The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-24
SECRETARY ON A CRUISE.
GEN. ALGER AND PARTY on THEIR
WAY TO THE ANTILLES.

4
May Also Come In for share of
the Two or Three Weeks the
Secretary VIII spend in West In
dian Waters for Rest and Recrea-
1iOu-party Was Dined at the DE
sotO-HospitaIfty Extended by the
City-The secretary's Guests We're
Increased Here by the Addition of
Col. W. 4. HemphiIi of Atlanta.
others Invited 10 Accompany Him.
Secretary Of War Alger and party Of
friends left Savannah last night on the
ingalls, for a "Trip to Cuba and possibly
Porto Rico. The secretary is anxious 60
visit both islands, and the vessel VIII pro-
coed to Porto Rico before returning to this
country. il nothing unforeseen occurs.
Havana will be the first port at which
the ingalls, viii touch. There she will dis
charge her passengers. who will remain
two or three days in the city and then
cut across the island to CierfuegOs, where
the vessel will go on leaving Havana.
rom Cienfuegos the party Will 80 by
water to Santiago. 1t viii be decided there
whether it will go to Porto Rico. Il is
believed two or three weeks viii be re
quired for the trip. The port in this coun-
try 20 which the party will return has
not been determined
Gen. Alger was asked yesterday about
his trip. He said he was bound for pleas
ure, but that the operations of his de-
partmcnt in the places he will visit wlli
come in for an inspection. This inspec-
ton, he said, viii be general
The party left Washington by the South
ern Railway night before last at $3.50
O'Clock Connection was made at Column
bia with the Florida Central and PENN
eular for Savannah, and on train No. 3
the private car, Potomac in which the
party Travelled, arrived here The train
was twenty-five minutes late in arriving,
and got in at APO o'clock.
number Of gentlemen We're at the de-
pot TO meet the secretary and his friends.
Among them were Hon. Herman Myers,
Mayor; Aldermen J. NJ Dixon aud J. G.
farrell Col. j. II. Estli, Col. J. b. Bel
linger, Maj d. NJ. Appel and Capt. D. G.
Purse. Those whom they met were Sec
rotary Alger Mr.. NJ. S. Smith. his busi-
ness partner al Detroit: A. NJ. Henry, his
brother-in-law; and II, 6. Meredith of De
I.
taTy aide, Col Mann, Victor J.. Mason,
his private secretary ana Mr.. II. L. West
They had been invited by the secretary TO
make the trip with him. All left on the
ingalls, and with them We're Col W. A.
Hemphili of Atlanta. who was last night
included in the party by invitation Of the
secretary; Capt Evan p. Howell of At
lanta and Col J. II. Esull were also in
Vited, but were unable 20 avail themselves
OF the opportunity to see the West In
dies.
Secretary Alger was scanned with con-
siderable eagerness by the many eyes
that sought him out upon his arrived AS
he alighted from his car il was apparent
that he was in need of the rest and recre-
alton for which he goes. When he was
hast in Savannah. which was before the
establishment of the camp of the Seventh
Army Corps last fall. he did not look so
faded and worn as yesterday when his
friends in Savannah saw him again. The
strain TO which he has been subjected in
the administration of the affairs of his
office seem TO have told upon him. and jt
IS hoped by those whom ne met that his
"Trip VIII prove pleasant and beneficial.
the party was escorted by the citizens to
the eonveyances that were in readiness
Tor them. for drive 10 the wharVes of the
Ocean Steamship Company, where the In
gals was TO be locked The secretary was
in carriage the city officials had at hand
while The other members of the party rode
in carriages provided by officers stationed
here
The wharves were reached just as the
ingalls, was coming up the stream In
structions were shouted to the plot by
Col. Bellinger, and after few minutes the
vessel was docked. She came from New
York, where some work had been done on
her TO make her ready for the secretary
trip. The vessel looked fit and Trim She
was in need of coat of paint, but there
was jauntiness about the craft that
showed the selection of the transport up-
on which the Secretary of War was TO go
on his cruise had been we'll made.
The secretary and his party boarded the
vessel al soon as she was made fast. and
remained for about half an hour. They
then left for run up 10 the city the
secretary to 80 with Maj Appel the sur
geon in charge to see the big army hos
pital which has been established here,
and the others to see the sights. Before
he left the secretary was seen by a Morn
ing News reporter. but he said there was
nothing he could say of interest. He was
asked if he had been seen by the Atlanta
delegation-Col. E1emphill and Capt. How
ell He replied that he had seen them a
day or two before at Washington. and
seemed surprised when tod they were also
here.
The Atlanta gentlemen had quite time
looking for the secretary. They missed
him at the depot, and found when they
reached the ship in their search that hs
had seft for the hospital But they KEPT
on his track and met him later al the Do
Soto. Several Of the party who followed
the secretary up TO The city telephoneC
him from the De Soto while he was a
the hospital asking him TO stop by on his
return 10 the vessel.
When he left the ingalls, the secretary
said he would be back within an hour an,
half, which would have been al
o'clock, and that the vessel would sail a
once But had this programme been ear
ried out a good time would have beer
missed at the De Soto. Mayor Myers wa
not disposed 10 have the distinguish,
party visit Savannah without partakins
of the city's hospitality. Messrs. Watson
& Powers were asked TO prepare their hes
dinner in the banquet room aud at
O'Clock the guests and their entertain
ers filed in. Those present wer
the secretary and his party. MAYO
Myers, Col. Estill, Mai. Appel Maj. G. w