Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-24
DR.. D0BS0N TALKS
Several Facts as to His Sons Death
Plainly Set Forth.
MRS. DOBSON ON THE SRIENECOCK
MAJOR Borden's Testimony Criticised
at Some Length.
CAUSE FOR THE STATEMENT

Inc parents Of First Sergean, Dobso, ~
Company D. LIST ID ~ yoI,,,,.
tantry. who died in a New yorl 1I,....,,.,,
ana whose case IL under constituencies, ~.
'he war investigating commission have b,d
NO opportunity, they say to ask ouas,,o,s
vi 10 cioss-eNamine the witnesses wbo
nave appeared. DIR. IL. A Dobson father
OF the deceased soldier explains tha, n,a,,.
OF the statements made to the comn,iss,.,,
go unquestfoned. For this reason 60 no
stated TO Star reporter today Mrs MT.
son ana himself are DESTROYS Of making
pam several facts in connection With the
matter
Major w. ". Borden. in charge OF the
Shinnecock- in letter to the surgeon gem
eral attempts to put aside Mrs Dobsons
statement as not being worthy of credence."
50 said DR.. DObson. He testifes to things
he did not see, by his own admission. and
tries to show that my son received constant
attention on the Shinnecock In this con-
nection he Is like some other witnesses who
nave TESTIFIED In the case. Major Borden,
among other things, SAYS that Mrs Doh
son difhcuities consisted of Informing him
that she WAS with her son. receiving a mass
at,a paying the civilian purser for her meals
while on board the boat, the government
providing meals for the sick only"
Mrs. Dobson Had No Pass.
According to Or. Dobson. his wife IN her
testimony before the commission said that
When the litter on which her son lay reach
ed the gang plank. she was told she could
not accompany him. not even to his place
on the boat. though she carrying his
clothing, and he was derious with fever
and showing the effects of the toltins re-
ceiNea IN riding over rough roads She pro-
tested, and finally allowed to await
the arrival of Major Borden. After waiting
an nour ana seeing no signs OF the officer
mentioned. she proceeded TO her son and
remained with him constantly until the
next day. Therefore, she had no pass from
Major Borden, she paid for no meals and
the only thing in the way OF a meal pro-
Flded that evening by the government for
the sick sergeant was half a glass of milk
Which a nurse after repeated suggestions
pI ocured
Maj. Borden has stated that q surgeon
saw my son every hour" said DR. Dobson
so was thu man seen who went down Ia
Jericho, but those who saw him passed by
on Inc other side, save one. The one In this
case was a hospital corps man. who came
a-onS with his medicines, read the tax put
on my boys blouse, by surgeon Hancock
and gave him one brown tablet Had the
trained graduate In medicine spoken of by
Maj. Borden made a personal examination
OF the soldier, perhaps some of the wild
delirium of that night might have been
saved, for he lay th4re calling the roll of
his company and giving the usual COM
mandS for the entire night"
Continuing, DIR. Dohson said his wifi,
knew nothing definite of the number Of
persons on board the boat, she having re-
peated statements she heard to the effect
that the number was about 100.
Protested Against His Removal
An attempt was made to show that Sergt
Dobson was removed from Montauk by re-
quest of his mother. so said DR. Dobson
This intimation was from a surgeon who
seemed to know more OF the work Of tn.
general hOSpital han d
did Of his marking a man in his own regi-
n'ent for duty. when that man was unable
to reach his tent without help.
When Mrs. Dobson protested against the
removal OF the boy. she was told by Sur
geon Hancock that it was necessary for
MIN to make room, and that the boy was
suffering with nothing more serious than
malaria Had this surgeon sent a state
ment with the soldier when sent to the
general hospital that his diagnosis was
typhoid. Hancock might have not made the
mistake
DR.. Dobson further said that some person
came to Mrs. Dobson, after the decision
had been reached to send the boy away
and from the talk of ibis man she reached
the conclusion that, possibly, she would not
be permitted to go with the boy. She
urged this person to use any influence he
might possess in the direction OF securing
for her permission to accompany her son.
No other ground for any statement that
she wanted him taken away exists,
stated DIR. Dobson, and he added: THE
moving in connection with the weakened
condition of the boy resulted IN his death.
He did not and could not eat. Duty was
his first thought and he did not wish TO
go to the hospital. His care and consid-
GRAFTON for others made him oblivious to
his own condition. He did not know the
seriousness of his own condition. for he had
not known sick day since his infancy. All
this, however, does not excuse those who
knew he was sick from enforcing orders to
send sick men to the hospital for treat
mcnt
DIR. DobsOn's Explanation.
II wish to explain" concluded DR. Dob
son, that our efforts Of late have been due
to a desire to ameliorlte the condition. II
possible, of some other boy now on his
way 20 Cuba, and possibly save his life. II
We shall have accomplished anything in
this direction our efforts will have not been
in vain. We cannot bring back our hoy.
but 1t is hoped that other sick ones may
not share his fate. ] wish To say further
that Mrs. Dobson and myself appreciate
fully the kindness shown us in our trouble
by the newspapers, by many symPathzing
friends and also by Colonel DENLY OF the
Investigating commission"