Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-15
EVENING STAR.
THE CASE OF DIR. SIMMONS.

As the case Of DR.. Simmons, United States
Surgeon at Fort Riley, has excited consider
able interest in the public mind, we cory
from the Register, printed at Leavenworth
city, Kansas, a letter from the Doctor himself.
detailing the facts Of the case. These facts
show what we have uniformly asserted, that
DR.. Simmons was not, and would not under
any circumstances, be regardless Of his duties
as an officer and high toned gentlemen. The
following is the letter:
FoRr RILEY, K. t, Aug. 81, 1855.
To tire Editor Of The Register:
Your paper of the llth instant, in connec-
tion with rumors which have just reached me,
reflects upon my own conduct as we'll as that
of the soldiers at this post during she late cpl
demic. | must, therefore, request you to
give place in your columns t. my own state
ment.
The cholera made its appearance at this
place on Friday. the 9th ult Two other
cases occurring on Saturday, | advised Brevet
Major Armstead, who was preparing to escort
Lieut.. Bryan, to march as soon as practicable,
as the disease might make its appearance in
his command. The company marched the fol-
lowing morning, leaving the band, a few sick
soldiers, and some five hundred citizens 1T
this post At II O'Clock, | was Summoned &
camp TO attend the medical officer and several
men who had taken the disease, and on my re-
turn to the post that night, at IL o'clock, L
ICuEu ScNeT'-i l)eISOlS lldu Decu dlJdckSG uuf-
ing my absence. The disease continued IT.
creasing, but on Wednesday appeared more
mana geable.
While retiring on Thursday morning, at
three O'Clock, l was called to the quartermas
ter, sergeant, aud two w.rkmen, who had
taken the disease. BeiDg sick myself, and
having been upwards OF fJrty-cight hours
without closing my eyes, L sent for Major 0g-
den to assist me in superintending these eases
Il,
and seeing the exhausted condition il which
L was, sent an express to Leavenworth 70.
medical aid. The disease ragged this day with
fearful violence; before twelve O'Clock l was
called To upwards Of twenty cases, several @.
which died before L could see them. 0osery-
ing that the disease was confined almost cX-
clusively to the soldiers the families, ard such
| Of the workmcn as occupied the quarters OF
, the troops, | advised that the workmen should
be temporarily placed in camp; but as Majyr
| Ogden was too sick TO be consulted, the sue
! geStiOn was not adopted. In the afternoon
advised the families u leave the post, and on
! the following morning, 10y the advice Of Msior
| Arms.ead, [ CrIcred the band into camp.
! When | returned 20 my quarters on Thursday
! night | was seized with symptoms Of the dis
ease myself, and though L was perfectly ex-
| hausted having been sixty hours without sleep.
L requested those who sat up with me not ~
| allow me to sleep more than an hour at "A time,
| fearful that the disease might make such
progress as to be beyond the reach Of meIi-
cine In the morning L was much better, and
! visited and prescribed for several persons the
! last Of whom was Mrs. Woods, whom L cOnsid-
erei beyond all hope. On returning to my
! quarters that morning, | was seized with v0m-
| iting, cramps in the stsmach, numbness in the
/ extremities, &c so sick, indeed, as to be un-
! able to visit my own child, who had taken TIE
. disease. Under these circum stances place
DR.. Mhitehorn in charge OF the hospital ard
. left the post some few hours al er for z neigh
! boring farm house; net, howe, CT, without tic
: advice of I'll around me, including the phy-i.
clan. The want of accommoG ations anl thc
. continued Illness Of my child, comp ;lled ne
! to take ny family to the Catholic Mission, a;
, which place 1 met DR.. Phillips proceedinE Z
, the Fort
! l have already asked for an investigation
! into my conduct, and make this statement, ne,
! to defend myself but that the berc2red and
! sorrow stricken friends Of those who fell VIC
Tins t. ihe disease may know that every tLirc
, in LILY power was done TO save them, and tha:
never left ny post as long as L was capable
of giving any assistance.
As regards the various rumors a1Oat, have
to say, come they from whatever source they
! may, they are basely false.
J. SIMMONS, n D., L. S. Army.