The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-01
WITH MULES FOR CUBA.
TRANSPORT CHESTER on HER WAY
TO CIENFUEGOS.


Pig Iron substituted for Rock Bal
last and the Vessel Vow Has More
Room for Freight-FrOm Cienfue-
Cos She VIII Go tn santiago,
where She VIII Take on the
Eighth Illinois for Newport News.
She VIII Then Go Back to SAN
tiago and VIII Bring Rays Regi-
ment Here TO Be Mustered ont.
Chester Is Now the sedgewiclS.
All the Transports Names
Changed.
The transport Chester. or the sedgewicH,
as she has been rechristened, sailed yes
terday for Cienfuegos. The vessel lefi
her berth at the Central press wharf at
$50 o'clock, towed by two tugs. She had
234 animals aboard, destined for the depot
auartermaster at Cenfuegos. Among
these were the mules of two complete
pack trains and some of another that
could not be carried by the Manitoba when
she sailed with the troops OF the Fifth
Cavalry There we're also a number of an
finals that had been sent over from
Charleston. The bunch horses and mules
from Charleston had been left over when
the battalion of the Third Engineers sailed
from that port.
The Chester had considerable work done
on her while in port. She had been here
some days-in fact, every since she
brought in the Sixth Immunes from Porto
Rico. Ever since she has been in the
government service the quartermaster's
department has been hampered In its use
OF the vessel by her rock ballast, This
was too bulky. and it was determined to
have pig iron substituted on this trip. Sew
eTal days were necessary for this to be
accomplished, though the pig iron was
right on the wharf, the Central Railroad
hands having begun to unload il just be-
fore the Chester was berthed. The Stew
art Contracting Company was given
contract for building a platform over the
iron ballast. Il had beer thought the yes
sci could get out night before last, and
Col. Bellinger, depot quartermaster, had
made his arrangements with this in view.
He said yesterday that he wanted TO
show the people of Savannah that the
Chester could go to sea az night The
vessel was drawing twenty-five feet.
Putting the pig iron ballast In the Ches-
ter's hold means more room for cargo.
The vessel has been IN adapted for freight
on account OF her rock ballast and ell
available space has had to be utilized in
order that she might carry the supplies
and equipment necessary for the troops
and outfits that have been shipped aboard
her. On one trip she lost all her deck
cargo. There would have been no deck
cargo had it not been for the necessity
of slowing the freight somewhere When
gale came the deck had to be cleared.
Col ID. d. Wheeler Of the quartermas-
ter's department was here for several
days to look over the Chester. He COM
pleted his investigation and left yesterday
for Summerville, S. C.
After the Chester discharges her cargo
at Cienfuegos she will proceed TO San
tiago. There she win take on board the
Eighth Illinois Regiment which will he
taken 10 Newport News to be mustered out
of the service. From Newport News the
vessel will return TO Santiago, where she
Will take on board the Third Volunteers,
Rays regiment. The command win be
brought to Savannah to be mustered out
The Chester is not the only government
vessel whose name has been changed. All
In the quartermasters department have
DSeH IScnflStened- Inere was no formal
ity about the changing of the name Chester
for that of Sedgewick. A painter merely
covered up Chester and painted "Sedge-
wick"
Generals Of the federal service during the
clyii war were honored by the quartermas-
ter general when he selected the new names
Tor the transports. Changes are being
made wherever the vessels are. and The
Following are the names that are being
given: The Panama becomes the Hooker:
the Port Victor, the Mcclellan: the Rita,
the burnside; the Mohawk, the Grant; the
Mobile, the Sherman; the Massachusetts
the Sheridan; the Manitoba, the Logan: the
Mlnnewaska, the Thomas; the Mississippi
the Buford; the Michigan, the Kilpatrick:
the Roumanian, the Crook the OLDHAM the
Mcpherson; the Berlin, the Meade. the
Chester, the Sedgewick; the Hartford the
Terry; the Clearwater, the Ingalls,: the
Seandia, the Warren, and the Arizona. the
Hancock The name Of the hospital shin
Relief remains the same, but the Bav
state Is changed TO the Aid
The tugs Britannia Sarah, Gypsum King
Maj. Mckinley, Olympia, Harry ana 7 q
watson becoming respectively the Reno
ora, Slocum, Sumner, Weitzel, Richard
son and Reynolds. -Four lighters owned nv
the government win also have different
names. The Eugene Grassell will be The
roe; the Adonis. the Williams: the Ed
ward Ward, the Baker; and the Iron King
the Candy. u.s.