The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-02
IT WAS A BARREN WASTE
Hsrsch Files Charges in the Camp
Wikoff Scandal.
IT'S A RECORD OF FACTS
Tho Only Water Supply Received the
Drainage OF the Camp-sick Men
Forced to Sleep on the Ground.
The Private Parrett Case.

| Washington. Oct. 1.-The war inves-
| tgating commission devoted its time to-
day largely to the consideration of a
| statement filed by Nelson Hersch. on
behalf Of the New York World. giving
what he styles "a record of facts con-
cerning the establishment of Camp WI
kon and its management. together with
specific instructions of abuses, charged
70 nave existed, dates. number of sick
In hospitals, deaths. etc"
The statement was made in resno,sa
to the general invitation from the corn
mission. The specifications cover 21
pages or typewriter matter, taking up
the movement of the Santiago troons
after the surrender of the Spanish al
that place and before the breaking out
or yellow fever there In July. II is as
serted at the time Montauk Point was
selected as the site for the camp IL was
"a barren waste" The details OF the
selection OF the camp site are given. as
are also those OF the transportation of
troops, and IL Is asserted when the first
detachment of 2.750 troops arrived
on the sth OF August "the camp was
not ready to receive them and that they
slept under their blankets and in the
open air. as no tents had arrived
This II is added. was IL days after
1t had been decided to establish the
camp" '"e
Continuing, the assertion is made that |
by the 10th of August the sick were re- |
ported suffering from want of proper
accommodations and food; that their |
tents were without floors and with only
tnelr blankets between sick men and
the ground. and that a glass of sour
mix apiece was the only nourishment
they received in "a hours
Inc war department is charged with
frequent changes of plans. and II is
asserted that General Young was given
SIX Gays only for the preparation OF
tne camp before the arrival of troops,
when two weeks time was necessary
which caused great confusion" On
the 18th of August DR.. Edison visited
the camp and found that 1, 400 troons
lhere were almost wholly dependent
upon a body of water without inlet or
outiet' and known as Fort pond. Tor |
lneIr drinking water. This pond re-
u ~ tne drainage OF the camp. and
me doctor found the water TO contain
W grains of salt to the gallon. This
he said. caused disease ana
rendered the pond a constant menace
10 the men.
BY the goth of August there wera
,Vooo men In camp and 1900 in the hos
pitaI; WIN many unable to secure ad-
ars were reported to be SUFFERING o.
ne necessaries OF life and had received
10 pay Tor three months. Contract sur ,
seons were reported living at the ex
'ense or the patients. After the doc
ors had lunched," says the account.
20 Apoilinaris bottles were counted on
he table, said TO have been diverted ]
rom hospital stores"
PARTICULARS are given of the death In
us tent of Private Hugh Parrett. ON q
august %, and il is asserted thai DIR I
labor refused him permission TO enter d
ne hospital on the ground that he was {
ot SICK The assertion is made when. q
n the 9th OF September, DIR. Lee went | {
o Camp Wikoff with a speciaI train
. take sick soldiers to Brooklyn hos (
ltals, he was unable to get more than n
D men 10 the train on account of the n
'ck or ambulances, which were being C
seq TO carry sightseers around the e
amp. While hundreds of sick soldiers n
ere waiting to be transferred to boats u
nd trains. a dozen ambulances stood q
the depot filled with laughing men q
nd women, who were seeing the camn
18th officers friends" d
After this incident General Young a
ave orders that the ambulances were
be used only for the transportation
the sick.
A list of witnesses is as follows: fs
Gen. Joseph Wheeler, General Young. tc
olonel Forwood. Major Brown, Chief n
urgeon Sem. from the Red Cross: tc
iss Helen Gould, Mrs. walworth, DIR. le
yrus Edison, DIR. III. Doty. health Of V;
GER OF New York city; DR.. W. T. Jen- b,
ms, health commissioner of New L
ork; William Smith. banker; Surgeon ~
inn. 18th infantry: Surgeon Ames, A
tn infantry. 10
large number of names of witnesses r
also suggested i'm the Parrett case 20
I'd there is a general request that II
,rrespondents and reporters Of the j.
'orld shall be called. al
The commission directed that a repIy
J forwarded to Mr.. Hersch, informing
m that the communication should
i've careful consideration. w