The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-02
HOMEWARD BOUND.
The Voyage of the Transport Tartar
Bearing the Kansans.


The Twentieth Kansas, after an ac-
tive campaign in the Philippines of over
eleven months embarked on the char
tered transport steamer Tartar at Ma
Mia for home September g. On the day
of sailing the numerical strength of the
regiment was 70S men and forty-one Of
fcers- These were ali that were left
of the regiment, which left San Fran
cisco in May, 1898.
On board the Tartar. besides the
command under Colonel Metcalf, was
General Funston, formerly colonel of
the regiment. Colonel Little was in
Japan, as was also Lieutenant Whis-
ner, who expected to Join the regiment
upon its arrival at Yokohama.
The homeward journey began on the
afternoon of September and the Tar
tar sailed into the harbor at Hong Kong
three days later. Here the transport
was put into dry dock where extensive
repairs were made. The regiment spent
the time on shore, where the Kansans
enjoyed the hospitality of the British
troops.
The Britons proposed a shooting con-
test, which was quickly accepted by the
Kansans, and although the men from
the trenches We're beaten, the English
men generously acknowledged that
their victory was due to the superiority
of their guns.
At Hong Kong the Kansas band
made a great hit and concerts were Civ
en- each day, which were loudly praised
by the English colony.
United States Consul General Wild
man and Lieutenant HObson entertain
ed several of the officers of the Twen-
tieth, and their courtesy was recipro-
Gated by General Funston, who gave
an informal luncheon on board the Tar
tar
The date set for leaving Hong Kong
was September IS, and on that day the
Kansas were ordered on board. Every
thing was put in order for sailing and
the Tartar's nose was pointed outward,
when a most vexatious incident oc-
CURED which might have taken an in
ternatiOna1 turn had not public senti-
ment in Hong Kong finally overcome
the exalted Obstinacy of an officiOuS
harbormaster.
The transport was not given clear
ance papers, without which she could
not leave Hong Kong harbor. In vain
did Colonel Metcalf plead that the har-
bormaster had no right to delay the
hOmeward voyage of the soldiers. The
harbormaster claimed that the trans
port was overcrowded. There was no
complaint among the Kansans and the
whole trouble was stirred up by the
volunteer regulars aboard who found
their accommodations somewhat too
limited for their personal convenience
and who sought to gain greater COM
fort on the voyage by getting rid of a
portion of the Twentieth regiment
In his provoking dilemma, Colonel
Metcalf wired the state department at
Washington, but before an answer
came the harbormaster changed his
mind and allowed the Tartar to leave.
It was at Hong Kong that Corporal
Robert NJ. Lee, company F, died of dys-
EMERY. The body was embalmed and
brought home. Lee lived at Manhat-
tan, Kan.
On the way from Hong Kong to
Yokohama the health of the regiment
rapidly improved. When TIE beautiful
Japanese seaport was reached a day.
delay in landing was caused by the ex-
asperating delay of the health officers
in visiting the transport and passing on
the health of the command.
At last the troops were allowed to
land, and in a few hours hundreds Of
the Kansas boys were on the trains