Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-20

10 the origin OF the popular excitement
concerning conditions at Montauk POINT
while the troops were stationed there
He said that from 80 to 20 per cent OF
the men were sick when they landed
there and that insufficient provision had
been made for them. AS a consequence
many were compelled to lie upon the
bare ground, and they naturally sunered
from the exposure.
lie also asserted that the reporters OF
many newspapers had been sent 10 the
camp under instructions to ma an thae
was bad and nothing that was good
do you know this OF your own per
sonai knowledge" be was ASKED anu nc
replied: mo: but l was told IT by men
who talked with the reporters.
IOWA TESTIMONY.
Colonel Doves. of the Forty-ninth Iowa
Reeiment. followed Dr.. Frye, and he was
In turn followed by various members Oh
his regiment.
Colonel Doves said there had been no
deficiency in the commssary supplies.
"The men had the regular army rauons,
he said, "and IL they have not had enough
the fault Is theirs"
He had had some complaints Of the
meat, and in all cases the undesirable
article was exchanged upon application,
and without going through the form OF
condemnation. Speaking Of the medlcai
supplies. Colonel Doves said that phy-
stefan. whom Governor Shaw had sent to
the camp had spoken with surprise OF the
variety and quality Of the medicines ana
medical appliances on hand.
OBJECTION TO CHICKAMAUGA.
General Wnliston, I'm command OF the
First Brigade, Second Division, OF the
Seventh Corps, was questioned on va
rious points. having been stationed at
Camp Thomas. Montauk Point, Annlston'
and other points before coming TO JACK
sonv.He He said the principal objection
he had 20 Camp Thomas, in Chickamauga
Park, was the fact that IL was impossi-
BILE on account of the formation OF the
ground to have sinks more than two or
three feet I'm depth. There had also been
an insuficency of water In the begin
ming of the history OF the camp. the
water was taken from wells, and While
ne ala not believe the wells were con-
Eliminated from the surface, he thought
Il had too much magnesia In 1t TO be
wholesome. He had found difficulty in
getting sufficient water for stock at that
period but General Boynton had after
wards constructed two wells I'm the vi
lection.
Speaking Of the conditions at Jackson
vile. he said he did not see that any
fault could be found with either the adj
minlstrative officers or the service per-
formed by them, in either the medical,
commissary, or quartermaster depart
ment Most Of his STAFF officers were vol
unteers. but he had found them very
efficient. lie had also found the troops
a.. Ii. nj o,fo
had found the reglmental officers espe-
cially jealous to maintain the best sani-
tary conditions possible.
MONTAUK CAMP A BEAUTY.
General Wilnston had been at MontauR
from the 10th Of August to the 18th Of
September. and had superintendent the
debarkation of the troops and the entry
OF the regiments into camp. Never"
he said. "was a prettier camp pitched in
the United States than was the camp at
Montauk."
lie said there were tents erected for
1000 men before any men arrived, and
all the men had TO do was to walk into
them, so that, so far as the men who
were not sick were concerned, they were
well provided for. He said the site was
splendidly adapted to camp service, and
that the camp was abundanty supplied
with stores Of all kinds.
JACKSONVILLE. FLA, october ia
special to the Times-Union and Citizen
from Tampa says: The subcommittee
Of the War Investigating Commission be
gan its work here early this afternoon.
Captain Brown. acting quartermaster,
took charge Of the committee and al
forded them every facility for doing bust
ness. All the camp sites were visited,
and Colonel ]. p. Anderson, president OF
the Board Of Trade, was called. He told
the committee how the army business
was transacted here, giving them great
deal of information. The committee spent
this afternoon pushing its investigation
at Port Tampa. The work there was
completed, and the party returned to
this city and were dined by Colonel An
derson at the Cosmopolitan, and left to-
night for Jacksonville. They say there
were but few charges TO look into here,
and the day was sufficient. 1t seems that
the chief complaints were about the man
agement OF the camps by General j. j.
Coppinger, who succeeded General Shafter
here. The committee declined to give out
any information as to just what they dis
covered.