Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-09-15
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
Testimony Taken by the In
vestigation Committee.
WHAT THE VETERANS SAID
They Differ in Opinion as to the
Quality of the Food They
are Given.

That the Tribune discovered mares
nest in its alleged sensational discoveries
of brutality and starvation at the Sol
diers' Home will be admitted after a
perusal of the testimony taken by the
visiting G. A. r. committee yes
terday. The committee of G. A. R. men
appointed to investigate the charges did a
good days work. The party consisted
Of Comrades w. j. Brown, Holloway,
Rose, Field, Francis, Whitson, Tyler,
McKeag, Earl, Tarble, w. B. Johnson,
Dopnell, Nudge, Godfrey, w. B. Van
Kirk, Barr, r. Cummings, E. P. Slater,
G. E. Berry, J. z. McComas, Bidwell,
Mason, Eliot and Ford, and this strong
combination was recruited by Depart
ment Commander Gard, General E. P.
johnson and Colonel Dunkelberger. On
the joruney down on board the train or
ganization was effected, with D. w.
Field as Chairman and M. f. Tarble as
Secretary.
1t was nearly II o'c lock when the in
vestigators left the Los Angeles and Pa
ciic road at the Soldiers Home station
and they were welcomed to the grounds
the Commandant. With the intention
of at once proceeding to work they went
to the hospital department and made a
thorough scrutiny of things there. The
half-dozen inmates. confined to the ward
spoke in the highest terms of Doctor
Haas, and from outside comments it was
easily to be seen that there we're no com.
plants in that quarter. The committee
I'd in, Of
main buildings and commenced the tax
charges of ill.feeding, mismsnagemeni
and brutality toward the inmates.
THE WITNESSES.
r. McElvoy was the first examined.
He said that he had not much complaint
to make, but the meat and coffee were
sometimes poor. The meals were got
regularly; he said that there was good
bread and plenty of butter.
Quartermaster Sergeant G. E. Wise
was next. He said: "The Governor is
very lenient. have no fault to find ex
cept that the beef is poor, for we get none
OF the loins or prime cuts. l do not
know that permission was refused any of
the men to participate in memorial ser.
vices on Memorial Day."
At this juncture the whistle for dinner
resounded, and it was suggested by one
of the committee that it would be good
idea to 60 over and join in the repast so
that practical experience might be OBJ
tanned. This was accordingly done, and
the visitors were soon seated in the capa-
cious dining-room, wherein were speed
lily assembled some $50 veterans. No
one could possibly cavil at the meal that
was served. Good boiled beef, foury
potatoes, bread, beans and coffee were
among the viands on the table, and used
as most Of the investigating committee
undoubtedly are to good fare, they set to
work with knife and fork in such earnest
that showed that they were enjoying the
meal. The coffee, although not as good
as would be furnished in first-class
hotel, was fully up to the average OBJ
tanned at boarding house, and the meat
was tender enough for not too sharp
knives to cut it without any struggle.
When the meal was over the members
of the committee scattered among the
veterans and entered into conversation
regarding their grievances. One man
who was evidently one of the big kick.
ers, gave his name as Charles Classon
and said that he was teamster and had
worked for the City Cab and Carriage
Company. He complained that the
Governor would not give him employment
as Ia civilian at $50 month, but admitted
him to the Home and then offered him
81 q month (the rate allowed by the
Board Of Managers. Sooner than &C
cept that, Classon said, he intended tC
live at the Home and be boarded and fec
for nothing.
Whilst Classon, who is strong, able
bodied man, was, in loud voice, airing
his grievances, one of the comrades spoke
up and said to him: "Talk little sense
man; you have only been here little
while and don't know what you are talk
ing about" This settled the would-be
teamster and he took back seat forth
with.
The committee then went over to thu
hospital, and on the porch found Com
rade Senker, an invsli6ed veteran. Il
is as good as can be expected" he said
in response to query as to the treat
ment OF the boys.
The hospital steward. B. F. Cook
was very closely questioned, and said
81 never tried to get anything that die
not receive. Ii extra dishes have not
Uocu OUbalu6u, ~ WAS USChusc uO ItQuiSl'
tions have been made for them. We
have a cook of our own. The Governor
comes here on Sundays and makes q
regular inspection. There is committee
of three sergeants appointed to look after
the food"
Colonel Dunkelberger then made few
remarks. He said that he had been in
formed by Sergeant Russell that no re-
port had been made to the commanding
officer of any neglect, and if there was
any the men should have furnished the
information. In the performance of the
triple duties Of Commander, Adjutant OF
the Post and Quartermaster, Colonel
Treichel could not be expected to attend
to the minutiae of affairs. He ap-
pointed committee of three men, and if
these men did not report any complaints,
why should the Colonel be attacked.
As to the charges of refusing the men
Christian burial, Colonel Dunkelberger
stated that he was informed that not a
man had been buried at the Post without
minister being present to perform the
last sad rites. The soldiers al
most to a man stated that
they had been treated kindly, and their
esteem for the Colonel appeared
to be unanimous. On several occasions
Colonel Treichel's sister had sat by the
bedside of sick negro. and had written
letters for him, euch conduct not looking
much like the alleged brutality toward