The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-17

Correspondence OF the Associated Press.
APPROACHING THE ISLAND OF
PERM. AT THE ENTRANCE TO
THE RED SEA, Feb. 1.-THE United
States army transport Grant has the
honor Of carrying the iirstAmerican SOL
diers to sail through the Mediterranean,
the Suez canal and the Red Sea into the
eastern hemisphere on an errand OF civ
ilization.
Her consignment Of the army of occu-
patton for the Philippines consists of
the Fourth regiment Of infantry and
one battalion Of the Seventeenth, total
Ing LIB enlisted men, los cabin passen-
gers, who are the officers, with their
families and crew numbering 1876 and
two extraneous persons Of the news
paper craft.
Up to this day the journey has been
an unalloyed picnic, with the best Of
weather and every material comfort to
contribute to It's success. Going to war
aboard passenger steamer where war
riors may recline in state rooms and
pressing q button, summon any luxury
from champagne to pie, sit down before
dinner of seven courses, listen to n
daily band concert or operatic airs, and
between the light demands Of duty
promenade the deck with sweethearts
and wives, presents a striking contrast
to Cuban fever ships.
Only two days of storm have marred
this sea-goIng vacation. Those the At
lantic furnished. Port holes were closed
and sea sickness prevailed. particularly
below decks, where the over crowdIng
of soldiers is the only drawback to COM
plete comfort.
Gibraltar was the first oasis and there
the Grant was quarantlned q day be-
cause Of measles in the hospital while
the passengers remained prisoners.
Port Said. reached after week OF the
Mediterranean, as smooth as mill
pond, proved the most eventful station.
There brief reports OF the insurrectlon
in the Philippines inspired q general
desire to hurry forward and provided
! food for discussion during the rest OF
, the trip. Officers swarmed ashore for
education in the life of the orient which
they investigated from mosques to the
native dances, returning with carloads
of souvenirs to decorate their cabins,
all Of which had been advanced In
prices to war rates as soon rs the
American invasion began to arrive.
Thirteen Dcscrtions.
Thirteen members of the crew and,
two soldiers landed also, but Informally,
crawling along the ropes TO the dock.
Several had wrapped themselves in
black cloths and thus disguised as
Egyptian ladies, scuttled across the
wharres unnoticed.
No less u parsonage than the chief
cook was captured in the very act of
desertion. He languished three hours
In double Irons as an example in the
interests of discipline. But everyone
on board, including the victim, refused
to regard his punishment seriously
such an antmosphere OF good nnture
pervades this excursion. His defence
was: II could not stand the supercil-
iousness OF that steward. He's I'M
American"
The Grant had paid her $4,000 ton
mage dues and was well on her way
down the canal Sunday morning when
the desertions were discovered. The
consul at SueZ was telegraphed to look
after the deserters, as Americas repre-
sentative at Port Said had taken so
little interest In the welfare Of the ship,
that. 1t is suid, the officers may suggest
to the state department to cut short
his tenure Of office.
Hundreds of chntterlng Arabs rushed
out from every village along the canal
to follow the American soldiers, strip
ping their scanty garments and diving
into the water for money, food and
clothes which were thrown to them.
on Port Tewiik, just where Admiral
Camara's bluff fleet had lain at anchor,
the Grant was moored on Sunday even
ing. Half an hour earlier the train
from Port Said had arrived at Suez
without the deserters. though compa-
ny Of Egyptian soldiers and squads of
policemen were drawn up In the depot
to escort them to their ship. So the
transport was delayed over night to the
deep disgust of the men, chatting to push
on to Manila before the fighting Is I'm
lshed.