The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-21
THE SIXTH SAILS TO-DAY.
ROUMANIAN AND OBDAM WILL CAR
BY THE MISSOURI REGIMENT.

That Has Been Made for Trans
porting Troops.
When the Sixth Missouri Regiment
starts for Cuba this morning, the hearts
of the men will doubtless beat with com
mingled JOY and regret. The voyage they
are to make will be the climax of an am
bition they have been cherishing for
months, but they will at the same time
feel that regret which comes from parting
with old associates.
No change of any kind has been made
in the programme of the regiments de-
parture, as told in the Morning News yes
terday The Roumanian has finished load
ing al the Gordon wharf, and with the
morning tide, she will put to sea. The
OLDHAM had very few arrangements to
make, and was in fact ready to proceed
on her voyage, having only stopped at
Savannah on her way from New York to
Cuba for the purpose of taking on that
part of the Sixth which will go over on
her. She was coaled to her full capacity
in New York, and as she had been thor
oughly cleaned and renovated nothing
further remained to be done after she ar
rived except for the troops to bundle up
their luggage and get aboard.
Everything in connection with the load
! ing of the Roumanian having been about
completed last night, some of the .men
| aboard her. as well as members of the
Sixth Regiment, were skirmishlng about
| the city in their efforts to get all their lit
tie necessities arranged for the voyage.
| Orders having been given for the lines TO
be at their respective wharves early this
morning, there will be no chance to attend
| to business then. AS has been stated,
eight companies of the Sixth Regiment,
the Second Division hospital effects and
| that part of the provost guard not taken
by Maj. Harrison, will constitute part of
the ships cargo She also has $50 horses
! aboard, besides a large amount of grain
and feed to keep them.
Seven hundred tons of coal we're put on
the Roumauian for the voyage over and
back. To furnish such a large supply
would appear TO be quite a bonanza for
some of Savannah's coal dealers, but sucn
is not the case. They did not fur
| nish any of ii, for the reason the govern
ment has a bOuntiful supply which was
sent to Fernandina at the outbreak of the
war, and which has not been used. Col.
! Bellinger, depot quartermaster, had all
needed for the Roumanian sent up from
Fernandina, and even after this amount
was taken away, il Is understood there is
something like 5000 tons left. At Port
! Tampa the government has 5000 tons,
which is the remnant of a tremendous
quantity shipped there about the time hos
Titles begun.
Four companies of the Sixth, together
with regimental headquarters and the
H., - ~ ~
Companys wharves this morning to go
aboard the OLDHAM. AS was stated yes
terday, those who are so fortunate as 10
so on this ship will certainly have a pleas
ant voyage, if comfort and convenience will
afford it, Having been brushed and clean
ed from bow to stern, and from engine
rooms to the hurricane deck there is moth
ing remaining to be done in the way CT
preparing the ship SO as to afford the SOL
diers luxuriant time. Scrubbing brushes
have bleached the floors of her decks
the ratings are polished brightly, and
everything indicates the ship is in charge
of crew who know how to care for her.
The saloon is elegantly furnished, there
is a large, commodious smoking apart
ment, and the other conveniences are such
as to make the voyage pleasant to con-
template
Those who go on these ships will carry
meal sack of Christmas presents 10
the troops already at Havana and vicin-
ity There is scarcely a man who has
not something in his charge for comrades
over the way, and il is safe to say the ar
rival of the Roumanian and OLDHAM will
be hailed with genuine delight by the boys
who expect not only 90 receive letters from
! home but more material remembrance
as well.
Among those who will carry presents
is Sergt. Reilly, who is in charge of the
provost on the Roumanan. He was seen
last night looking out for the men scat
tered about the city, and winding up mat
ters preparatory for the trip. Under his
arm he held 4 round package, on the
, back of which appeared the word pure
ana which was a compliment to Maj. Har-
rison from friend.
1t has not yet been determined which
of the ships will pun out from her dock
) first, but this win probably be left to the
z judgment of the pilots. The tugs of the
: Propeller Tow Boat Company will take
the transports to sea, and as soon as the
tide is sufficiently high, the big vessels
VIII be released from the wharVes and
lowed away. As the Roumanian Is farth-
est down, however it is very probable she
will go out first. She will be closely fol-
lowed by the OLDHAM, but when the two
go to sea, it viii be a race for Havana.
The OLDHAM makes fourteen knots.
There is no further information in con-
nection with the departure of the other
r transports and the troops they will carry.
The Michigan will take Gen. Wheaton
! headquarters Col. Mabry and headquar-
ters, and one battalion of the First Texas
= Regiment, while the Panama will proba-
5 bly, take Gen Keifer and headquarters
Before leaving port all the transports
5 will probably be inspected by the local
2 health authorities. Inspector Stern went
over the Panama and OLDHAM yesterday,
5 and reported to Health officer lie Hardy
. that they were both in admirable sani-
$ tary condition. on the Minnewaska and
l Chester the health department has con-
r demned meats. but in the main they have
found everything ell right in connection
with the sanitary arrangements on these
vessels.
The officers of the field and staff of the
Sixth are as follows: Col. Letcher Harde-
man, Lieut.. Col. o. F. Guthrie. Mai 7 =