The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-22
Evidence Goes to Show That COndi-
tions There are Satisfactory.
PERSONAL INSPECTION MADE.
The Wards Were Found TO De Com
Portable and the Men Seemed To be
Contented-Thc Chief Trouble
Seems to Have Been Delay in
Getting acquisitions for
Supplies Filled.

ATLANTA, GA. oct. I-The War
Investigating Commission arrived mere
over the Southern railway at 10 o'clock
to-day, and after calling upon General
Pennington, IN command OF the depart
ment, proceeded to Fort Mcpherson. Inc
only work to be done here is in con-
nection with the hospital at the fort.
The members separated into parties OF
two each, for the purpuose Of visiting
the various divisions OF the institution
They found the barracks at the post had
been transformed into hospital wards
and. Notwithstanding the day was wet
the wards were all found TO be comtorta-
bic and warm, made so I'm each case
BY d large stove in the centre OF the
room. There are now 32Z patients IN
the institution, and many OF them are
convalescent.
The witnesses were surgeons. nurses.
and patients There was no cohlpidint
from the sick men and the nurses slateu
that the work was constantly gro"lhs
less and less irksome, owing TO the de-
crease In the number OF patients. Ihey
also visited the mess hall OF the con-
yalescents while they were az dinner ana
The diet kitchen while dinner was peihs
prepared. They found the men IN ths
mess room abundantly supplied with 1000
and all partaking OF It with Iehsh
known only TO men who nave Just re-
covered from typhoid fever.
TWO WITNESSES.
The commissioners examined only TWO
witnesses here They were Major Blair
Tavlor. surgeon I'm charge OF the general
military hospital here and Rev. Orville
i Nave. chaplain of that institution.
Both appeared at the afternoon session
Of the commission.
Major Taylor related the history or the
hospital from its inception. He sald thal
recently he had had no difficulty IN Sc
curing supplies, as he had been slveh
carte blanche to purchase them. rms
authority had not, however, been given
until first of August, whereas IL had
been asked for as early as the z1th
Of June. lie had I'm the beginning OF the
CAMPS history had considerable dlIhculll
i'm getting requisitions filled, although
he has had no difficulty in getting theh
approved by the authorities AZ Nashlle-
ton one requisi-i0n made on the Ioth
of May and another on the Ath OF June
had not been entirely nHed uhll Neiy
recently. These acquisitions had peeh
made upou the New York supply depot
u.bile an that were made on the 81
Louis depot had been promptly nlleu
One hundred and sixteen cots ordered III
the beginning of the season had ohiy
arrived day or two since, ana they
urere not now needed. Dr. Taylor had, on
account OF the delay I'm ming thesr re-
quisitiOns. been compelled 10 can upD"
the Surgeon General for a portion OF ms
snecial fund and had thus prevented any
s,,esring among patients. Among the
articles in which there was ue'ay ""'
bed linen. ,,r
DR. Taylor said he had found the sixty
cents a dav Communication fund more lhah
sufficient 10 furnish food Tor the sIch
rren and he expressed the opinion tha'
fortv cents per day would be suIllclent Tor
the purpose Of supplying food.
DR.. Taylor stated in reply TO ques stloil
that he considered Atlanta an eAcele"l
place for a winter hospital because oi the
convenience in reaching the place ~ I'm ol'
the seapOrts Of the southwest because
the climate was mild and yet cold
enough 10 prevent infection and also ne
cause OF the excellent water supply lie
sid that "a large proportion OF his pa
tients had been received from Tampa Dut
that some had come from JacAsohNliie'
Chickamauga and other points. lie also
said that many had been sent mere "po
we're not In condition 10 be moved, as
nonv of them were typhoid fever pa
tients. and IN such cases repose was a
nrin,e necessity. Many patients had died
soon after arrival .....,.
no COMPLAINTS.
Rev. Or,llle ]. Nave, post chaplain at
Eort Mcpherson. said he had visited
every patient who had been In the hospl-
raj and that he had never,heard a singie
complaint from a man who was possessed
OF his reason, while on the cohFd45 Hr
had heard many expressions Oh grauluue
and commentator Tor NHe eAce''e"' 0o''
duet of the hospital
NJ Nave expressed the opinion that
i'm the conduct Of military hospitals gem
orally. there was too little care or the
clothes and other property or patients
Tire custom IS 10 put a sick man cioln-
ing under his pillow when he enters tHe
hospital, and Mr.. Nave said the man
often never again sees either MS clothlns ;
or articles that may be left IN his poch-
cts. He had known Of many instances IN
which men were brought here with no
clothes except their night shirts and he
himself had secured through private help
no fewer than a hundred suits for sucn
men as had lost thenr clothes. IN u
word " he said, "the thievng which had
been going on and the petty peculau0n
which rad been practiced upon soldiers
often times by their comrades, had pesh
one OF the saddest features OF tHe wa
While the bodies of patients were care
fulv guarded their property was not
Yet these articles were often. the chaplain
| said. very sacred TO the patient in case
Of his recovery and to his friends and
relatives in case Of his death"
Peplving to a question from General
] Wilson. Chaplain Nave said he had seen
| some OF the surgeons at the hospital IN
der the influence or liquor put not 70 q
! sufficient extent to interfere Wth ths
Troner nerformance of their duties.
The commission left at IL o'clock to-
| night for Admission.