The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-11

washington, Oct. 1O.-The war inves-
tigation commission had three wit
nesses before it today-Captain Culver
of Grigsby's rough riders, DR.. HyseI
chief surgeon of the Second division.
located at Camp Thomas, and Major
Gallagher, who was in charge of vari-
Gus commissary depots in the Santiago
campaign.
DR.. Hysell's testimony dealt with the
sanitary and hospital conditions at
Camp Thomas. He said that there was
less typhoid fever in the troops of the
Second division than in the other di-
visions, and stated that upon his advice
his division had secured its water from
outside springs instead of from the
Chickamauga river, as he considered
the river water liable 20 be impure.
Major Gallagher detailed the process
OF supplying rations to the troops in
the field. He said that at one time
rhere was deficiency in coffee and
sugar for two days, and expressed the
opinion that this shortage would have
proven serious if it had continued for
any length Of time. lie said the sup
ply OF lighters was not sufficient to
permit the accumulation Of any con-
Captain Culver stated that he had
been stationed at Camp Thomas, Chick
amauga, from May until he was mus
Eered out, on the 18th of September.
t-Hhe food generally was abundant and
good. Captain Culver stated that at
one time Y Of his men were sick He
thought the proportion was not excess
slVe-no greater than during the first
DAYS OF the civil War-and unavoidable
until the men learned to depend upon
the army ration and not to go outside
Tor food. He thought the pies sold to
the men We're unWhOleSOme, and also
said that stale chicken was sold to
them.
In conclusion, Captain Culver said he
had no complaint to make of treat
ment, except in the location of his
troops. He protested against their To-
cation.
Captain Culver was followed by DR..
James H. Hysen, who was chief sur
geon Of the Third division of the First
army corps, and who was located at
Camp Thomas from the eth of June to
the 2lst Of August. He said he had
been surgeon in the civil war, and
since then had been in general prac-
tice.
All the early cases of typhoid were
treated in the regimentai hospitals and
the patients We're not isolated until af-
ter the construction of the division hos
pltai, when the typhoid and suspicious
cases were isolated and the men were |
well attended by physicians and nurses. |
There had been LOO cases of all kinds !
OF diseases treated in the hospitals and /
10 deaths.
DR.. Hysell thought typhoid fever had /
been due to the failure 20 properly /
cover the sinks. He did not think it
possible TO totally isolate typhoid fever
cases, as typhoid is impossible to de-
tect in its early stages. All reasonable
precautions had been taken in locating
the camp to prevent the development
OF disease. He admitted that in case
of another war, by the experience of
the past, more effective means could
be provided
\ The examination Of DR.. HyseIl was
continued by DR.. O'Connor of the COM
mission, and was very searching from
a medical standpoint
AT the afternoon session the commits
sion examined Major Hugh ]. Gala
CHER. He had served as depct commits
sary at Siboney. San Juan and Santi-
ago, and recently occupied this position
at Montauk Point. At Siboney the ra-
lions, he said, were forwarded almost
as rapidly as landed. Only very small
quantities could be accumulated, yet
the cOmmisSary, during their stay at
Siboney, had been able TO meet all re-
quirements made upon them for pro-
Visions by the troops, and none of them
were ever refused. He heard no COM
plant of lack of rations. as they were
able TO forN. ard about 80, 900 rations per
day.
from Siboney the depot was removed I
10 Ell Paso, seven miles inland At this
point there were never enough rations
Oh hand Tor even a day ahead and il
was impossible to fill all requirements.
There was \ shortage in coffee and
sugar, which continued for two OF Z
h vac q. 4 IL, =
but IN some cases the hard bread would
be injured by sudden showers When
TINS happened the bread was thrown
aside and not used. Some potatoes. /
onions. tomatoes and canned beef had o
been thrown away at Santiago, being il
spelled r
Major Gallagher said there was
claimed 20 be a shortage of lighters.
but he was not able to say this was I
tue. Colonel DENLY pressed for in b
formation as to the shortage of coffee 1
lnd sugar. Major Gallagher stated n
mere were probably two days when a
lie men were without these articles. A v
storm was the cause of this deficiency.
out II there had been a sufficiency of p
lighters this deficiency would not have ii
occurred. The major said there was a
lot' 10 his knowledge, a shortage in
my other article of food during the G.
Mr.. DENLY told him there n
months time, but Mr. Gallagher said Ct
he knew nothing of it,
SupDosing," asked General McCook, e.
this shortage of rations had lasted for CT
even days instead of one, what would N
lave been the result?' e
We probably would have had TO face di
JACK, replied Major Gallagher. Men
annot fight on short rations''
MAYOR Gallagher said that of the five
lVlllan assistants he had had, two ,
we're inefficient and Indifferent to their Il
lutles. They Were Captain Lord OF &C
>ew York and Captain Ryan of Kan I'll
as ~
Major Gallagher said the commits -
airy supply at Montauk was abundant a. .,
nj good while ne was at that point. - -
General Beaver today received a let " ~
er from Mrs. Hugo LANCE of Brook ~ ~
IN, who participated in the relief work a.
[ Montauk Point, relating To her in 81
erVlew with President Mckinley when %
e visited Camp Wikoff. She was re- r. r.
orted TO have said to the president :
hat some Of the men were carried out -
I dying condition, in order to get ~
ID of them This she says. she did %
OF say. but she asked il, in passing
trough the wards, the president did II
OF notice the number OF empty cots oL
lie replied that he had noticed them. W.
no she then requested him to ask why &c &c
he men were without care in the de- oe
-ntlon hospital and in Seme of the Pl
egimentaI hospitals. de
The letter continues: Il ~ II also ask -
Oh to go back of the conaltions at the 4
me General Wheeler arrived, and in
estigate why no preparation was
ade 10 receive and care for our sick