The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-20
Many of the Men In the Hospital Corps
ally n Scabby-Looking Lot"
SUPPLIES OF GOOD QUALITY
EVIDENCE GIVEN BY MAJOR CREA-
GER, COL. CAMPBELL AND OTHERS.
Experience of the Ninth Illinois and
FOrty-Ninth IOva-COIOnel Denby
Sent Back to Washington.

JACKSONVILLE. Fla. Oct. 15.-The war
investigating commission held it's sessions
in the city hall to-day. examining large
number of regimental and other officers
One of the most outspoken witnesses of the
day was DR.. Frye. of the Third Division
hospital. lie condemned some of the meth
eds in vogue in the hospitals, and said that
in many cases the contract physicians and
members of the hospital corps were incom-
petent. The commission has decided that
one of its members should be in the COM
missions office at Washington, and Colonel
DenOy mas been selected for this service.
| He was selected partly for the reason that
his health has not been as robust as when
in Washington.
Maj. Noble II. Creager. depot quarter
master, was the first witness to-day. He
| said there never had been any serious
shortage of supplies in the Seventh Corps.
and he was sure there had been no suffer-
| ing caused by a deficiency. In the Begin
ming of the history of the camp there had
been complaint as to the quality of cloth
| ing, but there had been an Improvement in
this respect in recent months. He had also
| had some difficulty in securing proper as
sortment of sizes. but had been able to meet
| the demands of the men in this respect
Major Creager was followed by Congress-
man James r. Campbell, colonel of the
| Ninth Illinois Volunteers, who was ques-
toned in regard to the general treatment
! of the troops in the field, and asked for
suggestions for the benefit of the service.
| He spoke in complimentary terms of the
! administration of the officers of the army,
saying that acquisitions Of all kinds had
been promptly filled. and that the quality
! of the articles supplied was generally good.
There had been some complaints. however,
as to the character of the refrigerator beef,
but investigation developed the fact that.
while the meat had been received in good
condition, it had spoiled because OF expos
ure in hot weather. This difficulty was over
como by exchanging the beef for ham, no
fresh beef being now taken by the regiment.
Colonel Campbell expressed the opinion
that the principal causes OF sickness in the
camp was the drilling in the early morn
ing, when the dew was on the ground This
was the mistake of his regiment. the
command had been anxious to excel. but
they now had secured a revocation of the
order for the drill and had discontinued the
practice.
LITTLE HOMESICKNESS.
Colonel >Campbell said there were very
few of his men who were now homesick.
He did not believe that to exceed per cent.
OF MS soldiers WOulu return nome IN pFeI~
erence TO gcing to Cuba If given an oppor-
tunity to do so. He had Eo suggestions to
make beyond a request that his regiment
be supplied with the Krag-Jorgensen rifles.
as his regiment had taken first place for
Workmanship. He also complained of the
red-tape methods of the army but made
no specifications. Colonel Campbell said he
had been liberal in granting furloughs, and
he thought the system had had good in
fluence in quieting the apprehension OF
friends at home.
Lieutenant Moore. acting commissary OF
the Ninth Illinois. was questioned in regard
to the quality of rations. He said there had
been no difficulty except as to the fresh
beef and agreed with Colonel Campbell that
there had been no trouble on account OF
meat since the arrangement had been made
to take cured hams instead of beef. Lieu
tenant Tolliver, quartermaster of the same
regiment, also testified favorably as to the
quality and quantity of the supplies reach
ing the command through his Office. He
thought the tent material poor. but had
made no requisition for other tents. Com
missary Sergeant Lay, of Company A, Of
the same regiment. suggested there should
be a greater supply or variety Of vegetables
than the present ration includes.
Dr. r. ID. Frye, major and executive off,
Ger of the Third Division hospital. testified
as TO the management of this institution
and also as to the management of the Sec
ond Division hospital at Montauk Point,
from which place ne was transferred TO
this camp, and the military hospital at Fort
Mcpherson. Georgia. where he was also
stationed for time. He said the Montauk
patients had lacked for nothing and were
excellently taken care OF by both physicians
and nurses. At Fort Mcpherson there were
at one time 925 patients. There was no ma
terial shortage in drugsor food at this point.
but occasionally there was a slight def
ciency which was. however. quickly over
come.
PATIENTS WELL CARED FOR.
Speaking of the hospital in which he is
engaged here. he said the location was as
good as could be secured in this vicinity.
but that the general surroundings were not
suitable to hospital service. AT times the
hospital had been slightly overcrowded, as
many as seven or eight men being occa-
sionally stored in one tent. This was due
10 emergency. The patients. however. had
been well cared for by both physicians and
nurses, and the hospital supplies were abun-
dant and good Many of the nurses are fe-
males. They are generally very competent
There was always one nurse on duty for
every three patients on the average Up
TO date 1700 patients had been treated at
the hospitals There had been only seventy
three deaths. About 80 per cent. OF the
cases were from typhoid fever. This was a
smaller per cent than the average mortal-
ity In civilian hospitals.
T1r Frye Of he g.