The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-19
MINNEWASKA TO SAIL AT NOON
ALGER AND GEN. KEEL
FER INSPECTED TRANSPORT.

sci VIII Go Out on the Midday
Tide-The IOwans Loaded in n Hur-
ry-The Missouri and Chester Went
to Sea Yesterday-The Michigan in
Port, But Is Closely Guarded by
Her Ofiicers-RumOrs of Trouble
ON the Transport Denied.
With to-day's noon tide it is expected
the transport Minnewaska will sail for
Havana with the Forty-ninth Iowa Regl-
ment. Aside from few details that can
he readily attended TO, all arrangements
have been made for the regiment to go.
Col BOWS issued orders yesterday after
noon for his men to prepare to leave camp
by 8 o'clock this morning for the trans
port. Il is expected they will go aboard
at once on arriving at the Central Rail-
road wharves. With the preparation that
has been made, however, the men will find
themselves in clean, commodious quarters
on the ship and such as viii make the
prospect of the voyage bright and en-
couraging.
Il is not known whether the Forty
ninth breaks the record or not, but Lieut..
Bellinger says the regiment has been load
ed with remarkable promptness. This was
made possible by sending everything from
the camp as it should be sent, and in the
proper order for it TO be loaded. Among
the things TO be taken besides subsistence
supplies is a large lot of personal bag
gage belonging to the men, lumber of all
descriptions, stoves and other things the
men expect to need.
The stock was being loaded last night.
and win probably be got on board in short
order. About Is horses and 100 mules COM
prise the stock, and there are a few am
balances and wagons. AS is the case with
the regiments that have already embark
ed, the Forty Ninth will leave all tents
behind with the exception of a few the Of
ticers will take along.
Out of J. 200 men, only 20 win be left in
the hospital. They were unable to make
the voyage, and much to the regret of
their comrades, were left behind until they
recover. They are in the Second Division
hospital, and viii be in charge of Surgeon
j. Fred Clark, who will remain with them
until they recover. According to the usual
CUSTOM it is expected the men will be
granted furloughs when they become able
to get out.
Secretary Alger and Maj. Gen. Keifer
were at the wharves while the Minnewas
ka was loading. They went aboard to
glance at the general appearance of things
and while the visit was brief, the officers
of the ship to whom they talked have rea-
son to believe a good impression was made.
Secretary Alger felt quite at home on the
transport, and while he did not make a
thorough inspection, he at least went far
enough to see that everything was in or
derby condition, and that the prospect for
a pleasant voyage is bright and encour-
aging.
The following are the officers of the reg
iment:
Col. w. G. Bows.
Lieut.. Col. Clifford D. Ham.
Maj Samuel E. Clapp
Maj B. F. Blockinger.
Maj Frank Fisher.
Surgeon j. Fred Clark.
Chaplain o. II. L. Mason.
Adjt Albert NJ. Jaeggi.
Assistant Sturgeon E. L. Martindl.
Assistant John Hamilton
Lieut.. r. r. Reid battalion adjutant.
Lieut.. Will Siddle battalion adjutant.
The regiment was one of the first to rem
devious after the call to arms. 1t is made
up of men who hail principally from the
eastern part of the state, and for TINS
reason Des Moines was selected as the
most convenient place to gather the men.
From Des Moines the regiment proceeded
to Jacksonville, where ii remained from
June to October. 1t came TO Savannah,
Oct &C.
The hospital ship Missouri sailed for Ha-
vana yesterday with the Second Division
Hospital Corps, including $50 nurses and
other assistants connected with the de-
partment. She had been in port over
week.
While the Missouri goes upon mission
quite as important as that of any of the
transports, there was not great deal Of
interest in her departure. This is due to
the absence of soldiers, who g enerally
make the departures of enhancing inter-
est because of the enthusiasm they ex-
hibit. With the hospital ship such is not
the case. however, and it is reported she
left her dock without cheer The pub
lie generally is prohibited from crowdlng
at the wharf and as there were few along
the Bay about l o'clock, the time the ship
sailed, and very little noise TO attract
those who were out, it is safe to say the
ships departure went more unnoHced than
any that have preceded her to the West
Indies.
The transport Michigan arrived yester-
day from Havana, where she took the
Second Illinois Regiment Whether the
voyage was pleasant or not is unknown,
but the officers are not inclined 10 say
much about it, They answer questions
with a smile, and seem to think the SOL
diers might have got along little better
than they did
1t was reported a soldier was shot when
the ship was within a day of Havana.
When asked about it by a representative
of the Morning News, the chief officer said
there was no truth in the report. While
there was lots of room for improvement
m the way the men conducted themselves
on the ship. he intimated, there were no
casualties of any kind. 1t is not an easy
matter to get reports either confirmed or
denied on the Michigan, as a close watch
is Kept, and strangers are kept back as
ilSldly as though she were man-of-war.
While the boxing around the transport
precludes a view of her deck and interior,
II IS stated she is in much cleaner con-
dltlon than when here before Before sail
ing last she was reported in fearful condi-
Ton, on account of which an order was
issued leaving it optional with the men