The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-01
A Good Days Work by
the War Commission.
NUMBER OF WITNESSES
Testify Before the Commission as TO
Hospital Accommodations and Ra-
tons Served the Recommendations Be
fore Santiago Supplied With Food
But No Time 10 Eat-Hospitais With
out Heating Appiiances-A Peculiar
Case Found i'm a Hospital

out Heating Appiiances-A Peculiar
Case Found i'm a Hospital
Huntsville. Ala, October 27.-Tne
war investigating commission began its
work today with Captain Augur, who
was in the quartermaster's department
at Tampa, on the stand. He said for
a time the department was swamped
there and attributed the congestion to
the railroad.
Captain Cutler, an Ohio volunteer
surgeon, who has had charge Of the
ambulance corps at Tampa, said there
was a shortage Of ambulances there
and tina the camp conditions were
bad.
Colonel Duffy, Of the Sixty-ninth
New York, said his command had new
er lacked commissary supplies, but
that there was some delay in furnish
ing quartermaster stores. The sick
had been well cared for, and while he
had heard some criticism in the New
York ~ewspapers he had heard none
from the men. He thought most of
the sickness originated in the sWampy
camp at Tampa. There they had to
dig only Xix inches for water and there
were no tent floors. He said there had
been sixteen deaths in the regiment.
Captain Charles V. P~arkhurst. of the
Second artillery, detailed the participa-
ton of the artillery in the siege of
Santiago. There were times when his
men did not have time to eat, but
there was no time when they did not
have food. There was also plenty of
forage for the horses. He was WOund-
ed twice on July End, and his wounds
were dressed within a few minutes af-
ter they were received.
First Lieutenant ConkIin, Of the Sec
Ond artillery, who was in the Santiago
campaignfi said the only material de-
felt In the supplies was in the pow
der, which he thought should have been
smokeless. He said that in going to
Cuba the guns and horses were sep
arated, but he understood that this
could not have been avoided. He was
the only member of his battery, officer
or man, who had not been sick as a
result of the Cuban campaign, but he
did not think the sickness could have
been prevented.
Major Lebo, in of the
Sixth cavalry, complained of the diff
Guilty in securing lumber, fireWOOd,
hOrSeShOeS and stoves in the camp
here He stated the tents were of
poor material and leaked even when
new. He also said there had not been
sufficient medical supplies in Cuba and
that the transport Gate City, in which
the command came north, was poorly
suited to the purpose.
Captain Stretch, of the Tenth in
fantry, gave in detail the San Juan
fighting. He said there was no time
when the men had nothing to eat, but
he did not remember having drawn q
full ration while in Cuba. He said the
sick of the were fed at Mon
tauk better than they had ever been
before in their lives.
The commission devoted the after
noon to an inspection of the military
camp at this place. The commission
was divided into four parties for this
purpose and even then the task was
not accomplished until the day was
we'll gone. 1t is a large camp and the
inspection was very thorough. The
camp was found in good order through
out. The men generally were putting
things in order as though they eX-
B'tNNN ~ stay III III Z
complaints of poor tents. A portion of
the First Florida infantry, which is
camped here, was clamOring for stoves
and underclothing. A large majority
of the men at this point are regulars
who participated in the Cuban cam
paiEn and their camps generally were
as clean rs well-kept homes.
The Fifth cavalry, which has been
ordered to Porto Rico, gave an inter-
esting drill which the visitors enjoyed
very much. DR.. Conner and Governor
Beaver. who visited the general hos
pital, found a very interesting patient
there in a mar in whom life had been
kept for the past three weeks by keep
ing him immersed in water heated to
80 degrees. The mans leg had been
amputated at the hip joint because OF
the severing of the femoral artery.
The commission held a session at
night, and after examining a few wit
nesses left for Chattanooga at II
o'clock. Tomorrow will be devoted to
an inspection of the site of Camp
Thomas at Chickamauga park.
The principal witness at the night
session was DR.. has. NJ. Lee. who was
executive officer at the detention hos
pital at Montauk Point. He sad the
hospital was crowded.: that on occa-
siOns when large numbers of new mer
were received it was necessary to re-
move men from their beds and put
them on the floor in order to make
room for them all. He said there was
a deficiency of medical supplies and he
did not think their treatment was such
as the patients should have had SC
near New York city.
The inspecting commissioners who
visited the general hospital here today
found the institution without stoves
They took the matter in hand and by
night the depot quartcrmaster had Sc
cured thirty. with the promise that taey
should be put up tomorrow.