The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-19
If Beef Was Spoiled It Was Due to
Negligence Of Officers.
THE TROOPS WERE SATISFIED
Capt. Baker Testified That They Made
Few Complaints The Camp Site
Was Selected on Account Of
Railroad Facilities - The
Sick Soldiers Have Been
We'll Cared For.

/
| sessions to-day, dealing during the Two
days sessions with the general STAFF Of
! dcers of the Seventh Army Corps and al
| night hearing the testimony OF officers
and men of the Second South Carolina
| Regiment. The general officers ex-
amned Included the chief surgeon. the
| chief c0mmissary. the chief Quartermas-
ter. and the inspector general Of the
| CORDS and all gave detailed information
| as 10 their respective departments OF
the service. The meetings to-day were
held i'm General Dodge s. private car, but
! the moving trains made so much noise
that II was found necessary 20 secure
! other quarters and hereafter the meetings
Will be held in the City Council Cham
Der.
CAMP SITE APPROVED.
The subcommittee consisting Of Cen
eral Wilson and Captain Howell. ap-
| pointed 10 investigate the selection OF
! Fernandina as a camp site returned to-
night and reported their complete ap-
| proval OF the selection. They made spe-
cial inquiry into the report that the
| camp had been located there for the
| purpose Of enhancing the value OF land
| owned by a son Of Secretary Alger, go
| ing through the county records as part Of
their work They failed 10 find his name
/ in any Of these documents and their in
| vestigation convinced them that he had
never owned any real estate In that VIZ
cinity or had been in any way interested
I'm any.
COLONEL MAUS TESTIFIES
Colonel Louis NJ Maus chief surgeon
Of the Seventh Army Corps was the first
witness sworn to-day.
He is a regular army surgeon and has
/ frT fru
! throughout the history OF the camp He
said that when the order came for the
establishment Of division hospitals, there
was some delay i'm getting supplies such
| as tents. He made his acquisitions on
| Tampa. but finding that all efforts there
were directed TO getting the expeditions
/ off he made his requisitions upon Wash
| ington direct. After this they were
| promptly filled.
There was no suffering among the
| sick Stll they did not have their lux
| uries lt the beginning Of the war that
/ there were I'm the later days or 10, nor,
added the doctor, edo think the history
Of the world has ever seen a parallel 10
our present care of the sick
800 TRAINED NURSES
Taking up the present condition Of the
/ hospitals he said there were three hun
/ dred trained female nurses now at work
| here. He said the employement Of these
/ nurses had proved entirely satisfactory.
Replying 10 a question Dr. Maus said
/ that after the first few days there had
| been exceptional prompttude. lie had
| never seen such utter disregard OF eN-
pense I'm caring for sick soldiers. AS
matter of fact the troops had greater
allowance OF ratlons than they could use
/ or dispose Of IN any way.
| HOW TYPHOID CAME.
He thought the typhoid had been in
troduced to the camp by Mississippi and
| Virginia troops Shallow wells and sur
| face drainage had done much 10 increase
! tho scOurge lie also thought the hies
| had done much TO disseminate fever.
| Or Maus said he had found &c difficult
/ 10 prevail upon surgeons IN the volunteer
service 20 learn the administrative duties
/ of their positions. often Ia the early
| history OF the war some volunteer reg1-
/ mental surgeons had been found negligent
! I'm their official inspections, but later ON
| sanitation became the principal duty OF
| everybody about the camp. Much trou-
bic has been experienced IN keeping the
| public from the hospitals. IN many cases
| they had surrectluously carried food to
! the sick.
Dr. Maus thought the fever was now
/ decreasing He mentioned an instance
in which serious sickness had followed
the use Of tainted meat and said that
he had heard Of a few other instances TN
which poor meat had been issued.
MIAMI CAMP USSCFrED.
DR. Naus was questioned IN regard
% the caup al Miami He said he mad
investigated il and found fl 20 be un-
! suited ON account of the water which
/ analysis had shown 20 be impure. Tie
also thought Tampa unsuited 20 "a large
! army camp. He said in response 20
! criticism from a Jacksonville lady that
+ General Lee had given the most careiu
| attention 10 the hospitals. that he made
! frequent visits 20 the sick men ana dld
much 60 cheer them UP.
A letter was read from MFs. Gordon.
wife Of General w W. Gordon. IN reia-
ton 10 the hospital an Miami I'm which
! she made serious charges among others
| one 10 the effect that a hospital nurse
| had become intoxicated and SET fire 10
patients bed. burning him somewhat, and
! another that flies were often found
crawling into the mouths OF dying patti
| ents
DR. Maus had a report from Or. Villas
| IN charge of the hospital, read admitting
| the statement concerning the burning OF
n patients bed but denying all others.
! Dr. Maus expressed tne opinion that the
/ charges were eXagseIdlel.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Colonel oliver r. Wood, chief commits
| sary al camp cuba Libre, under General
Lee. was before the commission al its
| 4fte~noon session. lie had occupied this
position since the 2lst Of May and he had
been able during an this time to fully
aud completely meet all requisitions
| made upon him for supplies and there had
! mover heen any lack OF them. AS rule
a'so the quality was excellent. At first
there had been trouble With the bacon
and about 1900 pounds Of il had been
spoiled and therefore condemned and or
dered destroyed There had also been
| weevils in some Of the hard-tack bread
but /, had never been issued v hen found
| 10 be bad
All tha fresh beef was secured from Ar
,,o,,r (. 20 and was brought 10 the camp
IN refrigerator cars. As a rule this meat
| was excellent and in cases where the
meat wa not good the contractors had
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