Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-06-16
A SOLDIER's EXPERIENCE.
How He was Nearly Starved TO
Denth-The North Pole
Expedition.


NdhnlnstOH udNetLO, To-
There was gathered about the CEN.
trail police station several evenings
since four or five newspaper reporters.
waiting for something to turn up in
the way Of news. Soon Officer 0'Hare
put in an appearance with a corporal
of the second United States cavalry,
who is one Of the picked men who are
to go on the Howgate Arctic exnedi-
ton. Mr.. 0'Hare was formerly a
member Of the second cavalry, and he
did tie hopors in the way of intro.
ducing his soldier friend. The corpo-
raj had many interesting things to talk
about, but nothing was listened to
With the anne attention as when he
described his experience at Fort
Whipple, the signal station near Ar
lington. Said the corporal "Of all
the places | have ever been, Fort
Whipple is the worst in the way Of
eating. | have had an army
experience Of nearly twenty
years on the frontiers and of course
have had to stand some hardships, but
my Fort Whipple experience is the
toughest | ever had. l was there two
weeks, and while there actually lost
thirty-four pounde. l nearly died
from starvation. The others there
did not fare any better. We had
meat but once a day and then but lit
tie Of it; at dinner a piece of potato
was given each man. We could not
even get enough Of soup. / know
from a long experience that a soldier
cannot eat 2 government ration it is
more than ne "a eat under any cir
cumstances. Finding that l was fall
ing away, [ asked that | be allowed to
draw my rations so that | could cook
them myself, but this was denied me.
Finally, when | could stand it no
longer, | went to see one one of the
officials il the var department., to
whom [ complained, Afteg that We
have been allowed to board at a hotel
here. If we had to remain there long
We you'd not be strong enough to 60
on the expedition"
In answer to a question as to the
cause of the scarcity OF food there, the
corporal said: "Of course the r~ations
drawn from the government are suf-
acient TO feed every one, but these are
commuted in money. This money is
handled by one Of the officers there,
who has saved e%noug-e out Of it to get
aud support a horse and oGgSSgv TOR
himself. It's a darling place, but
the youngsters there are afraid to
complain. | have been a soldier long
enough to know | have rights, and /
am not afraid to demand them"
Speaking of the expedition itself, he
said: There is a great deal Of ieal-
ousy against the expedition by officers
who cannot 60 on it. They are trying
to make us believe the Gulnare is un-
%seawortby. | told the surgeon
general that as far as our men
were concerned we would start
for the north pole under com
mand of Lieutenant Dohme, if he
wanted us, in a canal-boat. We have
confidence in him, and he knows it.
If he is willing to risk his life on the
Gulnare we are, the theories of navy
officers to the contrary n%otwithstand-
lug. Captain Howgate is a great deal
better man than the fellows are who
are putting everything in the way of
his expedition, or who are circulating
false stories about him, the Gulnare,
and the officers who are to 60 on it,
The reporters said they would look
the matter up,
BE particular" he said, ito see
about the starving at Fort Whipple
Officer O'Hare said the c%orporal's
statement could be relied upon, as he
knew him well.