The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-10-25
WAR INVESTIGATORS.
One Of the Witnesses Denounoes a
Regimental Surgeon.
SANTIAGO VETERAN TBsTIFIEs.

O'Clock till $50 yesterday and exam
ined about a dozen of witnesses, in
cluding a number of volunteer officers.
1t is now expected that the commits
sion will leave for Huntsville tonight.
Major David Vickers, who was inspec-
tor general for the Second division,
Third corps, at Chickamauga, attrib-
uted the troubles in that camp to the
shallowness of the sinks. He said also
that some Of the regimental officers in
sisted on making poor selection Of camp
sites, and in one instance a Mississippi
colonel, who had put his men in a
swamp, had insisted upon remaining on
the ground that a Mississippian had
a natural affection for swamps, New
ertheless, his men were taken sick.
Major Vickers also complained that
the drinking water was poor. He
thought the camp site unfit for so large
an army, but so far as food went the
privates were better fed than the Of
ficers. He said that at one time the
beds of all the patients were on the
floor and that there were some cases
when they were on the ground. Asked
as to the competency Of the surgeons
at the hospital, he said there was one
man in the hospital whose proneness
to profanity untitled him for the SER
vice. This man was Major Hubbard,
surgeon of the Ninth New York. His
profanity was of such a villainous
character" said Major Vickers, "as to
pretty nearly make me sick, and 1
know it could not have had a pleasant
effect on the patients"
Lieutenant Colonel Bsbee, in com
mand of the First infantry, told the
gst1 g III.
to Santiago, briefly described the fight
ing about Santiago, spoke of his expert
ence in Cuba, of the return to Montauk
Point and Of the stay at that place and
the transfer south. Asked IL the land
ing at Santiago could have been ac-
complished if opposed he replied: 1.-THE
facilities were so poor that I think
not, at least / should say IL had been
on shore no enemy would have been
permitted to land. I cannot say how
1t was with the Spaniards."
He said there was considerable diff
ficulty in getting food while in front of
Santiago, but we had enough. He said
If there had been more to eat the men
would probably have been sicker. He
expressed the opinion that the only
deprivation had been in not having
proper food for the sick. They could
not take the food in the condition It
was in, he said. He thought the ra-
tions contained too much fat meat fol
the climate. Colonel Bisbee stated that
himself and 16 men were the only mem.
bers of his regiment who had not beer
Ill at some time during the Santiago
campaign.
at had been impossible to secure
medical supplies" said the witness
land if we had them we could not have
carried them"
He added that the army was badly
broken up in that respect, and 1t did
not get into shape for some reason.
He said the men were Just beginning
to break in health when Santiago sur
rendered, and the capitulation came at
just the right time. After the sur
render Of the city there was plenty for
all to eat. Speaking of the Spanish
troops Colonel Bisbee said: II think
about three-fourths of them would
have been enlisted but for their home
ties. They found that we We're giving
them better treatment than their own
government did. l am satisfied their
own officers were swindling them. The
officers were fat and sleek looking, but
the men were i'll and pale and appar.
emily underfed."
He did not believe there was a suf
flcient number of doctors in the CubaT
campaign. He thought the contrac
surgeons were capable doctors, bu
they were not familiar with arm!
| methods and did not know how to ge
! the necessary medicines. Speaking
generally of the Cuban experience h
expressed the opinion that supplies hat
been as liberal as could have beeI
reasonably expected. Colonel Bisbe,
said he had not complained Of tht
voyage north. The regiment was helC
at the detention camp for three days
He said IN reply to questions from
General McCook that a distress sigma
had been put out for food while they
lay out at sea, and when some vessel!
came alongside, he said, he called ou
| to those on board to bring them food
/ He stated in explanation that the fooC
| was wanted for the officers mess. 9TH
| men had enough" he said, such as 1
! was" After this and while at Mon
tauk they got more than they needed
1--WE got 1t from the people, from
| New York relief associations and citi
zens. They sent us everything, includ
ing whisky and champagne, far NOR
! than we wanted"
He said he knew OF no deprivation
| at Montauk "The raw recruits wer,
bowling to get into a house, but tha
| was ALL"
Major Dempsey, Of the Second reg
| ular infantry, covered very much tn,
| same ground as Colonel Bisbee. II,
said that his command had never dur
ing tie Santiago campaign suffered 70
want of supplies. Men had sometime
at night felt the want of covering, bu
| not of foood. No more than half tn
men in the regiment were fit for dut!
at the time of the surrender of San
| tiago He had heard doctor say tina
/ quinine and castor oil We're the onl,
! medicines he could get. Major Demp
( sey said the only deficiency he had dis
| covered at Montauk was i'm the mat
, ter Of transportation facilities, whic
/ seemed to be oVertaXed He had hear
a doctor say there We're not suficier
beds in the regimental hospital for tn
1 accommodation of the sick.