The times., 1898-11-22
ALGER RELIEF WORKERS
Gen. Dodge Says Commission
May Make a Trip to Cuba.
MAJOR IVES ON THE STAND
FL Caney Hospitals In DepIornbIe
COnditiOn-Laci of MetIicines-Dr
Stimson's Story of Troops ON MILK
Diet Minus Milk-ROoseveit to Tes-
tify-Civilian's Remarkable Words

Keller commission got down to the seri-
Gus business of weaving whitewash
dreams today, Gen. Credit Mobilier Dodge
made the announcement that Col. Roose-
Welt had been invited to appear before
the board
a visit to Cuba, it was announced, may
follow trip to Boston. The Cuban trip
will be made to Investigate" personally
the physical condition of the country.
Major F. j. Ives, chief surgeon of the
Third Division of the Fifth Army Corps
in Cuba, was the first witness for the
day. He said the condition of the hos
pitals after the battle. of FL Caney Hill
was deplorable.
In reference to the transports, Surgeon
Ives said that all which he inspected were
IN good condition when they left Cuba.
He said the Mobile, which was called a
horrible cattleship," was a cattIeship.
which had been thoroughly cleaned be-
fore being used as a transport. He
thought the ventilation of a cattieship
was better than that of regular trans
ports Surgeon Ives thought that the
army in Cuba was supplied in every re-
spect except that at times there was a
lack of medicines and too few ambu-
lances. He also said:
II never knew a time when. If surgeons
took the trouble TO rustic. they failed 10
get all the medicines they needed
DR.. Louis \. Stimson, of New York
then took the stand. In regard TO Montauk
Point. he said the camp was not kept
clean enough. He said on one visit he
had discovered forty men on a milk diet
who had not had milk for twenty hours
He said many told him they had not re-
ceived eatabies in twenty-four hours Dr.
Stimson thought there was food enough
for well men, but not enough for the
sick.
When asked if he would go so far as to
say there was not well man in the
camp, the doctor said
Yes. | may say that. All the men were
in poor condition..
What do you think asked former
Governor Woodbury., of Vermont. could
have been done at Camp wikon which
was no; done ~
II think the whole conception OF that
camp was wrong. II should have been
called a hospital camp.
The name would hardly have improve
the camp. said Governor Woodbury.,
but. aside from the name. can you sug-
gest in what way the conditions Of which
you have spoken could have beer i'm
proved?"
''The burden of proof rests upon the
to show why the proper things
were not done, was the reply
Robert r. Roosevelt was called in and
promised to supply list of witnesses
who could assist in the investigation
Miss Julia Halstead Chadwick. OF 215
West Fifty-fourth Street who visited
Camp Wikoff on August l3, and subse-
luently several times as a volunteer re-
lief woman, was the next witness.
was it possible, asked Gov Wood
bury. for the camp to have been put
in better condition by the time you yis-
tied it?''
Il think so" replied Miss Chadwick
From the published accounts of the
great suffering in Cuba I should have
thought that the Government would have
been better prepared for the emergency"
In answer to further questions by Gov.
Woodbury.. Miss Chadwick said that she |
thought there was an insufficiency of
bedclothes and underclothes. She had
heard but did not know, that some requi- |
sitions for clothing had not been granted. |
Did you hear men say that they had |
been sent away against their Will"
send me away. sick as L am
But you did not hear them say that |
hey were sent away against their will?''
mo. but surely that statement means |
he same thing"
Miss Chadwick said further that one of |
The regiments-the Seventh Regular In !
not had water for forty !
light hours except what some of the |
men brought about mile in buckets.
Dr
condition of the sick was due 10 the |
,rowd of visitors?"
mo. most decidedly not. The infantry |
would have starved If it had not
een for what We took them. They |
we're nearly all in poor health and could |
ot live on the regular army rations"
The commission decided before the after
Don recess that it would go to Montauk |
Point next Wednesday morning at |
clock to visit the camp so that il could |
xamine the remaining witnesses with a
etter understanding of the conditions. Ii
lso decided not to hold any session on
Day.
DR.. William Gilman Thompson, of No.
East Thirty-first Street, this city. was
he first witness this afternoon He testi-
ed in answer to questions py Dr. Connor.
hat he visited Camp Wikoff twice, once
n September . and again on September 8.
D ascertain about how many more Of the
cry sick were likely to be transferred
0 the hospitals in this city
Have you any criticisms TO make with
eference to the conduct of the hospitals
here?"
well, hardly. I was not there long
nough to make a proper criticism. |
'as informed that there was not suffi-
lent disinfectants. l was told that later
nough disinfecting materiai was obtain
and that then this evil was abated I
aw only one vessel which struck me Is
eeding disinfecting. 1 wish to say THAI
do not know very much about the gen
raj condition of the hospitals
But, you have been quoted in the
ewspapers all over the country as hav-
lg said that you found many filthy cans
4 front of the tents which should have
cen disinfected?
We'll, all 1 can say is about the one
an. did not see any other cans
Then You've been misquoted with ref
renee to the sweeping statements?''
Yes, sir. l wish to say that l me.eIy
anne here to tell you about the thi.ty
ases of typhoid fever which came under
~ observation at the Presbyterian Hos
ital in a condition in which they should
OF have been moved. and to say that
hose patients. in my opinion should MOI
ave been allowed to travel on a railroad
,r hundred miles,
With the next witness, Samuel L. Par
sh, of No. % West Thirty-third Street.
no visited the camp several times. the
encountered for the first time
private citizen who professed to know
lie names of some officers who were ,e-
,onsible for alleged distress in camp, bat
Fused to reveal their identity so that |
ley might make specific charges of neg
ct against them. The reason he as