The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-24
COL. DURBIN'S REGIMENT
INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE OF
HOOSIER TROOPS TO HAVANA.
Transport Mobile Described as a
Floating Hotel and Well Equipped
for Carrying Soldiers.


Correspondence of the Journal.
HAVANA, Cuba Dec. 15-The United
States transport Mobile, having on board the
ne-hundred-and-sixty- Indiana, one
battalion of the Second Illinois and one
company of the Fourth Virginia, arrived off
MORO Castle at o'clock this morning, and,
steamed westward to Marianao, where the
camp of the Seventh Army Corps has been
established; but he sea at this point was
too rough to disembark and the Mobile re-
turned to Havana harbor and cast anchor
within one hundred yards of the wrecked
battle ship Maine. AS the big steamer
passed MORO Castle and came under the
walls of Cabannas fortress the Spanish sol
diers in great numbers mounted the high
walls and scowled their hatred at Uncle
Sans boys in blue.
When the Mobile arrived opposite the ILL
fated ship Maine the battle ship Topeka
fired a salute of eleven guns. Here the Mo-
bile cast her anchors and was Immediately
boarded by Lieutenant Lee, son of General
Fitzhugh Lee, who soon returned to shore
in company with Brigadier General Wilt
son and members of his staff. AT $3.50 p. m.
the Mobile was towed alongside Havana's
largest dock and will begin unloading her
cargo early tomorrow morning.
The Indiana boys will remain on board
until Saturday morning and will then march
to their new camp at Marianao, a distance
of seven miles west of Havana. The new
camp site is an ideal one, located on slop-
ing ridge, about a mile long, overlooking
the sea, its highest point about 225 feet
above sea level it's lowest about 100. The
Havana Notifications can be plainly seen
from the summit A complete system of
been planned, though not constructed,
owing to the delay in getting pipes from
the United States. The boys will be closely
confined in camp until the Spanish soldiers
have left Havana, and amusements in camp
will be afforded them to while away the
hours. Havana is a city of 25O,OOO inhabitants
and the majority of them are either Span
ish born or Spanish sympathzers, and even
after the Spanish soldiers have left the ISL
and a dangerous element will remain in
those who volunteered to fight for SPAIN
The climate here is balmy and many of
the. natives are going barefooted All vege-
tat1on is green and growing and winter is
word not used on this island,
Colonel Durbin was most fortunate in Sc
curing the Mobile as transport for his
regiment. This magnificent ship is floating
Motel, with ample accommodations for 2,4OJ
men and officers. The Mobile is just out of
the Cramps shipyard at Philadelphia and
mas Just completed her first trip as a troop
er. She is the first of the government trans
ports to be properly equipped for transport
work and shows what Uncle Sam is willing
to do for his boys when he has the oppor-
tunlty The men have spring mattresses on
ters are divided into nine cornpart-
ments between decks and each compartment
accommodates from 144 to 276 men, The yes
sci is equipped with the SturdeVant Venti-
lator system which drives either hot or
cold air through all parts of the ship, as
may be required. The air is scientifically
washed and dried before being driven
through the ship. At either end of the ship
are ample lavatory accommodations, where
the men cannot only wash hands and faces,
but can take shower baths with either hot
or cold water. On the upper deck there are
elghty-six messing tables that stow up UNI
der the beams when not in use; however,
these tables were used for one meal only
on the way over, there was not sufficient
room after the men were seated to wait on
them. Conveniently situated to the mess
nall is large steam galley or kitchen,
htted up with 125-gallon coffee urns and
other utensils on a similar scale The Mo
tai, with accommodations for sixty patients.
There is an electric plant, steam-heating APP
paratus, an icehOuse and refrigerator plant.
besides the ventilator system already men
TONED. The Mobile is truly hotel with eV-
cry convenience found in a first-class hotel
on shore.
The Indiana boys stood the trip over bet
ter than could have been expected, as only
very few became seasicl1 although they
We're on the ocean fifty-tWo hours There is
now in port and in camp three regiments
of the Seventh Army Corps, the First North
Carolina, Second Illinois and One-hundred-
and-siXty-first Indiana. The Eighth Infantry
arrived this morning from Tampa, Fla
and other regiments will follow as fast as
transports can handle them. L. E. w.