The Portland daily press., 1898-09-02
GEN. SKATER ARRIVES.
American Leader at Santiago Is at Mon
tauk Point,


tauk Point.
q New York, September There was a
big stir in Camp Wikoff this morning
when a signal was wig-wagged from
around the point that the Citylofss Mexico,
having on board Gen. Shafter, had been
sighted and would 'ssoonI drop anchor In
the bay.
The City of Mexico had Oh board
besides Gen. shafter, the members of his
staff, including Lieutenant. Colonies Il.
j. MoClernand, B. F. Pope, and u. Nom.
Debry. Majors Robert H. Noble, John
Miley and S. W. Grosbeck, Captains ]. e.
Gilmore and E. H.,Plummer.
AS soon as Gen. Wheeler was notified of
Gen. Skaters arrival he at once pro-
ceeded to make arrangements to pay hon.
or to the chief of the American army at
Santiago and ordered salute of Is guns
to be fred by the Hotchkiss battery and
Troops nj, T., O, FL and e of.the second
regular cavalry were detailed to escort
Gen. Shafter into camp.
sAs soon as the Mexico came into Fort
Pond and dropped anchor DIR. Maqruder,
the quarantine officer put out in his boat
to inspect her.
The City of Mexico sailed from SANTA
go on August %.
Gen. Shafter and staff were landed
from the City of Mexico shortly before
O'Clock this afternoon. They did not wait
until the City OF Mexico came up to the
dock, but were taken off in the auxiliary
gunboat Alien and landed at the floating
dock some distance away from quaran-
tine pier.
Gen. Young was at the pier at the. time
The coming ashore OF the general and his
staff was unexpected. Gen. Wheeler had
the cavalry drawn up at quarantine pier
and the Hotchkiss guns waiting to sa-
lutte Gen. Shafter. He was not aware that
Gen. Shafter was on shore until the gen.
detention hospital in carriages. Gen.
Wheeler was a little put out when be
learned that Gen. Shafter had landed.
Gen. Young was the only officer who ae-
companied Gen. Shaftsr to the detention
camp. A swarm of newspaper men and
hundred of soldiers had been awaiting
the general at the quarantine pier and the
only thing that prevented his receiving
an enthusiastic reception was his failure
to land there.
Gen. Shafter appeared in good health
when he came ashore. On the City OF
Meyico besides the general and his stall
came one company Of the LIST regiment In
IanGry. NO ropOFU hS W uue1 UNLAWFUL
has as yet been made.
Gen, Wheeler when informed that Gen.
Shafter was on shore ordered the salute
of Is guns fred and these were sent on
after Gen. Shafter had actually passed
hearing distance.
Gen. Shafter said he was sorry to learn
that so many of his men had suffered and
died at Montauk. but he said that had
the troops remained in Santiago tney
| yun ho farp6 Yr1r1nh
Surgeon Meyer who came north on the
Allegheny had something to say today as
to the condition of the TRANSPORT. 1t was
on the vessel that the IA 9thMassachusetts
regimenC men died and were buried at sea-
Surgeon Meyer states that when the
Allegheny left Santiago there were but
IL sick men on board, but illness de-
veloped very rapidly on the vessel and
when out a few days deaths occurred at
the rate of three day.
The Massachusetts, and Illinois men
were landed from the Allegheny today,
the 145 sick being sent to the hospital.
The men from the Mexico were also
taken ashore.
Gen. Shafter is now, strictly speaking
by reason of rank, in command of Camp
Wikoff, but be will not acssume the reins
of control until his term in the detention
camp has expired.
In an interview in the afternoon Gen.
Shafter said: II enjoyed the trip north
on the Mexico greatly but more on ac.
count Of the ship being prize. From a
casual observation / like Camp Wikof.
1t seems just such place as l should
have selected. will soon acquaint my
self thor oughly with all the details of the
camp.
81 knew nothing Of the Miles-Alger
controversy until was shown a news
paper on my arrival here. / will not dis
cuss it, now that l am unfamiliar with
the case; nor will enter the controversy
at any time. Secretary Alger and Gen.
can [.
"The Red Cross and other nurses did
go cd work at Santiago, but the front is
hardly the place for women There were
never any real scarcity Of food in Cuba
but there were no transportation facilities
to get them to the the front other than
pack trains.
"The army and the sick in hospitals
down there Jared as we'll as possible in
such climate.
When told that it had been denied that
there was yellow fever in the camp at
Santiago Gen. Shafter said that it was
| nonsence there was yellow fever there
and the doctors in Santiago who knew it
like book, said it was yellow and moth
ing else. Santiago was on the mend, the
general said, and the sanitary measures
taken by the Americans were having
good effect. When asked If it would not
be as well to allow the men now sick at
Santiago to fully recover in Cuba now
that the wet season is almost over he said
the best place for every man who could
get there was home.