New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-26
CONDITIONS AT MONTAUK,
SECRETARY ALGER BRINGS ABOUT
MUCH IMPROVEMENT
ABOUT
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuYgl

last night, although he was much II cllned to DO
So in spite OF the threatening condition Of the
weather There was every prospect of just as
severe storm that which swept over Camp
Wikof Wednesday night and General wheeler's
headquarters. where General Alger contemplated
having his tent, hill which is exposed
to the wind
President Baldwin urged General Alger to
make use Of his private car. which stood In no
danger Of having its roof blown off by any Long
Island gale. and General Alger finally, though
rather reluctantly. consented He had not been
in the car than half an hour before the
rain began TO fall and the thunder TO roll. and
the General. whether he thought so or not. was
a little more comfortable than in a canvas tent
After breakfasting with General Wheeler this
morning. General Alger again set out for q
visit to the general hospital this time accom-
panied by General Wheeler. He met the med
ical staff. and with them made another tour Of
the wards. One Of the arst things that caught
his eye were a number OF mud puddes left By
last nights rain, and these he directed to be
drained and filed In Immediately. The guard
which at the hospital has nothing particular TO
do. at put 20 work, and the puddes
rapidly disappeared
General Alger also recommended that at the
head Of each cot occupied by sick soldier .
card should be pinned, containing the soldiers
name rank. company and regiment and his
condition from day to day. and that book be
kept In the hospital office IN which should be
entered complete record of any brought
into the hospital, with names and data.
AS the General passed through the wards he
stopped to chat with the men. as he did yester-
day, and expressed again his sympathy for their
Illness and weakened condition. As he was
passing down the head pavilion that connects
the several wards ne met a soldier walking
toward him in pajamas and leaning upon .
cane. The soldier recognized General Alger. and,
stepping one side. saluted General Ager raised
HIS hat and asked the soldier his name. II am
Corporal Boldt. sir. OF the 18th Infantry" the
soldier said.
"Ah then you have been doing some lighting.
haven't you?"
Yes. sir; at San Juan"
Then you want a furlough. do you not?"
Yes. sir; want one badly"
General Alger called for some paper wrote out
the furlough. had the chief surgeon attach his
signature. and handed 1t to the soldier with the
remark: There. now. go pack your bag and get
ready to go home"
With a glad smile the corporal saluted and
went off to gather together his belongings. and
the trophies he had picked up in Cuba, and the
afternoon train had him for passenger.
CUTTING RED TAPE.
Returning 70 the surgeons again. General AL
ger asked IL there anything he could do to
assist them. AMI he told that General
Wheeler had had lot of canned fruit chicken
and other good things. but that the Comniissary
Department would not handle IL. as IL was rot
In their line Of regular Army supplies
An orderly at dispatched 10 tho
Commissary Department. and within two hours
the things were arriving in the hospital. Before
leaving the general hospital General Ager also
recommended that the hospital guard DO
doubled. and that the sent there be pre-
pared 10 do such police work as was necessary
in keeping the hospital grounds absolutely can.
From the general hospital General Alger
went over to see General Young. who has not
been at all we'll OF late and then started back
to General Wheeler's headquarters. making a
wide detour 10 get on one OF the high sand
dunes from which he could obtain a general
ird's-eye view Of the camps. To get to the
hill he had 10 pass between the camps OF the
9th and 10th Cavalry, colored troops The men
were busy about camp. and officer was In
sight but one OF the colored men saw General
Alger approaching. and they lined up along the
road and saluted The General walked with
uncovered head until he had passed their lines.
II was rather late when General Wheelers
beadouarters were reached and luncheon was
served Senator Hoar. Of Massachusetts,. had
dropped in. and as the party sat at luncheon
the 3D. Infantry. in command OF Captain Ham
nay, which had been in the El Caney fight ana
the 2Oth Infantry in command OF Major McCas-
key which had participated In the battle at
san Juan. marched up the hill, under the COM
mand Of Lieuteuant-Colonel Haroach' OF the
3D. TO the detention camp
tho, carna M the road General Ager eX-
pressed a desire 10 see them. and the party LEFT
their luncheon and went out TO the blum over
looking the road As the head OF the column
approached General Alger called out TO Colonei
Harbach I'm glad To see you" Colonel Har-
bach saluted with his sword and each file as IL
passed by gave a marching salute TO the two
Generals and Senator Hoar. AS they marched
mast General Alger remarked upon the awfully
bad condition the men were In. and expressed
the hope that the men would soon get over their
sickness here In the ar ernoon there was
conference Of the division commanders and Gem
eral Alger The Generals are to set forth theh
ideas OF the needs and necessities Of the camp.
and then it viii be decided just what is about
to be done for the soldiers comfort
Tonight IL is General Alger's intention to
sleen in a tent at General Wheeler's headquar-
ters and no amount OF persuasion will prob
ably prevent him.
MUCH GOOD ALREADY DONE
General Alger's visit. short as it has been so
far. has been productive of wonderful good to
the camp hospitals and soldiers. BY his
thority he has been able 10 accomplish for the
hospital what the medical STAFF has been
striving for two weeks to attain. He has cor
rected many things that needed correction; he
has improved the means Of transportation; has
had quantities of lumber drawn TO the new hos
pital annex has had extra carpenters securedi
and the work on the hospital Annex is now
progressing rapidly and with renewed en-
thusiasIn.
THE SICK ON THE RIO GRANDE.