The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-08-14
rHE SOLDIERS. HOME.
Investigation Proves That slse stsrfei
of Cruelty are False.

of Cruelty are False.
DAYTON, Aug. 1.-The soldiers home
investigation committee has taken al
the testimony for the prosecution and
to day began the defense. The ser
geauis of barracks testified that the men
were not treated harshly; were not pun
ished uniustlY; did not complain OF per-
sonal punishment; none were sent to
the dump uniustly. Men often came in
drunk and were sent quietly to bed, but
If they remained over their pass limit
they were put on the dump thirty days.
Some officials were more harsh than
necessary but very few. Dump work
consisted in picking up debris on the
campus. The liberty Of the home
grounds is given them, but they are not
allowed to pass when once abused for
several months. The quarantine quar-
tiers were for the incOrrrigible, insane
and epiliptics 20 sleep, and was the
same as other barracks and under the
care of kind hearted sergeant. There
was chance for minor officials to vent
personal spite and 1t was often used.
Gov. Patrick was gruf but kind heart
ed. The soldiers felt lack of sympathy
and feared strict discipline. Punish
ment for ATTRACTION of rules was sure,
but seldom fell on innocent heads. The
burden or complaint came from few
men from each bsrrack, probably Eve
hundred gamblers. These infected the
well behaved with an uneasy feeling
The weak minded were Misguided and
some complaining came from them.
The stories of cruelty and brutality were
deEIied. Men relating such stories were
generally unreliable and imagined
wrongs
Gen. Cutche0a called attention to the
stories OF terror spread by the press
throughout the country and said the
testimony had not substantiated 1t.
Gen. Slocum said this garden spot OF
America is painted as a penitentlary.
Many papers call it an AndeTsonville,
influencing soldiers who would like to
come to remain away. One mile square
of land finer than any park in America,
| Central park not excepted, was pictured
as prison pen, frightening men away
who desired to come. All becanse of
sensational stories IN the press, uEsup-
ported by reliable testimony. 1t such
be the action of the press, God spare me
from its clutches. Let soldiers know
throughout the land that a paradise
awaits well behaved men. Their duty
has been performed. and food. clothing,
a square mile of park, beautiful by ma
ture and art, buildings within pleasure
and amusements can be found, are at
their command.
A Horrible Story by the n. Y. Time 9.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12-The horrible
story published by the New York Times
this morning that the survivors OF the
Greedy party, crszed by starvation and
cold, fed on the dead bodies Of their
comrades, and that written documents
were III the possession of the navy de-
partment to subsssntiste the terrible mar
rative, created q great sensation here,
and Admiral Nichols, acting sec
rotary of the navy, was shortly bsseigen
by newspaper men anxious to obtain
something official concerning the publ
cation. The admiral said positively
that there was nothing in the navy de-
pariment confirming the story. and he
| doubted It's truth. It's possible, how
ever, that report of this nature
may have gone direct to Secretary
Chandler, in New Hampshire, as
numerous documents are forwarded
| to him without examination.
Some persons express the opinion
| quietly that there's something In the
story, and say it is beginning to be
known that the Greedy party was not as
| harmonious as has generally been sup
| posed, and that there is a story con-
| necied with the expedition which it was
| inteRded to conceal, but which must
now come out IN some way. The
history of the Jeannette's unfor-
tunate cruise came to the knowledge
of the public.
The secretary of the navy instructed
the commander of the navy yard at New
| York to receive from Commander
Schley the relics of the Greeley expedi-
ton received when the party was
rescued and turn them over to Lieuten-
| ant Buckingham, by whom they will be
| transferred TO the Louisville Exposition.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug 12.-The
| Times story was shown to General
Haze1, who was at first very nom
committa1, but finally, with decided en-
phasis, he said: There are certain facts
| connected with the matter which / am
not at liberty to mention. 1t is very
probable, though l do not say 80
| officially. that it will be made
the subject of congressional investiga-
tiOn next winter. The story contains
| some inaccuracies, notably that in which
reference is made 10 devouring the am
| putsted limbs of those who suffered the
| loss of legs and arms in order to pre-
serve their lives" General HaZen was
| asked what truth there was in the state
| ment that young Henry had been shot
aud MS body eaten. THAT is subject"
| he replied, upon which must decline
7 Sr ha