, forgetful of thei morrow and intent only on the insp1r- ing panorama that was spread before them
 The thoughts that occupy their att tention now can only be conjectured, but it is not difficult to imagine that the shouts have died away, the songs are hushed, and, instead of swarming over the ships with daring bordering on the reckless, the men have turned their attention to the sterner duties that fall to their lot. Many an eye dimmed with unbidden tears is turned toward the land long since hidden be- low the horizon, thoughts turn back to the forests and plains of Minnesota, to the mountains and wales of Idaho, to the vinelandS and orchards of Califor- mia, to every portion of the sisterhood of States, for they are all represented on those ships Hearts that were light yesterday are heavy to-day. To some strange unrest has come, and these unfortunates feel that no rest can come to their troubled sOuls-unless they can succeed in unloading the souls with the rest of their commissary stores. These men monopolize the rails to- day, where all had an equal chance yesterday
 The passing of the third expedition of the Army of the Philippines was marked by demonstration on the bay and along the entire harbOr front, from the Potrero to Fort Point. more mag nificent, if possible, than when the van- guard sailed away. It has been my fortune to watch the three fleets vanish into the broad expanse beyond the Golden Gate, and my impression is that yesterday the people of San Francisco outdid themselves. Perhaps the day had much to do with the exuberance. for no brighter sun or more balmy breeze ever kissed the waters of the bay, while before a haze deepening into a raw fog settled down enveloping the transports almost before they had l passed through the heads. Then. too, when the first fleet sailed, our people had just awakened to the full realiza- llOIl Ol tie nOTIOTS OI war ana Tn a0- dition were called upon to bid fare well to legions of our youth and early manhood. Now, the great dread has been calmed in a measure by the sue cessive and almost bloodless victories of our arms, and though more of the youth of San Francisco went forth to battle yesterday mothers yielded up their sons, sweethearts their lovers and sisters their brothers with less reluct- ance than before
 The bay was alive with small craft, and the wharves and hills swarmed with people. When The Call tug Re- liance, gay with bunting, and bearing Colonel Loper of the Fifty-first Iowa Volunteers. Adjutant J. P. Davidson, and the magnificent regimental band among the other guests, made the first round of the three transports lying in the stream at Il o'clock, comparatively few boats were out. but within an hour the upper bay was dotted with boats of every description.
 One of those on the Reliance was Miss Weeks, the guardian angel of the boys from Iowa. Miss Weeks life is